FTA: Jane Fonda’s Anti-War Movie that Still Resonates Today

Pajamas Media ^ | March 8 | Christian Toto

[AJKauf]

If you think the current anti-war movement camouflages an anti-American sentiment, you’re only partly right. Rent or buy FTA, the 1972 Vietnam War protest documentary just released on DVD after a 37-year absence. It’s the best example of an anti-war brigade which set out to blast America right along with its hawkish foreign policy. And it’s headlined by — big surprise –Jane Fonda. FTA captures Fonda, Donald Sutherland, and lesser known artists traveling throughout U.S. military bases, both here and abroad, to protest the war — and just about every facet of American life.

And yes, the letter “F” in the title does stand for what you think it does, even though the tour regulars merrily shout out “Foxtrot … Tango … Alpha …” in some of their song and dance skits.

The film makes for a fine historical document, even if its entertainment value is hopelessly dated. Clearly, releasing the film anew wasn’t mean to reintroduce cobwebbed protest songs to popular culture, and the political skits require plenty of background reading to fully appreciate them...

[Jeff Chandler]

Soon to be required viewing ion the government schools.

[SpaceBar]

Should be shown with Yuri Bezmenov’s interview as a double feature.

[ETL]

November 22, 1970 -- During a fund-raising tour for GI deserters, Vietnam Veterans Against the War and the Black Panthers, Jane Fonda is quoted in the Detroit Free Press as telling a University of Michigan audience:

"I would think that if you understood what communism was, you would hope, you would pray on your knees that we would someday become communist," and "The peace proposal of the Viet Cong is the only honorable, just, possible way to achieve peace in Vietnam."
http://www.wintersoldier.com/index.php?topic=Timeline

Fonda made the following statement at the University of Texas:
"We've got to establish a Socialist economic structure that will limit private profit-oriented businesses. Whether the transition is peaceful depends on the way our present governmental leaders react. We must commit our lives to this transition ...... We should be very proud of our new breed of soldier. It's not organized but it's mutiny, and they have every right." --Karen Elliott Dallas Morning News December 11, 1971

From 1972: "I am not a do-gooder, I am a revolutionary. A revolutionary woman."

Source for most of the Jane Fonda material:
http://www.1stcavmedic.com/jane_fonda.htm
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Donald Sutherland and his son Kiefer
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January, 1971: Jane Fonda raises funds for the Winter Soldier Investigation through a series of benefit concerts. Participants include Fonda, Dick Gregory, Donald Sutherland, Graham Nash, David Crosby and Phil Ochs. Fonda is named Honorary National Coordinator of the event.

February 16, 1971: Jane Fonda and Donald Sutherland form "FTA" (F*** The Army), an anti-war, anti-American road show that tours near Army bases in order to undermine troop morale. Skits and songs portray American defeats, soldiers refusing to fight, and the murder of officers by their troops. FTA cast members mingle with soldiers after the shows, encouraging them to desert or to sabotage the Army.

http://www.wintersoldier.com/index.php?topic=Timeline
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From Fonda's website, 2009!...

Rare Screening of Restored Archival Print of Classic Vietnam War-Era Documentary

What: Screening of FTA
When: Monday, February 2, 2009
7:00pm, 9:15pm
Where: IFC Center (map)
323 Sixth Avenue
New York, NY, US 10014

With Former FTA Cast Member Jane Fonda in Person
Monday, February 2 at 7:00pm and 9:15pm
7:00pm show sold out!

FTA (1972, Francine Parker), the Vietnam War-era documentary, will have an ultra-rare screening in a restored archival print with former FTA cast member Jane Fonda in person, Monday, February 2 at 7:00pm and 9:15pm; the 7:00pm show is sold out. Following the screening, Ms. Fonda will talk about the film and her work in the controversial antiwar touring show in a discussion moderated by David Zeiger, director of the recent documentary Sir! No Sir! A portion of the proceeds from the evening will benefit Iraq Veterans against the War, a nonprofit organization that advocates for ending the war and for providing support to returning service members.

Virtually unseen in any format since a brief theatrical run in 1972, FTA documents "the show the Pentagon couldn't stop." The revue, whose letters were said to stand both for Free Theater Associates and also Free (or, at times, another F-word) The Army, brought antiwar entertainment to military personnel at the height of Vietnam. Performers like Ms. Fonda, Donald Sutherland and Holly Near toured towns near military bases around the US and overseas, lending their support to troops who opposed the war. The film follows the troupe as it travels and performs near US military bases on the Pacific Rim -- Hawaii, Okinawa, the Philippines -- encouraging opposition to the war among the rank-and-file of US forces.

FTA is a gritty mix of rollicking performances and GI interviews, juxtaposing lighthearted political satire with the somber realities of war, occupation, and the absurdities of military life, a barbed rebuke to the staid USO program. From Okinawa to the Philippines, stirred by the show's provocative message, the members of the U.S. military find courage to speak out candidly in front of the camera.

Fonda and Sutherland are joined on stage by an all-star cast of musicians and activists including folk musician Len Chandler and comedian Paul Mooney. A fresh look at the Vietnam anti-war movement through the songs and skits that shook a generation, this film will leave you singing along with the fired-up men and women of the military. Foxtrot, Tango, Alpha... F*** the Army!

Print courtesy of the Academy Film Archive.

Tickets: $12 IFC Center members, $15 general admission.

http://janefonda.com/category/my-appearances
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Code Pink's Jodie Evans embraces Jane Fonda
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Code Pink 'Bundles' for Barack, 4/14/2008

Cindy Sheehan, Jodie Evans, Hugo Chavez,
Medea Benjamin [co-founder Code Pink]

"The co-founder of the radical anti-war group Code Pink [Jodie Evans] has “bundled” more than $50,000 for Sen. Barack Obama’s presidential campaign, and pro-troops groups are demanding that he return the money."

http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=25997
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Revolution interview with ("Peace Mom") Cindy Sheehan: October 29, 2005:
['Revolution' is the official newspaper of the Revolutionary Communist Party]
http://rwor.org/a/021/cindy-sheehan-interview.htm
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From RushLimbaugh.com:
Hanoi Jane Endorses Obama
April 3, 2008

REPORTER 1: Jane, who are you voting for?

REPORTER 2: Who gets your vote?

FONDA: Obama.

REPORTER 2: Oh, my God. Heaven help us all.

RUSH: The reporter for TMZ said, "Oh, God. Heaven help us all." Obviously the reporter is an Obama supporter.

http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_040308/content/01125111.guest.html

[ex-snook]

It resonated every time we had an undeclared war - Vietnam, Korea, Iraq. Only an official Declaration of War by Congress has united the nation as it did in WW II. A lesson for future Presidents.

[BenLurkin]

[RaceBannon]

We’ve been protesting Jane Fonda’s appearance at her new play ever week now for 3 weeks

tomorrow night is her OPENING performance, the rushes were all the ones before, but the offficial opening is March 9

Eugene Oniell Theater, 49th street, between 8th and broadway

[mylife]

I have hit that target in many a VFW

[50cal Smokepole]

Having good aim is important.

[mylife]

I learned that as a WEE lad ☺

[TheRedSoxWinThePennant]

dont laugh I watched the china syndrome twice in eight grade ENGLISH class since at the time the seabrook nuke plant in nh was about to go online. Of course at the time i didnt realize i was an attempt at indoctrination I was just happy that it was movie day

[50cal Smokepole]

*groan*

[firebrand]

Can’t make it tomorrow night but give me a heads-up on the protest for the second performance, if there is one.

[cubreporter]

She’s a washed up has been. Plain and simple.

[peeps36]

This was just on one of the movie channels last week or the week before. I changed the channel after watching it for ten minutes because it was stupid and unfunny. You would have to be an acid dropping hippie freak to sit through this piece of garbage.

[Bender2]

If Vietnam is still a hot button with you, check out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4VXTsLvprE

[ETL]

Jane Fonda is still a commie. She is one of many "celebrities" and demonRat leaders (House Judiciary chair/Bush-Cheney-Rove 'investigator' John Conyers inc) who have given their endorsements to the Revolutionary Communist Party's "World Can't Wait" movement...(the org will probably soon be dropping the "Drive Out the Bush Regime" portion of their title, perhaps replacing it with "Drive Out the Capitalists!")

Endorsers of the [World Can't Wait] Call to Drive Out the Bush Regime Include:

James Abourezk, Aris Anagnos, Rocky Anderson, Anti-Flag, Edward Asner, Russell Banks, Ed Begley Jr., Harry Belafonte, St. Clair Bourne, Gabriel Byrne, Margaret Cho, Ward Churchill, Paulette Cole, US Rep John Conyers Jr., John Densmore, Jesse Diaz Jr., Michael Eric Dyson, Steve Earle, Niles Eldredge, Daniel Ellsberg, Eve Ensler, Laura Flanders, Jane Fonda, Martin Garbus, Senator Mike Gravel, Andre Gregory, Sam Hamill, Suheir Hammad, Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Jr., Mumia Abu-Jamal, Rickie Lee Jones, Sarah Jones, Brig. Gen. (Ret) Janis Karpinski, Jonathan Kozol, Rabbi Michael Lerner, US Rep. Cynthia McKinney, Robin Meyers, Mark Crispin Miller, Tom Morello, Viggo Mortensen, John Nichols, US Rep. Major Owens, Grace Paley, Harvey Pekar, Sean Penn, Michelle Phillips, Harold Pinter, Michael Ratner, Mark Ruffalo, US Rep. Bobby Rush, Susan Sarandon, Richard Serra, Jeff Sharlet, Rev. Al Sharpton, Cindy Sheehan, Martin Sheen, Nancy Spero, Gloria Steinem, Lynne Stewart, Serj Tankian, Sunsara Taylor, Studs Terkel, Gore Vidal, Kurt Vonnegut, Alice Walker, Naomi Wallace, US Rep. Maxine Waters, Cornel West, Ann Wright, Howard Zinn, and thousands more who have already joined us.

http://worldcantwait.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2538&Itemid=2
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World Can't Wait--Drive Out the Bush Regime is a Maoist-revolutionary movement organized by the Revolutionary Communist Party. Scroll down the list that appears (after clicking link) to find the World Can't Wait organization (rwor.org is the website of the Revolutionary Communist Party):
http://rwor.org/a/rwlink/links.htm
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From David Horowitz's FrontpageMag.com /DiscoverTheNetworks.org:
Profile: World Can't Wait (WCW)

*Revolutionary communist movement that stages protests against the Bush administration

*Organizes college and high-school students

*Founded in June 2005 by Charles Clark Kissinger, a longtime leader of the Revolutionary Communist Party

http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/groupProfile.asp?grpid=7213
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On Oct 5, 2006, Democrat Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, John Conyers Jr, the same guy who is leading the 'investigation' of the Bush administration, gave a friggin SPEECH to the World Can't Wait--Drive Out the Bush Regime organization, the "anti-war" front for the Revolutionary Communist Party!
http://www.worldcantwait.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3801&Itemid=69
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The RCP calls for the armed overthrow of the U.S. government...

From the website of the Revolutionary Communist Party (revcom.us or rwor.org) :

"Create Public Opinion, Seize Power: We are preparing minds and organizing forces for the time when there is a major crack in the system, whenever it comes and wherever it comes from: an opening that makes it possible to bring the future Revolutionary Army of the Proletariat (R.A.P.) into the field and wage a revolutionary armed struggle that actually has a chance of winning.

And we have said that building our party itself is the most important part of organizing forces for revolution. This is true now, and it is true looking forward to the creation of that future R.A.P. and the waging of that armed struggle.":

http://revcom.us/a/v20/1000-1009/1000/barw.htm
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Voice of the Revolutionary Communist Party, USA [Maoist]
Revolution interview with ["Peace Mom"] Cindy Sheehan: October 29, 2005:
['Revolution' is the newspaper of the Revolutionary Communist Party]
http://rwor.org/a/021/cindy-sheehan-interview.htm
__________________________________________________________

[Revolution] Interview with Bill Ayers, Revolution #63, October 1, 2006:
"On Progressive Education, Critical Thinking and the Cowardice of Some in Dangerous Times"
http://rwor.org/a/063/ayers-en.html
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"This is a guy who lives in my neighborhood, who's a professor of English..."

[longhorn too]

I was in Vietnam in 1972 when she made those famous pictures on the North Vietnamese artillery, needless to say not one of my favorite individuals.

[donmeaker]

The gulf of Tonkin resolution was the Vietnam declaration of war, and was passed by the Democrats.

The voting of war credits for Iraq was the Iraq declaration of war, and was passed with broad bipartisan support. That sneaky Bush, arranged for the vote to take place just before the election and slimey members of the legislature were unwilling to vote against it so close to an election.

Congress passed war spending for Korea too.

We have nice parting gifts.

[donmeaker]

I submit it was the suprise attack by Japan that unified the nation, rather than the formality of the declaration of war.

Still the communists in the US were upset that the US didn’t get engaged more quickly in Europe to take the pressure off the Soviet Communists. They were more than willing to have more US soldiers killed to help out Joe Stalin.