BLATHER REVIEW

just some pointless points...

Barbra Streisand has a new "statement" up titled Art in the Pursuit of Truth. While I agree with her statement overall, what inspired it is a bit curious. This is her concluding "point":

Members of the Hollywood community should not be apologetic, but proud...proud to have provoked conversations, proud to have challenged ignorance and proud to have helped shape our history for the better.

Did I miss where someone suggested that Hollywood ought to be "apologetic" for making films like "To Kill a Mockingbird", "Schindler's List" and "The Grapes of Wrath"?

And just one more observation:

During the McCarthy Era, when actors and filmmakers were being blacklisted, the brave "Hollywood Ten," calling on their 1st Amendment rights, refused to testify in front of the House...Un-American Activities Committee. The courts disagreed and they all were found guilty of contempt of Congress and each was sentenced to between six and twelve months in prison.

Refusing to testify when subpoenaed is not a 1st Amendment right, it's a 5th Amendment right, and it's on the grounds that your testimony may tend to incriminate you. If the "Hollywood Ten"'s point was that their 1st Amendment rights were being assaulted by HUAC and/or Hollywood's own blacklist, then they are free to make that point to the Committee.

Ciao for now.

Posted by Tuning Spork at March 12, 2006 05:42 PM | TrackBack