– by Mike Murray
In discussing with a Time magazine reporter his new HBO project (co-produced by Steven Spielberg), Tom Hanks said this: “Back in World War II, we viewed the Japanese as ‘yellow, slant-eyed dogs’ that believed in different gods. They were out to kill us because our way of living was different. We, in turn, wanted to annihilate them because they were different. Does that sound familiar, by any chance, to what’s going on today?”
Occupants of the extreme political left, no doubt, cheered Hanks’ noxious remarks. In their “America is awful” view, all condemnations of our nation (at least, the part of our nation that doesn’t include them) are welcome. Celebrity criticizers are especially appreciated by that crowd. So, in all likelihood, Hanks has ingratiated himself plenty with those who worship fools such as Sean Penn, Danny Glover, and Bill Maher.
It doesn’t seem that long ago that Hanks and Spielberg were rolling out a previous HBO project: Band of Brothers. That series cast American World War II soldiers in a favorable light. Of course, it helps to recall that the initial episode aired very near the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center. Whatever direction Hanks and Spielberg originally had in mind for the series, prudence surely dictated that criticism of America (and its military) would have been ill-advised.
It would have been politically incorrect — in the extreme.
Which is precisely the point. When patriotism was in vogue, Tom Hanks waved the U.S. flag as proudly as anyone. Liberals everywhere (even including Newsweek’s Jonathan Alter — who on 9/12 advocated torturing those captured in connection with the attack — and Mr. 4F himself, Bruce Springsteen) were hawks. Back then, they were proud to be Americans. And they were anxious to say so.
A decade later comes Barack Obama. And, accompanying his arrival, a shift in the political climate. Obama’s first order of business as president was to embark on a world tour, one in which he — time and time again — apologized for America’s sins (real and imagined). The leftists among the media, entertainment world, etc. (a redundancy, I realize) were thusly alerted that it was, once again, open season on America-bashing.
So now comes Hanks and his odious comments. Regardless of the ultimate direction his new series on U.S. involvement in the Pacific during World War II takes, Hanks revealed his private thinking during his interview. By doing so, he clearly intended to curry favor with those who have little but disdain for America — and, perhaps, for everything military.
It is no small coincidence that most of those who are critical of our men and women who “wear the uniform” never had the guts, themselves, to don one. Certainly, it is the rare celebrity who had the courage to serve – to (potentially) place himself in harm’s way.
Still, if Tom Hanks were consistent in his criticism of the U.S. — if he bashed his country even when it was politically incorrect to do so (such as in the near aftermath of 9/11) — I could at least respect his views. I would deem him possessed of convictions — however misguided.
But, since Hanks has chosen to take the easy way — to blow with the political wind — I can only see him as one thing. A coward.
Copyright © 2010 Michael F. Murray All rights reserved.
