A lot of fun and exciting things happened recently related to feminism and the role of women in American society. The always brilliant Camille Paglia published her awesome take down of Lady Gaga and the end of the Sexual Revolution. Actress Gemma Arterton lamented that Hollywood only thinks of her as a “piece of ass,” Plucky Tea Party favorite Christine O’Donnell beat Democrat Mike Castle in the Delaware Republican primary. “Comedian” George Lopez hypothesized that Sarah Palin may destroy the world. And, Big Hollywood was graced with some musings on feminism by certified bad-ass Lexi Alexander.

A lot of seemingly unrelated things. But together, they all lead to a stunning conclusion.

Let’s start with the stunning Ms. Arterton. The former “Bond Girl” and star of films like “Prince of Persia” and “Clash of the Titans” told a British paper that her treatment and roles in Hollywood films were demeaning. She resents being treated like a “piece of ass.” Her complaints seemed to indicate that she was the victim of a much larger problem.

Next to Ms. Arterton’s “Clash of the Titans” on the theater marquee this summer was a film called “Salt.” It starred Angelina Jolie. The lead role was originally written for a man. In fact, Tom Cruise was once attached to the project. The film was a huge success. It’s one of the biggest hits of the year. Somehow, perhaps through pagan magic cast by Christine O’Donnell, Ms. Jolie managed to not only land the part, but carry a major studio action film without suffering the fate of being “just a piece of ass.” (more…)

In my role as Executive Director of Ride 2 Recovery, a mental and physical rehabilitation program for injured veterans that makes a difference in the lives of those who come thru our program (more info: Ride2Recovery.com), I am asked to preview movies, music, and all things military and, or veteran related entertainment. Since we deal with a lot of PTSD patients, the scars of war are all to familiar and the haunting that they feel and the effects it takes on their families is hard to explain to those who do not know these brave men and women or experienced war and its related hardships themselves.

So it was last Thursday that I, along with a few other military organizations came to meet for a viewing of the upcoming movie “Lifted.” Because the director was a noted Hollywood liberal, I was not really sure what I was about to see.

In this ever polarized environment we live in today, it is rare to find a movie about the War on Terror that takes both a decided anti-war theme, but yet gives supporters of the conflict a chance to feel pride in the way a boy and his family overcome the struggles of deployment. (more…)