http://www2.mediaresearch.org/cyberalerts/...b20030311.asp#4Lange “Resents” Equating of “Being
Anti-War and Anti-American”
Jessica Lange who, upset by President Bush's Iraq policy, charged during a press conference at a film festival in Spain last September that “it is an embarrassing time to be an American.... it's humiliating,” complained on Monday's Late Show that “the thing I resent most is...some kind of equation between being anti-war and anti-American.”
Lange's concern for being considered “unpatriotic” came during an interview with Late Show guest host Whoopi Goldberg, who was filling in for David Letterman who remains at home because of shingles.
Goldberg revealed that she shares Lange's worldview. Goldberg praised Lange for participating in anti-liberation of Iraq protest: “I saw you this morning in front of the UN. I was really proud to see you doing this press conference.” Goldberg assured Lange: “I believe a lot of people are listening, more people than the polls say.”
MRC analyst Brad Wilmouth took down the discussion, on the March 10 Late Show on CBS, about Lange's anti-war political activities and public reaction to it:
Goldberg: “I saw you this morning in front of the UN. I was really proud to see you doing this press conference. Now, it’s funny, because whenever you watch things, whenever you watch famous people talking about things that are near and dear to their heart, we always see these polls that come out, you know, they’re so and so, and they poll immediately. And why do you think that whenever famous people get involved in things like anti-war movements or things that mean something in the world, people start to get nervous about it? Because they use us to sell cars and stuff.”
Lange: “Yeah, you can sell cars, you can sell cosmetics, but God forbid you should speak of something that’s important to you. You know, I actually think that, you know, people lack a certain amount of imagination, so if they see you one way, that’s the only way they want to see you. And they kind of deny you credibility to, you know, and I think everybody’s point is if you are given the forum, then you better, you better take it, because there are an awful lot of people out there who don’t have the voice, who aren’t given the opportunity to speak out. So for me, it’s never been a question of, 'Should I do it, should I not do it?’ It’s always been, 'You want me, okay, I’ll be there. I’ll be there, I’ll be there early.”
Goldberg: “Well, I was glad to see you, I was glad to see you, and I believe a lot of people are listening, more people than the polls say.”
Lange: “A lot more people than the polls say and a lot more people than are being accounted for, you know, I mean, there is that thing of diminishing the numbers. But they are growing. And it’s pretty powerful, and it’s across the board. So, so everybody has to speak out for peace whenever they can.”
Goldberg: “Well, I like that.”
Lange: “Because I’ll tell you, the thing I resent most is this making some kind of analogy, some kind of equation between being anti-war and anti-American.”
Goldberg: “Yes, I find this interesting on the news, they’re always sort of, this is a new sort of wrinkle.”
Lange: “Yes. That if you are for peace, you are unpatriotic. Which then kind of indicates, what are we to assume from that, that there is some kind of basic tenet in our democracy that says we have to wage war, you know?”
Goldberg: “You know what it is? I think sometimes people get mixed up about what the Constitution actually means here, you know, when you can have an opinion, one of the great things about living in this country is you can have an opinion that’s different from everyone else’s and it does move.”
Lange: “Yes, and you should question your government.”
Goldberg: “You can question government.”
Lange: “Absolutely have to question it. We are not a nation of sheep, after all.”
Goldberg: “No, we’re not, thank goodness.”
Lange's concern for being seen as “anti-American” comes six months after, from abroad, she denounced U.S. policy and declared “it is an embarrassing time to be an American.” She made her comments during a September 25 press conference at the San Sebastian International Film Festival in Spain where she received a lifetime achievement award.
A week or so later, the syndicated program Inside Edition played video soundbites of her pronouncements:
-- On George W. Bush: “I despise him. I despise his administration and everything they stand for.”
-- “To my mind the election was stolen by George Bush and we have been suffering ever since under this man's leadership.”
-- “And I think this latest thing with Iraq is absolute madness and I'm stunned that there is not opposition on a much more global scale to what he's talking about.”
-- “There has to be a movement now to really oppose what he is proposing because it's unconstitutional, it's immoral and basically illegal.”
-- “It is an embarrassing time to be an American. It really is. It's humiliating.”
For more about that piece, including a RealPlayer clip of part of the Inside Edition story, as well as summaries and links to other stories at the time about her comments, see the October 7 CyberAlert:
http://www.mediaresearch.org/cyberalerts/2...b20021007.asp#5 For a rundown of Lange's career, see her Internet Movie Database page:
http://us.imdb.com/Name?Lange,+Jessica She's presently making the media rounds (she also appeared Monday night on CNN's NewsNight) to plug her new HBO movie set to debut this Sunday, Normal, in which she plays the wife of a man who decides to become a woman. HBO's summary of the movie:
An official selection at the 2003 Sundance Film Festival, this HBO Films production adapted by Jane Anderson from her acclaimed play mixes humor, drama, and tenderness in telling the story of a seemingly “normal” Midwestern factory worker who stuns his family and community by revealing he wants a sex change operation.
Roy Applewood's outrageous news shocks and angers Irma, his wife of 25 years. Despite his insistence that he wants the family to stay together, she kicks him out of the house.
Their adolescent daughter, Patty Ann, takes the news more in stride as she is discovering the awkwardness of her own burgeoning sexuality.
However, nothing in his career as a rock roadie has prepared the couple's grown son, Wayne, for dealing with his father's decision.
As Roy begins exploring the accoutrements of being a woman (from perfume to breasts) he faces ostracism within the community and ridicule on the job. But, he also finds compassion from unlikely sources, such as his boss, who is beginning to take an interest in Irma.
Ultimately, the family struggles to understand Roy's decision and he and Irma discover that love can transcend both the genders we're born with and the ones we choose....
END Excerpt from HBO Web site
That's at:
http://www.hbo.com/films/normal/synopsis/ The main page for Normal, which premieres Sunday, March 16 at 10pm EST/PST:
http://www.hbo.com/films/normal/ My advice to Lange: If you don't want people to consider you “anti-American,” don't say “it is a humiliating time to be an American.”
Pretty simple.
