Silverwolf was pretty outraged to learn, while listening to a very condescending interview of Congressman Ron Paul on “The Economist” site (in which the interviewer added his own editorial comments at the end that completely contradicted the very valid arguments Dr. Paul had made), that Ron Paul had been swindled into appearing in the movie “Bruno” under fraudulent pretenses. Since Silverwolf had no idea of who had made this film, or what it was about, except for hearing that Gay Rights groups had protested it, he was intrigued enough to investigate further.
It turned out that this was a film by Sacha Baron Cohen, who made Borat, a film which Silverwolf hadn’t wasted time watching, since it was generally condemned as portraying offensive ethnic and nation stereotypes, specifically of the folks living in Khazakhstan. However, when we read the details of Cohen’s setting up Congressman Ron Paul to exploit him to make money, under fraudulent conditions, and to embarrass such a well-behaved, courteous, and very serious Congressman, we were sickened beyond belief. Evidently, the Congressman had been lured to a studio under the fraudulent promise of being interviewed on Austrian Economics. But when he arrived he was put into an extremely embarrassing situation, and had his reaction filmed for re-sale. (Much as that immoral and disgusting tv show, “Candid Camera” used to do to make bucks for Alan Funt.) And when we further went on to read the criticisms made of “Bruno” by GLAAD, the major Gay Rights organization in America, we readily realised that Cohen’s exploitation of people extended not only to individuals or ethnic groups, but also to persecuted minorities. Cohen, and his studio, have not only committed the Crime of Fraud against Congressman Paul, but have committed the Crime of Stereotyping vulnerable minorities, much in the tradition of racists like War Criminal Julius Streicher. If the hatred and contempt that Cohen whips up against Gays actually leads to acts of violence, as unfortunately it probably will, it will be his hands, and Universal Studios’, that will be stained with the blood of the victims. Haven’t Gays had enough horsescat thrown at them for happening to differ from the majority of people, without a caitiff like Cohen adding to the pile?
In an interview concerning his exploitation by Cohen, which he seemed to take lightly, Ron Paul mentioned that he liked films like “The Sound of Music” and “Gone With the Wind”. While Silverwolf’s tastes run to Antonioni, Fellini, Bergman, Truffaut, Bresson,and the Angry Young Brits, he can sympathize with Dr. Paul’s attitude of not wanting to even watch the horrendously trashy movies, like Bruno, that are thrown to the public nowadays, in order to make money at the expense of any pretense of artistic creation (have you ever seen an Orson Welles masterpiece that wasn’t worth the price of admission?). Since 1980, the conventional film industry has finally been turned into the trash-extruding mechanism like the ministry in charge of entertainment in Orwell’s “1984″. They found a formula, using violence, semi-pornography, and obscenity, that fills the box-office cashier’s till with Federal Reserve Notes, and they are not going to renounce it.
But Ludwig von Mises taught that in a Capitalist society, the ultimate power resides in the hands of the Consumers. And so the best weapon that Ron Paul supporters, Gays, and those of us opposed to creating any nationalistic, ethnic, religious, or minority-group stereotypes can employ is the power of the Boycott, which Ghandi and Martin Luther King both illustrated is one of the most effective non-violent Capitalistic tools Libertarians can use to overthrow tyranny.
Therefore, Ron Paul supporters, Gays, anti-racists and Libertarians alike should all actively boycott, and encourage others to boycott, the film “Bruno” and all other films made by this hate-monger and fraudster, Sacha Baron Cohen, and the studio that puts out his visual scat.
“Thou shalt not bow down to a graven image — or the image makers!”
Hoooooooooooooooooooooooooowwwwwwwwwwww! — Silverwolf
Tags: "Borat", "Bruno", "Candid Camera", "The Economist", Capitalism, Gay Rights, Gays, GLAAD, Ludwig von Mises, Ron Paul, Sacha Baron Cohen, The Boycott, Universal Studios
July 19, 2009 at 1:20 am |
[...] The Ron Paul-Gay Alliance: Trashing “Bruno”'s Trash « Silverwolf … [...]
July 31, 2009 at 9:33 pm |
Silverwolf you are terribly unintelligent if you don’t recognize the satire in Cohen’s movies. Relax, calm down, it’s a joke- all of it. What’s profound is that through his antics he is able to bring out the real tyrants in the rest of us, and show his audience just how stupid, selfish and arrogant those of us who think we’re so smart really are. Lighten up silverfox, you’re doing a great job showing the public that you’re one of his airhead victims. You’re only making him look better, getting heated and falling for his obvious jokes. Obviously you don’t see it, and I think that’s just hysterical, and I’m sure he would too if he ever gave your dinky little website a visit. He wins, you lose. Idiot.
July 31, 2009 at 10:47 pm |
Frankly, Nicholas, being called an idiot and an airhead by a racist and Fascist doesn’t perturb us silverwolves too much. Someone who thinks making fun of minorities, degrading them in the public’s eye, thinking in the group-think of the Commies and the Nazis, is not going to raise the bristles in my mane. Someone who would laugh at the stereotypes in Der Sturmer or the Arab press would probably laugh at the stereotypes in what you call Cohen’s “satire”.
Defrauding a Congressman to exploit him for financial gain is one of the lowest deeds I can recall, when that Congressman has steadfastly fought against the myth of looking at people as part of groups instead of individuals. The Commies do it, the racists do it, and morons like you laugh at it, and internalize the lie.
So I won’t relax when I see “so-called” artists and their studios exploiting human beings for profit. The best weapon against this scat is the Boycott.
Who in Hades would ever want to watch Cohen’s scummy films when there is Antonioni, Fellini, and Bergman? Life is too short to waste on Collectivist propaganda.
You’re so hot under the collar, I wonder if you don’t own Universal stock. Or did you help finance this scat?
I may have a “dinky little website” as you put it, but I speak Truth and promote Liberty and Human Dignity. This website has Integrity. The garbage you like does not. That’s the difference between a Libertarian and a Collectivist. Now go watch your television. — Silverwolf
August 1, 2009 at 12:00 am |
Hey baby, first of all I’M the one laughing here, and YOU’RE the one writing the heated articles. I only came across your page because I did a google search to find out how Ron Paul felt about his appearance in the movie. Hot under the collar you call me? You should read up a little bit on something called psychological projection. You really don’t know the first thing about me except that I have a light hearted sense of humor and don’t suffer fools gladly. And I don’t presume to know the first thing about you either, except for what you put out about yourself in this article, which is, plainly put, that you just don’t get it. But let me straighten that up for a second so we’re more acquainted and can become the friends we’re obviously destined to become. I myself am a gay man, have dated people of races not my own, and have involved myself in more human rights, outreach, and service based projects than I can recollect. So, like you, being called a racist or a Fascist by an idiot airhead doesn’t perturb me either. And I don’t even own a television. Do you?
Sure, there were moments in the movie where I thought “geeze, that could certainly be taken offensively.” But I didn’t take offense because I have a sense of humor and I’m big enough to realize that it’s all one big huge joke that makes fun of people who make fun of homosexuals, racists, fascists, etc. Do you understand that? It doesn’t seem like you do, so let me say that again. Cohen is making fun of people who hate and make fun of other groups of people. I think Borat made a much finer example of this than Bruno did, but still, the formula is the same. And, have you even seen the movie? Or are you too proud on your high horse to open up your mind and see it? Your precious esteemed Congressman saint Ron Paul called Cohen a “queer” –not once but twice. But I guess that probably wouldn’t bother someone who idolizes a Congressman who opposes Hate Crimes Laws, supports bigoted Judges in Alabama, and routinely votes in opposition to gay rights. Maybe you should attach some of your fascist labels to him instead of someone who never gave you any real reason to be called that in the first place (ie: myself).
The bottom line is, I saw the movie, I noted the moments that were intentionally offensive, but I was entertained and appreciated it for the satirical comedy that it was. And yes, I recognize that he exploited Ron Paul, but excuse me for not giving a crap. The man is a known homophobe, which is WHY he was singled out in the first place. Sorry for not being outraged when he was shown for what he is. You’re so passionate about these little wars you create, have you even done the research to learn which is the right side?
August 1, 2009 at 2:02 am |
Nicholas — Seems like you think that because you’re Gay, it gives you the right to speak for all Gays, although that doesn’t sound like the way some of the folks heading GLAAD see it, judging from what I read in the public record. Evidently what you think is funny is extremely offensive to other Gays, but just because you think so it seems you think everyone else should or will react in the same way.
I’ve seen various comedy routines that make fun of a certain ethnic group or race, told by someone of that group to an audience predominantly of that group. And that definitely has a different meaning than if it were told by someone not of that group, to an audience that was hostile to that group. But I can’t help feel that that still is a self-denigration of those groups, and sub-consciously they come to accept these stereotypes of themselves. Libertarianism cuts through all this bullscat of group images. Let’s stop making images! (The Buddhists and those at Mt. Sinai both saw that that is the main problem for man, after physical survival.)
My point is that all image-making, and stereotyping of anyone, by race, religion, sexual interests, or nationality is destructive to Mankind. Don’t you see that simple truth? Even if I assume your interpretation of the film is correct, did you not admit that it perpetuates stereotypes?
As for me idolizing Ron Paul, you apparently haven’t read any of the blogs in which I criticized his positions, or in which I stated by differences with him on various issues. The fact that I disagree with him doesn’t make me disagree with the basic thrust of his political philosophy — a return to the Bill of Rights, the Libertarian’s ethic of always looking at people as individuals, getting government out of every aspect of our lives that is not in the Constitution, and, perhaps most important for the bulk of Americans, a sound economy based on Austrian School economics. (And the only Congressman in America with the courage to stand up and consistently defend these positions for years.) You who voted for Obama (do I assume again wrongly?) are bringing about the economic destruction of America which the election of Ron Paul would have avoided. And economic chaos has always led to Fascism of one sort or another, and then they pick on minorities. That’s far more important than Cohen’s spoof or satire that won’t change a tinkers damn in society. And that is why I so heartily support Ron Paul, even though I disagree with him on prayer in school and separation of church and state, aspects of abortion, never intervening in foreign crises like genocides, etc.
As far as being a known homophobe, I wonder if you could quote any speech or public statement coming out of his mouth that would confirm that. In Texas “queer” may be the common way of saying “Gay” for all I know. I’ve heard the term “fag” used a lot when I lived in California. If someone swindled me and wasted a day of my life, I think I’d call them a pig or worse.
In point of fact regarding your unsubstantiated claim of his alleged homophobia, I heard an interview by a anti-homosexual preacher who wanted RP to condemn homosexuality as sin. Without alienating the preacher, Paul’s response seemed to indicate that he didn’t think it was sin, but a naturally occuring state in some individuals.
If you’re referring to the Ron Paul Newsletter for proof of his homophobia, let me say that I accept his statement that he was busy working as a doctor, never saw the letters in question, and that the new editor in charge of publication had hired the writer who wrote those things. Again, if you had read my blog on that topic, you would have seen that I fully questioned the credulity of such a statement, criticized RP’s response, but said I’d give him the benefit of the doubt. An NAACP leader in Texas stated that in 20 years, he’d never heard RP make a racist comment, and didn’t believe he was a racist. He may be uncomfortable with homosexuality, due to his religious upbringing, and family life, but that does not make him a homophobe. I’d much more readily believe his denials, than that Obama never heard an anti-Semitic or anti-White statement from Rev. Wright in 20 years, or that there were no anti-Semites in his church, which gave its Man of the Year award to the rabid Jew-hater, Louis Farrakhan. And Farrakhan, let me remind you, is a homophobe.
As for Hate Crime Legislation, I oppose it because I believe it martyrizes racists, and arouses sympathy for them. I fully sympathize with the spirit of the legislation, but feel it will do much more harm than good. Juries will start feeling sympathy for some of the lowest scoundrels in our society, and will be reluctant to convict. A better way would simply be to consider expressions of hate crime in intensifying the length of sentence. If you Liberals (again I assume) hadn’t filled the jails with cannabis users for decades, while you sit around amusing yourselves outside of jail, then violent criminals, whether motivated by racial hatred or merely desire for filthy lucre, could have been put away much longer.
What a bunch of hypocrites you all are.
As for Gay Rights, if you mean that Marriage, a religous institution, should be extended to people who call themselves Gay, in order to get the tax benefits that Married Straights use to rip off single people, then I oppose it. Whether people call themselves single, or married, they should be treated exactly equal under the law, including tax law, and Straights and Gays have no moral right to shift the tax burden to Singles. Marriage is a religious institution, and should have no place whatsoever in our law or tax code. Don’t destroy separtion of church and state, just to rip off single people who don’t believe in marriage or who regard it merely as legalized prostitution.
Forgive me for assuming that, because you are a Fascist, you were also a racist. The mentalities usually run in congruence. I withdraw the canard.
And as for you’re saying “And yes, I recognize that he exploited Ron Paul, but excuse me for not giving a crap.” Yes, that well sums up your deep regard for the Bill of Rights and Human Dignity. If you don’t like someone, it’s OK to defraud them. The morality of the Socialist.
At least you don’t own a TV. — Silverwolf
August 1, 2009 at 4:11 am |
Phhhew! Are you done now? Ya feel better after letting all of that steam out? Probably not. You’re probly still just as bitter as you were when you wrote your initial piece of anti-Cohen trash (sorry for assuming). And calling me a hypocrite for not letting politicians off the hook as easily as you do doesn’t really cast you in the most intelligent of lights, but we know that’s nothing new at this point. Also, by your description of a Socialists morality, you’ve pinned yourself as one the second you “defrauded” me (someone you clearly “don’t like”) by calling me a racist and a Fascist. I only commented on your idiotic ability to observe the reality of your surroundings- YOU were the one who went straight for the debasement of my character. So you’ve projected at least 4 labels onto me–someone you don’t even know– in the course of your 2 posts so far: Fascist, racist, Socialist, and hypocrite- do you see how we’ve got ourselves a case of black pot/black kettle here? Judging from your previously revealed obtuseness, probably not. Now, I know better than to ever call somebody else a hypocrite- only hypocrites are stupid enough to do that. But for heaven’s sake, why don’t we take it easy with using big words we don’t fully understand from now on, got it Silverwolf?
And furthermore, haven’t you ever heard what they say about making assumptions? Put that on your list of things to research. 1- I never said I was an American or a voting citizen of this country, 2- I never said I was a liberal, 3- I never said I voted for Obama 4- I never said that I speak for the entire gay community. I could keep listing things but, really, I think I’m done here. Blogging is apparently way more important to you than it is to me.
The truth is, the film doesn’t perpetuate stereotypes- it makes fun of the unfortunate fact that they exist. But again, you seem to be incapable of comprehending this. You’ve proven to me three times now that your brain can’t grasp this concept so I guess I’ll let it go and move on.
And since you apparently didn’t read the 2nd sentence of my last post, I don’t read your blog. I happened upon your website as an accident. I don’t waste my time on these things, and it’s really a very rare event that I’ve even spent this much time bickering back and forth. So no, I didn’t read your other ramblings about Lord Ron Paul and how you’ve conveniently decided to look the other way in regards to his support of bigotry and homophobia to name a couple. And where do I get this stuff you ask? Geeze man, do a basic simple Google search for starters. You’re the computer geek here, not me.
Go ahead and take as long of a time as you need thinking of a caustic rebuttal- I won’t be back to read it. Quite frankly, I just don’t care. I’ll be out enjoying my life in the non-internet world. Ever been?
August 1, 2009 at 10:01 am |
Nicholas — To quote you, “YOU were the one who went straight for the debasement of my character.” Really? I recall, as the reader can see above, that it was you who first starting tossing around terms, calling me an “airhead” and an “idiot” for speaking out against stereotypical image-making. But I guess you don’t consider that debasement.
However, let’s not confuse readers with the facts. — Silverwolf