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REQUIEM

Below are the two final essays to be posted on Allegiance and Duty Betrayed. The first one is written by a friend -- screen name 'Euro-American Scum' -- who, over the past four years, has been the most faithful essayist here. He has written about everything from his pilgrimage to Normandy in 2004 to take part in the 60th–year commemoration of the invasion, to his memories of his tour in Vietnam. His dedication to America’s founding principles ... and those who have sacrificed to preserve them over the past 200+ years ... is unequaled. Thank you, E-A-S. It has been a privilege to include your writing here, and it is a privilege to call you my friend.

The second essay is my own farewell. And with it I thank all of the many regular visitors, and those who may have only dropped in occasionally, for coming here. I hope you learned something. I hope a seed or two was planted. But, even if not, I thank you for stopping by ... 25 March, 2010

4/19/2009

Another One Bites the Dust


Rick and I watch very little television. What programs we do watch (perhaps a half dozen) we watch faithfully. And among the small handful of programs on our ‘must see’ list has been ‘24’ -- a well-directed, well-acted thriller that has us sitting on the edge of our seats during virtually every episode.

The series began, seven seasons ago, with a surprisingly conservative viewpoint – portraying both our government and other governments/terrorist organizations (‘fictionalized’ depictions that often bear a striking resemblance to actual groups) in a very accurate light. The main characters always confronted major national security crises with a boundless sense of duty, courage and integrity. And, despite the best efforts of those who would bring down our republic, the ‘good guys’ always won out, after overcoming a riveting and indescribably suspenseful series of dangerous obstacles.

At the beginning of this year’s episodes we began to notice a marked difference in the subliminal messages that were being delivered – the most marked of which had to do with the viability and positive results of stem cell research, and the fact that this year’s most notorious character appears to be a staunch American conservative who has gone over the edge and become a renegade domestic terrorist.

In a commercial which frequently airs during the program this season, Cherry Jones, the actor who portrays President Allison Taylor, is also the spokesperson for ‘climate change’, passionately urging viewers to accept the [bogus] theory and adjust their lives accordingly.

One of the newer actors who entered the series in 2008 is Janeane Garofalo, playing Janis Gold, a high-level FBI analyst. I had heard bits and pieces about Garofalo’s leftist tendencies -- including the fact that she refused to meet, or have her picture taken with, Vice President Cheney when he visited the set of ‘24’ -- but I did not allow those bits and pieces to deter me from continuing to watch the program, since the suspense and intrigue that this year’s episodes create is superb.

I allowed myself to overlook Garofalo’s political views ... until today.

After having been urged by countless friends to do so, today I witnessed Janeane Garofalo’s bitter, vile, vitriolic characterization of all modern American patriots who have attended, and will attend, the tea parties that are springing up around the country.

I have not attended any of these tea parties, and probably will not attend any future ones, having sadly reconciled myself to the fact that I can no longer waste my time and energy attempting to win a battle whose outcome, barring Divine intervention, is now a foregone conclusion. But I do have many friends and family members who have participated in tea parties, and who will continue to do so. These people are the salt of the earth. Each one of them is well acquainted with the genuine definition and source of our liberties. Each one of them is well-versed in the history and noble foundations of our republic. And each one of them believes that we are running out of options to reclaim our republic from those in ‘leadership’ positions in Washington who place wealth, power and adherence to a political agenda above the sovereignty of our country and the safety, security and prosperity of its people.

If you haven’t already seen Janeane Garofalo’s portrayal of the modern American patriot, have a look. Warning: you may want to cover your keyboard with a waterproof covering, because you’re going to be spitting all over it momentarily:

Arrogant Leftwing Vitriol at its Worst

Highlights of Ms. Garofalo’s commentary:
_______________________________

There is nothing more interesting than seeing a bunch of racists become confused and angry about a speech where they’re not quite certain what he’s saying.

... Let’s be very honest about what this is about. It’s not about bashing democrats. It’s not about taxes. They have no idea what the Boston Tea Party was about. They don’t know their history at all. This is about hating a black man in the White House. This is racism straight up. That is nothing but a bunch of tea-bagging rednecks.

... You can tell these type of right-wingers anything and they’ll believe it – except the truth. You tell them the truth and it’s like showing Frankenstein’s monster fire. They become confused and angry and highly volatile.

_______________________________

Ms. Garofalo then goes on to describe the actual systemic ‘neurological problem’ (resulting in a kind of ‘pathology’) with which most conservatives are cursed, and the ‘anti-intellectualism’ that conservative news outlets foment (they seek to ‘disinform, coerce and dumb down’ the electorate). She also arrogantly describes the American conservative movement as based on ‘ignorance, apathy, hate and fear’.

I had a great deal of difficulty maneuvering through the 2000 presidential election, in large part because I deeply resented an agenda-driven schemer, with an IQ most likely lower than most men on the street in the town in which I live, talking down to me in a perpetually arrogant, condescending manner. I also truly believe that Al Gore’s knowledge (as opposed to rote-memorized leftwing propaganda, and conveniently manufactured ‘statistics’) of the science behind climate aberrations could fit in a thimble, with significant room to spare.

Yet, nine years later, observing Janeane Garofalo’s nearly identical patronizing, arrogant pontificating somehow cut even deeper. She is, after all, simply an actor – and a mediocre one at that. An actor with the audacity to condescendingly characterize with a broad black brush that last remnant of the American citizenry that still gets it.

I suspect that anyone reading my words here knows light years more about the foundations of our republic than she. I suspect that the reader has also sacrificed significantly more than she in order to see to it that the magnificent vision of our Founders is not betrayed. I suspect that he is more capable of independent, critical thought; more concerned with his fellow man; more acutely aware of the threats to his nation’s safety and sovereignty; and more capable of at least entertaining opinions that are in conflict with his own.

There are surely hundreds of actors in Hollywood who could play the role that Janeane Garofalo plays on '24' -- and many of them could render it better than she. So I suspect that Ms. Garofalo was hired for a reason other than her acting ability. Just as I suspect that the viability of stem cell research did not have to be a critical aspect of this year's story line; nor was it necessary for one of the series' major actors to regularly insert into the programming a commercial glorifying the 'science' of climate change.

Because the above list represents one too many 'coincidences', tomorrow will represent the first (of many) Monday(s) since this season began that I will no longer be watching ‘24’. No one but me (and now you) will be aware of that fact. Yet, during this sad, watershed era in the history of mankind, we have to learn to find joy in the little things. I will be finding new joy in discovering a more uplifting, productive way to spend 9-10 o'clock on Monday nights. I may just learn to knit. :)

When patience has begotten false estimates of its motives, and when wrongs are pressed because it is believed they will be borne, resistance becomes morality ... Thomas Jefferson, letter to Madame de Stael, 1807

~ joanie

44 comments:

Anonymous said...

Never saw the show. Now I never will. Thanks.

robmaroni said...

Attagirl, Joanie! Way to back up words with actions!

stonemason said...

Right out of the liberal playbook. They suck you in and then start sending their message, disguising it as "entertainment."

Anonymous said...

Never saw the show. Now I never will. Thanks.Ditto here.

daveburkett said...

I may just learn to knit. :)I could use a nice crewneck sweater. ;)

Good insights, Joanie.

Off topic:

Here's something from Patriot Post that will make you sick, even though it's par for the course:

According to Minority Report's Dave Hinz, "That wonderful cheering welcome that President Obama received with his unscheduled surprised visit to the troops in Iraq, was entirely a staged event."

One Army sergeant described the event this way:

"We were pre-screened, asked by officials 'Who voted for Obama?' and then those who raised their hands were shuffled to the front of the receiving line. They even handed out digital cameras and asked them to hold them up."

As Hinz put it, "Political operatives from the administration orchestrated a faux-cheering crowd of adoring military, right in front of the media covering the event."
Nice, eh?

daveburkett said...

How come the last paragraph of my post didn't format right? It looked fine in the preview. (It looks like the guy above's didn't either.)

Lou Barakos said...

An awesome report, Joanie. I concur with everything and am going to consider boycotting the show too.

Cal Brindisi said...

I hadn't recognized the little changes, but I think you're right. On the other hand, if I stop watching, I'll never know if Tony Almeda(sp?) is really working for Starkwood. ;)

Another question for you: Why would Jon Voigt, a staunch conservative, associate himself with this season? It's a puzzle.

Anonymous said...

"There are surely hundreds of actors in Hollywood who could play the role that Janeane Garofalo plays on '24' -- and many of them could render it better than she. So I suspect that Ms. Garofalo was hired for a reason other than her acting ability. Just as I suspect that the viability of embryonic stem cell research did not have to be a critical aspect of this year's story line; nor was it necessary for one of the series' major actors to regularly insert into the programming a commercial glorifying the 'science' of climate change."

There's too many coincidences for me too. I don't watch the show regularly but I won't watch it at all now.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for this.

Rick Wilson said...

Well said, neighbor!

lori_gmeiner said...

Joanie, the only small issue I would take with your comments is that the stem cell research they're showing is adult stem cell stuff. So it's not the awful embryonic stem cell research.

Aside from that, I understand and agree with all of your points. Well said.

Anonymous said...

Joan,

I was starting to think the same thing about this show. It looked like from the beginning of this season they were going to set up the conservatives and make them look bad. As if to try and prove that everything that Bush did was anti USA. This so-called study that our new Homeland Security chief just came out with is a prime example of Hollywood and the liberals working together....Angelo

joanie said...

Dave Burkett:

Yes, the Obama in Iraq thing makes us all sick, but it shouldn't surprise us anymore. As Rush Limbaugh (who gets it right more often than not) used to say, with leftists it's always symbolism over substance.

Today's leftist has no substance, so the symbolism is his stock in trade.

What's maybe even more maddening is the fact that the mainstream media witnessed all of this staging (of the American military, no less) and said nothing.

That, too, of course, is no surprise.

~ joanie

joanie said...

Cal Brindisi,

I can understand your desire to know whether Tony Almeda is indeed aligned with Starkwood. :)

Rick told me that last night's episode was amazing (he's disgusted with the road the show has taken, but hasn't yet reached the same breaking point that I have). I asked him not to tell me about it. I truly no longer am interested. Once a venue has been tainted with leftist propaganda, it no longer holds any appeal.

~ joanie

joanie said...

Lori,

You are right that the stem cell therapy that is no doubt going to save Jack Bauer's life will be adult-stem-cell related. But the average American (believe it or not) doesn't understand the difference between adult and embryonic stem cell therapy viability. (Research into adult stem cell therapy is much more promising, and yet the Obama administration has placed a cap on funds for that while also opening up whole new avenues of funding for embryonic stem cell research -- which is much less promising, and completely immoral.)

Whether or not the s-s therapy in the program is embryonic, it is sending the wrong message to an audience which, in large part, can't differentiate between the two, many of whom will come away with a positive opinion of the need to pursue any kind of stem cell research.

Thanks for the qualification, Lori. It's a valid one. But we may disagree slightly on the ramifications.

~ joanie

joanie said...

All very good observations, as always, Angelo.

I suspect you know that it was your youngest son who introduced Rick and me to '24' a couple of years ago. So at least I have him to thank for a couple of years of entertainment enjoyment, befor the 'message' went off track this year. :)

~ joanie

D. O'Connor said...

Good comments, Joanie.

From Glenn Beck today:

Garofalo Ruining '24'

Janeane Garofalo made an appearance on Countdown with Keith Olbermann recently in which she claimed that the only reason hundreds of thousands of people attended Tea Parties was racism. Yup, you attended a protest because you can't stand the fact that there is a black man in office. 'They don't know history' she said of Tea Party goers, adding 'it's straight up racism.' Janeane had a different take on protests in 2003 on "Countdown," specifically complaining about how protestors were attacked with 'unfair' and 'anti-intellectual' comments. Hmmm, you mean like saying all Tea Party protestors are racist? Thanks for doing your best to ruin 24, Janeane.

Reverence said...

There's a great lady in our midst.

Anonymous said...

Garofalo is one of the worst of the "entertainment elite." For the most part they are of below average intelligence and above average egos.

I watch no television and I don't think I'm missing a thing.

Danthemangottschall said...

I fear the tea parties are going to accomplish nothing, but what other choice do we have except armed insurrection?

kathymlynczak said...

Here's a video from Michelle Malkin:

Janeane Garofalo, meet Katrina PiersonJoanie, I wish you would attend one of the tea parties. Please re-think.

no_way_a_liberal said...

BINGO!!!You always hit the nail on the head.

Garofalo, like most liberals, do not counter arguments with facts. They cannot. They attack the messenger.

Montypython2 said...

Good for you! If more conservatives would do this, the liberal programming would lose its sponsors, but too many people don't give a damn what the politics of the actors are. We're lining the pockets of the enemy.

Anonymous said...

Well said and a good example of practicing what you preach.

joanie said...

D. O'Connor:

Glenn Beck's program on Fox is one of the few that Rick and I still watch regularly. He is a godsend, and, unlike many other 'conservative' pundits, does not appear to be in the business for the 'entertainment value', or to stroke his own ego.

His interviews are in-depth and penetrating (a rarity in any kind of news-oriented program these days), and he covers important stories, often with a perspective that isn't seen anywhere else.

You're welcome to quote him here anytime! :)

~ joanie

joanie said...

Thanks for the link, Kathy. I had not seen Ms. Pierson's speech at the Texas tea party. Especially considering her own background, it was very moving. God bless her, and strengthen her toward more activism!

~ joanie

trustbutverify said...

Joanie, great article.

Just a small correction: It was Lynne Cheney (and Rush Limbaugh) that Garofalo snubbed on the set of 24. Not that it matters. She's an idiot either way. ;)

Anonymous said...

You rightwingers are so afraid of intelligent opposition it isn't even funny! Get a life!

joanie said...

Thanks for the correction, tbv.

~ joanie

joanie said...

You rightwingers are so afraid of intelligent opposition it isn't even funny!

Trouble is, 'anonymous', we're all growing old waiting for the 'intelligent opposition' to which you refer. No sign of it yet.

(Lots of treasonous, self-enriching, unconstitutional, fascist, anti-liberty stuff going on, though, by those you seem to hold in high regard.)

~ joanie

tet68 said...

Slightly off topic:

The persecution of a previous opposition administration is a tactic of the left, when in power use it to destroy your political enemies. The liberals are using the playbook bequeathed to them from their communist instructors. In defeat, make accusations of unfairness. In victory, crush your opponents. There is NO “bipartisanship” on the part of the left, it's just a tactic to be used to maneuver opponents.

Obama and his minions are tearing at the very fabric of our polity, using all the tools the left can bring to bear, Class warfare, collectivization of special interests, recruitment of the young into political ranks in the name of national service, the use of the media as cheerleaders of various schemes designed to subtly undermine those values and conducts that America has held from it's inception, but now disused and untaught to succeeding generations, even vilified, in those selfsame “Public” schools we all are forced to pay for.

Obama knows that his time is limited, his door of opportunity did not open wide, hence his push to create uncertainty among the electorate to keep any opposition from forming.

Make no mistake, Obama is in charge of all that happens. He floats a trial balloon, and if the reaction is negative he denies it, all the while his cohort is pushing forward with his agenda. It's a good way to keep the wool pulled over the eyes of the supporters who are now becoming uncomfortable with the choice they made.

We are dealing with a determined and skilled leftist holding the highest office in our land, a situation unthinkable just a few years ago.

Tet.

Brian Spear said...

You rightwingers are so afraid of intelligent opposition it isn't even funny! Get a life!You took a wrong turn somewhere, fella. This ain't the Daily Kos.

Mark Sawyer said...

Limbaugh used to be a big fan of "24." He used to mention it on his show all the time. A few weeks ago he said something mildly negative about it (can't remember what) and he hasn't mentioned it since. I think he might be seeing the same things you are.

3timesalady said...

From James Dobson of Focus on the Family--

We Have Lost the Culture War. The U.S. is Awash in Evil

Ron Paul fan said...

Here's Paul Begala's take on the tea parties on CNN:

"Why are they out there whining with this tea party thing? Just a bunch of wimpy, whiney weasels who don't love their country..."

Typical of a Clintonista.

daveburkett said...

Joanie, here's a GREAT quote from Roger Simon:

If it's Tuesday, it must be Obama. Or Friday. Or Saturday. Or just about any day. Barack Obama has gone from being historic to being ubiquitous. He doesn't just control the news cycle, he is the news cycle. Need an auto exec fired? A pirate killed? A dog patted? A Cuba policy addressed? An Easter egg rolled? An economy stimulated? Hey, he also does Seders! So if a tree falls in the forest and Barack Obama is not there to talk about his forestry policy, does it really make a sound?

joanie said...

Thanks, Dave. I've entered it as 'Quote of the Week'.

~ joanie

joanie said...

Beautifully said, tet! There's not a word with which I (or any rational American) can disagree.

~ joanie

joanie said...

I have a great deal of respect for Jim Dobson, 3timesalady. He is a Christian leader in high standing. And he is generally optimistic about the state of our republic. That Dobson would feel we have lost the culture war is a very frightening occurrence indeed.

Thanks for the link.

~ joanie

John Cooper said...

The producers of '24' should remember what happened to the Dixie Chicks.

There are a lot of otherwise good actors and singers that I just won't tolerate any more. I can't watch or listen to Streisand, Redford, Clooney, Penn, Asner any more...the list is long.

Somehow they think because they have ability in one realm, that makes them intelligent.

tet68 said...

Joanie, we are seeing history made, perhaps not such good history but it’s happening right in front of us.

We can only hope the safeguards our founders built will work in the end, Obama will probably overreach and some thing can be done about him (impeach?), lord I never would have thought that Biden would be a better solution but there it is.

There are many good Americans who will not stand by and watch silently, many of them will perhaps feel the heavy hand of oppressive government before this is over. We can, like Washington , pray for Divine Providence to guide and protect us, meanwhile we prepare for what history has taught us is the result when socialists achieve power.

May God bless and keep you and yours.

tet.

aaron said...

"At the beginning of this year’s episodes we began to notice a marked difference in the subliminal messages that were being delivered – the most marked of which had to do with the viability and positive results of stem cell research, and the fact that this year’s most notorious character appears to be a staunch American conservative who has gone over the edge and become a renegade domestic terrorist.

"In a commercial which frequently airs during the program this season, Cherry Jones, the actor who portrays President Allison Taylor, is also the spokesperson for ‘climate change’, passionately urging viewers to accept the [bogus] theory and adjust their lives accordingly.

"One of the newer actors who entered the series in 2008 is Janeane Garofalo, playing Janis Gold, a high-level FBI analyst. I had heard bits and pieces about Garofalo’s leftist tendencies -- including the fact that she refused to meet, or have her picture taken with, Vice President Cheney when he visited the set of ‘24’ -- "
Then WHY do you watch this crap??????????????????????????

Claude Mignon said...

I've noticed this tendency in a lot of shows. They suck you in and then begin inserting liberal "messages" after you're hooked.

If more people would do what you're doing the advertising dollars would dry up and the shows would go off the air.