That's easy, fear. Fear that they won't fit in, fear that they will be perceived as out of touch or don't "get it". Back in the 80's I worked in a video store. Dirty Dancing was the big hit. Some 30 to 40 something lady comes in and rents it again. She starts some tirade about how much she can't stand the movie and doesn't know why it is so popular. She keeps watching it hoping that she will "get it" because she doesn't want to feel left out.

Yet your post regarding a comment by Woody Allen matches this description of hypocrisy head on. You claim your a big fan of Woody yet you take what he says at one point in time because it just happens to disagree with what you think (i guess your a big bush, mccain or palin fan) and use it to not only undermine him as an individual and his career, but also as a sorry excuse to go on a rant that serves as a slam piece against anyone and everything you dislike.

I can't tell if you're really a Woody Allen fan or a phony, but its self-evident, given some other pieces you've written, that you're one of the pseudo-intellectuals that Allen himself often mocks in his films – and with your last Allen-related post in mind, this post of yours is now the second least intelligent thing posted on the internet.

btw, darski she never did live with woody (until she was 22 and they started dating), mia even said as such. but again, who cares about facts. it's all about ad hominem if you are a conservative and someone disagrees with you.

to bad woody can't just repent or cite 'original sin' for all this and be in the clear. heck, if he would have become a priest (and actually did the things you guys accuse him of) this is no problem, just ship him to a new parish.

funny, conservatives love talking about our 'freedoms' as americans, just so long as no one actually uses it.

enlighten me USMC what are some examples of good filmmaking?

I'm no child. I know as far back as far back goes, liberals have been in journalism and Hollywood in large supply. But the thing is, when George Bush took office, something happened to them. Something like Charles Krauthammer's coined Bush Derangement Syndrome.

It really is true. Otherwise intelligent people, who had displayed good judgement and integrity and were able to separate politics from art, suddenly and inexplicably became raving lunatics. You'd think someone slipped them something in their drinks. Lol.

Dan Rather's downfall was particularly painful to watch after such a long career spanning so many world events. So was the betrayal of principles by news entities such as Reuters, the AP and the BBC. Of course, always liberal, but, like I said, they snapped. They removed any sense of objectivity from their reporting. Gone.

And the networks became mere shells of their former selves. No substance at all. Just tabloidish mocking interchangeable with late night talk comedy shows.

But during Bush Sr.'s run, the media were nowhere near this biased or subjective or simply irresponsible. 9/11 was a watershed moment. I really believe many people cracked up, lost it, and had to strike out at something. And they chose W.

I don't think everything we knew was wrong, but that many, many things went wrong.

You watch Bill Moyers interview Joe Campbell in the very fine series Power of Myth. You can't tell me that Moyers isn't a sensitive, insightful, intelligent man there. He is. Joeseph Campbell on several occasions during the talk, when asked what happens when a society doesn't have myth. Campbell replies, "Well, just look in the news, (the amount of crime, brutality) all you have to do is look at the New York Times, it's a mess." Moyers doesn't respond to this indictment of our soulless culture as a liberal usually does. Nor does he when Campbell discusses the beauty of Latin in traditional Catholic mass. Nor does he when Campbell recites St. Thomas Aquinas. Moyers agrees with everything Campbell says,

Yet, today, if those same words Campbell said were spoken by George Bush, Moyers would rebel and denounce it as the rantings of a Christian fundamentalist.

People cracked up.

The convincing point for me (as if i needed one) was seeing and hearing liberals, real capital L liberals voice their outrage at how a CIA agent was 'outed'. It doesn't get any better than that.

That to me has to be pinnacle of hypocritical behavior and a shining example among shining examples that liberals have no integrity and no core belief in anything except their own inner rage.

I lived in The People's Republic of Massachusetts as well while in school. Luckily it was before President Bush. But, oh, sure. I can fully understand what you're talking about.

I'm not sure if you caught the Olympics in China. I know the U.S. press focused on things like human rights protesters, etc. But I loved the games this year, particularly the opening and closing ceremonies which I think are the finest I have ever seen. And I haven't been enjoying Olympics for a while now. (I miss Jim McCay, too much)

Naturally, the U.S. press focused on staging and lip synching, etc. once again missing the big picture for the small.

Anyway, you'll be happy to know that when President Bush and his father were introduced, the Chinese audience went absolutely wild. Chinese audiences, generally don't do that, even for rock stars or celebrities, there's or ours. They continued their applause for so long it was unbelievable. The western press of course, didn't show that.

By contrast, when the Japanese entered the stadium, you could hear a pin drop. They don't forget those times either.

But you probably noticed the pictures taken of W palling around with athletes were rather good and flattering and some even sexy! Naturally, our press, in their normal (choose the worst frame grab possible) mode of reporting, were not allowed to run the show, having to cede to the host's photo pool.

I say Bravo, to that. Our press (so shameless and irresponsible that they highlight and photoshop with contrast filters, a note that our president has to use the bathroom and publish it around the world) no longer has any clout whatsoever, in my opinion. So when their hands are tied, like they were in China, it's refreshing.

As you probably know, Papa Bush was ambassador to China and young George spent time there during that period.

The Chinese never forget stuff like that. Never. Communists or not, differences on politics or not, they love W and his father extremely and deeply for their understanding of their culture. The P3 Orion incident, might very well have been a prelude to war with any other president in the oval office. Without Bush's close personal ties to China, it would have been far worse.

As a side note, a very close friend of mine is arranging an honorary doctorate for Bush Sr. from University of Macau and coordinated through Hong Kong and mainland China. I wonder if the press will cover it without disparaging remarks or some innuendo about backroom dealings. Lol.

No, history will indeed show that George Bush did a man's job when all around him were screaming children.

Man, perhaps because I live in left leaning Massachusetts, there was simply no way to ever discuss my deep admiration for President Bush's character. Indeed, I was just sort of indulged as one who just doesn't get it whenever I would "admit" that I not only didn't despise the President, but that I greatly admired and respected him.

And to the one person who would listen to me (thank you my brother) I would always point out how the intensity and dehumanizing nature of the media's criticism of President Bush metaphorically cut his legs out from under him effectively rendering him unable to govern. That has made me so mad over time, how the haters kind of matter-of-factly robbed Bush of his Presidency. Oh, whoa, I can't tell you how it puts a lump in my throat to see your respect for him too, I never knew how much I was needing and I appreciate the validation. Thanks for that.