We seem to have reached a point, with this website, where we have so disturbed the people on the other side of this debate, so much so that they have emailed us, en masse – to voice their displeasure. I think it’s fabulous to know that this message is getting out there and under the skin of other Americans, whichever way their opinions lay. The emails we receive from people who thank us for this site and think it’s a valuable message that needed to be delivered far outweigh the ones we receive from those who disagree – which tells me that there are more people out there who support this message than those who don’t – which pretty much is in keeping with the recent polls of Americans who approve of the effort in Iraq.
What is amusing are the statements in the emails we receive from those who disagree. The main topic is that of freedom of speech. Some seem to think that we are ‘stepping on the rights of the celebrities’ who are discussed here. It is amusing because we are doing no such thing. All we are doing is simply expressing our disagreement with them – - meaning, we are exercising our own freedom of speech. We’re not trying to take away anyone’s rights to voice their opinions – everyone has that simple, basic right to do so.
Keep in mind that freedom of speech is a two-way street. The celebs who are discussed on this website have presented their arguments in a very large public forum, with the ability to reach hundreds of thousands, if not millions of people in one very public setting. We’re simply here to say that there are plenty of Americans who do not agree with their sentiments regarding the war, our President and our country.
As was stated in an earlier post on this site – speech is free, however it is not consequence free. Along with the freedom to speak your mind comes the risk of judgment and opposition from the other side of the debate. That is what we are doing here – nothing more.
A boycott is a very American way to speak your mind. We’re not calling for the resignation of any celebrity. We are not calling for a blacklist by the studios. There is a difference. I have to laugh when these people, who are sending in emails of disagreement, use the term ‘McCarthyism” and “McCarthyite” over and over again as if they are presenting a valid argument and judgment on what we are accomplishing here. It makes me wonder if they’ve done their research – or if they are parroting terms and phrases they are hearing from others? If you look up the McCarthy Era – you will soon learn and realize that was an organized blacklist supported and spearheaded by our government. It was not enforced by the American public, but by our own government. If a celebrity is going to exercise their right and announce to the world, via the media, that they are humiliated to be an American – - we have every right to make the decision NOT to dig into our pockets and pay money for their works. That is not a blacklist – that is a boycott…and there is a difference.
The American public has the right to make choices and decisions on how they spend their hard earned money. We happen to be so offended by what these celebs have said, in public – some of them inferring that they speak for the entirety of the American people – that we have made the choice and decision not to spend our own money on their projects. It is an exercise of free speech, if you will. There is nothing “McCarthyite” about it. We’re not the government here. We’re not lobbying for the government to shut down these celebs. We are just a few American folks with a website, stating our opinion and encouraging those who are in agreement to join along in supporting the message.
Some people, in these emails, have even gone as far as to demand to know our identity and who is paying for this site – because they feel it smacks of a right wing conspiracy, either by the media or by our own government. I’m sorry to burst your bubble – but we’re just average citizens here. Who pays for it? We do – three typical average people who work hard for a living and are proud of this country we live in. That’s it. There is no smoking gun to be found here.
Keep sending in those emails – - you serve only to validate our stance and our resolve with our message and purpose here. Boycotts are a very effective way of exercising free speech – and they have a long history. What affect are we having with our little website here? Hard to tell – - but we do know that we have sparked a whole lot of discussion from both sides of the debate – and just that, alone, is a fantastic outcome.
Thanks, everyone, for the feedback!
This is also driving me nuts.
On the View Monday, Joy, stated that those of us who are boycotting are depriving these celebrities of a livelyhood. WHAT??
I don’t go to strip clubs cause I find them offensive. Am I depriving those ladies of making a living? No.
I don’t buy spicy mustard cause I don’t like it. Have they stopped making it? No.
The only reason there are celebrities is because we, the public, have made them celebrities. They are the one’s who have forgotten there is a real world out there where people don’t care how many acting awards you’ve won or how many millions the studio thinks you’re worth.
At the end of the day the only thing that matters to me is I find you personally offensive and don’t have any intention of supporting you self-deluded, lifestyle.
AMEN. I love this site because I am so constantly bombarded with arguments from the other side of the debate, that it is nice to hear I am not alone. Thanks for the information. Keep it up!
Thank you guys, I am glad to have found your website, and your doing a Great job. Even though the minority does not think so. Articles and such that you post have be wonderful. Keep it up, we need someone to speak up.
God Bless our TROOPS, and America!!!!!!!!!!!!
Lisa says “we do know that we have sparked a whole lot of discussion from both sides of the debate – and just that, alone, is a fantastic outcome.”
My response to that is you bet it IS fantastic. For those of you familiar with the Bill of Rights, this is it IN ACTION. The Bill of Rights is alive and well and I couldn’t be happier.
Carol
I do my best to promote this site, and the general BOYCOTT Hollywood message on every message board and website I visit, and that’s all I do all day is surf the web, so I know I’ve done a lot to help spread the word.
I’m glad to see they have taken notice. They now know not only are the unimportant, but also they know their days are numbered as far as being a “celebrity”. It’s their own fault.
They made their bed, now they must lie in it.
Total agreement here!!!
I like the first person’s statement about not investing in foods or strip clubs, not because they are hopeful that they’ll dry up and blow away, but because they have decided out of their own free will that they just *don’t* like their message, period.
For the record, if a celebrity simply says “I don’t think we should go to war” in a very polite manner, or has personal feelings about the war not vocalized in one way or another, it’s not a problem for me. It’s just the folks who go a bit overboard in expressing their opposition to war, such as Janeane Garofalo and Martin Sheen, that get to me. (Admittedly, I’m still cracking up over the notion of Martin Sheen duct-taping his own mouth, which makes for a nice change of pace admittedly. I won’t lie and say I didn’t enjoy it or wasn’t amused by the irony, , but that’s neither here nor there.) If I can mentally divorce the fictional characters with the factual alter egos, it’s fine, but when I’m no longer able to do that, then it’s time for me to make a decision that perhaps I should expose myself to a bit less of that person’s work.
As far as I’m concerned, that person’s profession is escapism and creativity, which I *very* much enjoy, and if I can’t escape from the reality of their viewpoints, then that for me is a personal problem. I can usually dismiss certain parts of their personality and lifestyle I wouldn’t necessarily deem myself as long as they excel in their chief job, which is to *entertain* and provide *escapism*.
They endeavored to do that in the aftermath of 9/11. They have ceased to do so now, and feel the need to cross the personal and professional line with their personal feelings.
So concluding the above, since their personal feelings have gotten in the way of their work and they feel the need to cross the line between entertainer and politician, I find it difficult to enjoy it, and feel my own personal need to distance myself a bit from it. It’s my decision, and quite obviously the decision of many others.
So what happens if you’re not American?
Do we actually exist?
Here’s a little quandary…
What if, for example, James Woods (pro-invasion), and Kathleen Turner (anti-invasion), were in the same film? Like “The Virgin Suicides”.
What are we to do???
Kirsten wrote:
======================================
What if, for example, James Woods (pro-invasion), and Kathleen Turner (anti-invasion), were in the same film? Like “The Virgin Suicides”.
What are we to do???
======================================
Make a decision based on your own convictions
Maybe I should get someone who doesn’t care about celebrities speaking up against this righteous war in Iran, but that’s gonna be real hard.
Anyway, when I do, I can get them to watch the whole film and time it with one of them newfangled stopwatches. Then they can get back to me with the results and if Mr Woods appears more than that evil witch Kathleen Turner, then it’ll be okay to watch.
Although, with a title like “Virgin Suicides”, it’ll be sure to contain sex or some other sort of debauchery, so we’d best steer clear of that one.
Kirsten – the war is in Iraq, not Iran.
Point here is – watch whatever you want to watch. Really, it makes no difference here ~ we’re not attempting to tell people what to do. We are simply stating our opinion – however, that does not mean anyone else needs to agree with us.
Ooooh, thanks for the heads up, Lisa.
In all this kerfuffle about who’s saying what, and what people are allowed to say, I competely missed where the war actually was.
Where is Iraq anyway, is it near Germany? Those commie bastards. I hope when President Bush finishes off Iraq, he can pop on over and clean up the rest of them mis-behavin’ countries. Wherever they are.
If only the actors could have kept their mouths shut, there would be no such boycott. So why don’t they go back to their pampered existence and do what they know how to do best, manicures, facelifts, anorexia, and spend crazy amounts of money on absoultely nothing (I heard Gwenyth spent $20,000 on a cellphone, now there is putting your money to good use) and leave the rest of this country to those of us who live in the real world. I remember after 9/11 when all the stars were on television trying to get us all to send money while we got to see their gorgeous faces (what a treat), I thought to myself, why are we putting up our humble little salaries, while the celebs just have to show up on TV and flash their smiles. Of course, I know some of them gave their own money, but with all the money rolling around in tinsletown, they could have done so much more. They have so much money they don’t know what to do with and we are the fools who buy into their celebrity. I’m so glad my eyes are finally open to what they really are, self-centered, arrogant, self-indulgent pigs. I wonder why people are sticking up for them? What have they done for you lately?
My heart breaks for the troops trying to defend this country, the least people could do is support them, even if you are not for the war. We all want peace, I think that’s a no-brainer, sometimes you have to fight for it.
“Rocker Lenny Kravitz has released an anti-war song with an Iraqi pop star.Kravitz recorded the song – We Want Peace – with popular Iraqi singer Kadim Al Sahir in Miami last week. (Celebrity)”
http://www.baghdad.com/p/8d/6c01489b8a14.html?id=12abc95
Kirsten,
My husband and I are in our 50′s, and he is a Viet Nam era Veteran. In other words we have lived long enough to know our own minds and have a strong conviction of what is right and what is wrong. We saw firsthand the abuse that was showered on the Veterans of that time and cringe at the thought that these young men and women will be subjected to the same ordeal. I know you are very young, but for your information the abuse that they suffered was fueled to a great extent by Liberal Hollywood types such as a disgraceful Jane Fonda and others.
Many who have decided to BOYCOTT the Liberals in Hollywood are not young and impressionable and easily led astray from their own convictions and to suggest that, only insults and angers Americans further than your Radical behavior already has.
To answer your question about James Woods and Kathleen Turner being in the same movie, I can only speak for myself, but since I cannot abide the sight of the Liberals in Hollywood, I would choose not to watch the film or support it. I would have to forego seeing James Woods, who I like very much, because I will not put another dollar in the pocket of Kathleen Turner.
I went to Barnes and Noble and Suncoast Video in Bakersfield, CA yesterday and bought many classic films with stars such as John Wayne, Marilyn Monroe, Clint Eastwood (his older films), Lucille Ball, Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, Jimmy Stewart, Clark Gable, Doris Day, Debbie Reynolds, Richard Widmark, Gregory Peck, Tom Selleck, & Glen Ford. I spent over $300.00. While choosing these films, if they were closer to current day, I made sure that no Liberal celebrities were included in the film.
For the remainder of my life I will not put another dollar in the pockets of Liberal Hollywood. Janeanne Garafolo stated that it wasn’t “HIP” to protest Clinton’s wars, but evidently it is “HIP to protest a just war to remove a brutal dictator that tortures children and commits genocide against his own people, simply because the sitting President is a Republican. This is scandalous and unforgivable.
We have purchased DVD’s almost every Tuesday when they are released to the public including Spiderman, and I have many that contain Liberal Celebrities, but I will not have them much longer. I’m taking them to a Video/DVD retailer and getting some of my money back and I will spend that on classic films or films that do not contain Liberals.
I will not miss you, Liberal Hollywood. The world will keep spinning quite well without you. It is actually quite easy to find entertainment apart from Liberal Hollywood. As for me and mine we choose to be Transactionally Selective..
Sincerely,
Donna
Wow… there’s a “classic” film with Tom Selleck in it?
Hey D&D, did you check who the distribution/production companies of those films were?
You do understand that they get more than a fair slice of every dollar you spent on those films, don’t you?
Better make sure those aren’t liberal either, otherwise those bastards will be rolling around in your cash.
To; Who woulda thunk it?,
You stated;
[Wow... there's a "classic" film with Tom Selleck in it?]
If you had paid a little closer attention to what I wrote you would have noticed the following statement;
[While choosing these films, if they were closer to current day, I made sure that no Liberal celebrities were included in the film.]
To; It’s not quite as simple as that,
The films were all distributed by Warner Brothers and 20th Century Fox. I don’t know how I would find out the politics of these business men, or that it would be any of my business.
Let me clarify something. It is not Liberals as a whole that I have a problem with. Everyone has a right to their own sentiments and opinions. I may disagree with them, but they have a right to their opinion. What I object to is Celebrities taking advantage of their fame to make obnoxious and anti-American statements and/or behaving in a fashion that is anti-American. If I perceive them as anti-American, and it is my right to do so, I can also withdraw by business from them.
I may not be able to effect every Liberal in Hollywood, but I certainly can effect the worst of them.
I’m very sorry to hear that about Mr. Kravitz; he’s been one of my favorites for awhile. One more for my personal boycott list…
When are they going to make a movie that’s affectionate about America?
When are they (as our unofficial ad agency) going to take responsibility for the negetive views of our country they send all over the world–putting us all in danger?
I’m interested, Ruth, in the contents of your proposed movie that’ll be “affectionate” about America? What do you suggest?
I am a military wife living in NC. I was born and raised in California. Out of the 7 years that I have been married to my Marine, I have come across numerous people with there distaste with the military. I wish these troops could get the respect they deserve. You have no idea what we as a family go through. Try being a single parent with no family around and constantly having to make new friends. Moving 6 times in the last 6 years. And then have your community not support your family. Would I change it? Not a chance. I thank god that I was born in this country. And a message to all the women. Think of what we are able to do in this country. I have lived in Asia for 4 years. I kissed the ground when I got back here. If you know of a military family out there, please just offer some support. We really do need it.
We are depriving “celebrities of their livelihood? I beg to differ. I choose what I will eat, drink, watch, read, wear, and listen to, not anyone else! I choose not to attend movies, concerts, or buy CD’s, DVD’s, or anything else made by “celebrities” who hide behind the First Amendment and their right of Freedom of Speech to publicly humiliate and harm our President. Why is it that my right to have an opinion that differs from these “celebrities” and to choose what I buy is wrong? Yet they applaud when someone burns the American flag or effigies of our President… I guess I must seem pretty un-American to them.
A True American (Even though I have never burned our flag or anything.)
We are depriving “celebrities” of their livelihood? I beg to differ. I choose what I will eat, drink, watch, read, wear, and listen to, not anyone else! I choose not to attend movies, concerts, or buy CD’s, DVD’s, or anything else made by “celebrities” who hide behind the First Amendment and their right of Freedom of Speech to publicly humiliate and harm our President. Why is it that my right to have an opinion that differs from these “celebrities” and to choose what I buy is wrong? Yet they applaud when someone burns the American flag or effigies of our President… I guess I must seem pretty un-American to them.
A True American (Even though I have never burned our flag or anything.)
HI AND GREAT SITE YOU HAVE HERE-i never liked hollyweird when i lived there and i despise it even more these days-i have one question-i know that michael moore is more or less a hollywood poser at this point-but in light of the situation-i would like to know if you guys have any ideas or are organizing anything to show how disrespected we all feel concerning his behavior at the oscars-i do believe one of his movies is currently in theatres and would assume that blockbuster might rent them-as well as several companies must sell his book/books-boy these hollyweird folk are just starved for attention arent they??i would love an email back knowing if you have any ideas or plans-thanx-enola~GOD BLESS AMERICA AND ALL OUR BRAVE TROOPS!!!!!!
This site gives a voice to “normal” americans. The ones who don’t live is a rose-colored world!
I just wanted to say that my husband has been
subscribing to People Magazine for far to long.
I hate it because of what it stands for and the
“hollywood perfection” that’s their world.
I now look at these spoiled adults with pity, and
anger. But all of us have put them on a higher
level then deserved & we can bring them down
also. Love this site.
Great site. Bless you for your efforts. I have emailed links to the 50 or so in my address book.
I know this site is in its infancy, however I see it has basicly the right idea. I have worked in the entertainment industry as an accountant doing many tax returns for those infront of the camera and behind. In many instances the liberal left leanings were part of the landscape and culture.
But at this time after 9/11, and as we drain the swamp those like Sheen should be held accountable for their disloyal outrages. I do not see it yet (unless you have it in your site), but why not make a central mailing list of studios that we mass mail to say we will not patronize the films with so called stars like Sean Penn? My advice is that the best effect is to let studios and advertisers know that there is a market they will lose.