Steven P. BarrettHOLLOW WOOD PUSHES THE WEED, BUT WHO'LL UNRAVEL THE DAMAGE? (LINK)
July 7th 2008 01:11
Steven Barrett
WHEN I WAS YOUNGER AND A LOT DUMBER, I USED TO LAUGH AT THE POOR QUALITY "PUBLIC SERVICE FILMS" AND ADS PUT OUT BY THE GOVERNMENT IN ITS EFFORTS TO STEM MARIJUANA USE. AND LET'S FACE IT, IF YOU WATCHED THEM, YOU HAD TO WONDER WHAT THE PRODUCERS WERE ON THEMSELVES.
On the other hand, let's fast forward to the way Hollywood, excuse me Hollow Wood, treats illegal drug use and outright abuse of any illegal substances. By and large, thanks to some very good shows like Law & Order and the CSI franchises, at least the television networks have taken defacto stands against illegal drug usage, selling and the usual trainwrecks that accompany the illegal drug trade.
As far as I'm concerned, they can never film enough episodes about the dangers of making, selling and using crystal meth for no other reason than to scare the living hell out of people concerning the wide ramifications this evil can bring to any person, his or her family, friends, and even neighbors. It's like having a chemical bomb factory next door. No thanks and good riddance.
Government reports today keep on giving us the same dreary story we've been given years ago: drug abuse is up, especially with young kids and the effects of the drugs, particularly marijuana don't just end with the kids getting messed up temporarily. The damage can be lifelong in terms of depression, addiction and so forth.
But why is Hollow Wood, i.e., the "big silver screen" end of the "entertainment industry" so blithe to the dangers of trashing people who are trying to wake up our youth and especially their parents to the dangers these drugs can bring?
I've just read a recent column by Brent Bozell III -- no friend of the proponents of the amoral "lifestyle" Hollow Wood would like the rest of the nation to emulate. In a review of an "Access Hollywood" puff piece for "The Wackness" Bozell artfully denudes the promoters of this garbage of a film, the characters and even CBS' Morning News Julie Chen in her enabling role during an interview she had with Elizabeth Perkins, who supports legalizing marijuana in real life, yet played a "moralizing" government official. I've linked it. But I nevertheless wanted to leave off with Bozell's final remarks as food for thought:
Amen, brother. Amen.
WHEN I WAS YOUNGER AND A LOT DUMBER, I USED TO LAUGH AT THE POOR QUALITY "PUBLIC SERVICE FILMS" AND ADS PUT OUT BY THE GOVERNMENT IN ITS EFFORTS TO STEM MARIJUANA USE. AND LET'S FACE IT, IF YOU WATCHED THEM, YOU HAD TO WONDER WHAT THE PRODUCERS WERE ON THEMSELVES.
On the other hand, let's fast forward to the way Hollywood, excuse me Hollow Wood, treats illegal drug use and outright abuse of any illegal substances. By and large, thanks to some very good shows like Law & Order and the CSI franchises, at least the television networks have taken defacto stands against illegal drug usage, selling and the usual trainwrecks that accompany the illegal drug trade.
As far as I'm concerned, they can never film enough episodes about the dangers of making, selling and using crystal meth for no other reason than to scare the living hell out of people concerning the wide ramifications this evil can bring to any person, his or her family, friends, and even neighbors. It's like having a chemical bomb factory next door. No thanks and good riddance.
Government reports today keep on giving us the same dreary story we've been given years ago: drug abuse is up, especially with young kids and the effects of the drugs, particularly marijuana don't just end with the kids getting messed up temporarily. The damage can be lifelong in terms of depression, addiction and so forth.
But why is Hollow Wood, i.e., the "big silver screen" end of the "entertainment industry" so blithe to the dangers of trashing people who are trying to wake up our youth and especially their parents to the dangers these drugs can bring?
I've just read a recent column by Brent Bozell III -- no friend of the proponents of the amoral "lifestyle" Hollow Wood would like the rest of the nation to emulate. In a review of an "Access Hollywood" puff piece for "The Wackness" Bozell artfully denudes the promoters of this garbage of a film, the characters and even CBS' Morning News Julie Chen in her enabling role during an interview she had with Elizabeth Perkins, who supports legalizing marijuana in real life, yet played a "moralizing" government official. I've linked it. But I nevertheless wanted to leave off with Bozell's final remarks as food for thought:
The show's primary hypocrite is the boozy anti-drug crusader Celia Hodes, played by Elizabeth Perkins, who told TV Guide that her character "discovers drugs this year ... and she's like a kid in a candy shop." Perkins is delighted by the bad behavior on the show. "There's just something delicious about watching people misbehave without any sense of conscience."
This is a classic Hollywood outburst. These people love misbehavior, wallow in it and suggest anyone who would dare take a stand that appears morally upright is undoubtedly just a repressed fraud. It carries an Orwellian echo: Honesty is found in corruption, and moral fervor is a sickness that needs to be vanquished. Morality is immoral.
Perkins displayed more of her debased philosophy on CBS's "The Early Show" on July 2 in a cozy showcase of CBS-Showtime corporate-cousin synergy. She described her moralizing character as fun to play because she's "really screwed up and evil." She's an unstable hypocrite in a bad marriage who's "going to take it out on whoever happens to be standing in her way."
CBS anchor Julie Chen asked Perkins if she supports legalizing marijuana in real life. "Oh, yeah, absolutely." she answered. "Alcohol is legal. It doesn't make a lot of sense to me why marijuana's not."
Chen asked what her character would say in response. Perkins replied: "Oh, put them all in jail." Chen laughed and agreed. "She's so self-righteous." Perkins then added, "Well, Celia's probably the only character on the show who's never smoked marijuana ... Never cave with marijuana, because that's the 'evil drug' -- according to her." Chen guffawed along, in mockery of the anti-drug position.
Teenagers will go see the movie with the Nickelodeon star selling pot, and teenagers are in the audience when Showtime is displaying its affection for "Weeds." Hollywood is not merely mocking people who moralize against marijuana, they're actively encouraging young people to explore the "edgy" life of illegal drugs they see on screen. But Hollywood will not be around for comfort or counseling when teenagers have to go to detox, or see psychologists for depression or other mental problems. (emphasis mine, sb)
They ought to look in the mirror and wonder if they're the self-righteous people who are really screwed up and pushing evil.
This is a classic Hollywood outburst. These people love misbehavior, wallow in it and suggest anyone who would dare take a stand that appears morally upright is undoubtedly just a repressed fraud. It carries an Orwellian echo: Honesty is found in corruption, and moral fervor is a sickness that needs to be vanquished. Morality is immoral.
Perkins displayed more of her debased philosophy on CBS's "The Early Show" on July 2 in a cozy showcase of CBS-Showtime corporate-cousin synergy. She described her moralizing character as fun to play because she's "really screwed up and evil." She's an unstable hypocrite in a bad marriage who's "going to take it out on whoever happens to be standing in her way."
CBS anchor Julie Chen asked Perkins if she supports legalizing marijuana in real life. "Oh, yeah, absolutely." she answered. "Alcohol is legal. It doesn't make a lot of sense to me why marijuana's not."
Chen asked what her character would say in response. Perkins replied: "Oh, put them all in jail." Chen laughed and agreed. "She's so self-righteous." Perkins then added, "Well, Celia's probably the only character on the show who's never smoked marijuana ... Never cave with marijuana, because that's the 'evil drug' -- according to her." Chen guffawed along, in mockery of the anti-drug position.
Teenagers will go see the movie with the Nickelodeon star selling pot, and teenagers are in the audience when Showtime is displaying its affection for "Weeds." Hollywood is not merely mocking people who moralize against marijuana, they're actively encouraging young people to explore the "edgy" life of illegal drugs they see on screen. But Hollywood will not be around for comfort or counseling when teenagers have to go to detox, or see psychologists for depression or other mental problems. (emphasis mine, sb)
They ought to look in the mirror and wonder if they're the self-righteous people who are really screwed up and pushing evil.
Amen, brother. Amen.
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Comment by S.L.
The Political Brief
After all the years of the "War on Drugs" you'd think a few more people would get the hint that it's not a good idea. Then we have celebrities up the wazoo in rehab. Talk about a mixed message! The dealers aren't shady characters hiding in alleyways these days, many of them have an M. D. after their names.
Comment by Anonymous
WIth her views she'd have looked goofy enough wearing a doc's frock, but in a uniform no less -- that took some doing!
Comment by S.L.
The Political Brief
His "respect" for the military was so evident, wasn't it?