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May 27, 2007

100th Anniversary of the Birth of Draft Dodger Marion Morrison

Yesterday, more than a few news sources took a hero-worship approach on Morrison; some even called him the real deal. The real deal?

He had a fake name, fake persona, played fake characters in fake movies with fake storylines and fake scenarios. Of course, to the right-wing nutters, saying this about Morrison could be worse than accusing Ronnie Raygun of molestation.

Is it necessary to bring this up? I think it is.

But whatever roles he played or movies he performed in are trivial to what made up the rest of his life.

Foremost is choosing his career over service during WWII. All the excuses used to justify his decision ring hollow as the biggest stars of Hollywood, who could have used the same reasons, signed up for military service.

He certainly was a template for all those future chickenhawks who said they could better serve their country by “debating” the glories of war rather than serve.

Let’s not forget Morrison’s other shining moments that ended up on the wrong side of history:
- supported the House Un-American Activities Committee
- influential in having American screenwriter and film producer Carl Foreman blacklisted
- supported the Vietnam War
- gave campaign contributions to George Wallace
- campaigned for Dick Nixon
- justified genocide against Native Americans
- claimed African-Americans were not smart enough to run the government

This list could be a profile of a radicalized white supremacist entrenched in a high security compound in Idaho.

Maybe the most damaging aspect of his life was the influence he has exerted on today’s generation. People born after his death think Morrison is an American icon to be emulated.

I take no pleasure in doing a smackdown on John Wayne because there is evidence that in his later years he regretted his decision not to serve, and there was some stirring from him to understand the solidarity of the human spirit; however, it seems the only things taken from his life are bravado without wisdom, and stunted intellectual discernment. Two traits found in contemporary conservative mentality.

Posted by Captain Kroc at May 27, 2007 05:10 PM

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Comments

Say what you will about John Wayne but he so owned the part of Genghis Khan that Hollywood hasn't dared make another movie about the Mongol Hordes for half a century.

Posted by: Mayor McSleaze at May 28, 2007 12:02 PM

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