Posted on 03/15/2010 9:50:51 AM PDT by Michael van der Galien
Can a sane friend or relative of actor Tom Hanks please tell him to stop talking? Seriously, what’s wrong with that guy? First he says that the U.S. wanted to “annihilate” the Japanese “because they were different,” now he adds, in a sad tone of voice, that it is taking his country “an awfully long time.”
“I’d like to think that as our time has gone by and as Americans have found themselves in 2010, ignorance is being replaced by a certain amount of enlightenment and racism is going to be replaced eventually by an acceptance,” said Hanks. “It’s just taking an awfully long time.”
“I’d like to think,” Tom? Is there any doubt in your mind that America has, for the largest part, overcome racism? A black man was voted into the White House, for God’s sake. What more proof do you need to understand that racism is, by large, a thing of the past?
As if the above quote isn’t bad enough, Hanks also reiterated his point that America was supposedly fighting a racist war against the Japanese:
In an exclusive interview with CNSNews.com, Hanks further explained–but stood by his statement–that the Pacific theater of World War II was a war of “racism and terror,” saying that he thinks America has made progress since then away from what he called “ignorance” and “racism.” (See video above and transcript below.)
(Excerpt) Read more at newsrealblog.com ...
Both of their souls are owned by satan... hanks is an unAmerican idiot... with a bad hair piece.
LLS
He is an actor. I wish these clowns would just accept the fact that they are just an actor or actress-nothing else! However, worse than an actor or actress are members of the public that give them a soap box and a hearing.
LLS
Tom Hanks lifted his thesis from a fairly accurate 1986 book by historian John Dower.
The book, titled War Without Mercy, Race and Power in the Pacific does confirm the use of “race” on both the Allied and Axis sides of the war. Japanese were routinely characterized as nearsighted, monkey like people. Japanese seemed to see themselves as taller and better looking (and lighter skinned) than Koreans and Chinese.
A google search will turn up hundreds of WW II era cartoons that confirm this.
The trouble I have with Hanks’s statement is, why now ?
Is the statement really needed to bump interest in the series ?
I had a great friend that survived the Batan Death March... the Japanese (he called them Japs) were animals of satan.
LLS
It is hysterical the self-importance said comedian in drag turned movie guy has. He doesn’t need to be super smart to do that, just pretend to be other people really well. I attribute no great intelligence to anyone who can act. Especially when he’s saying what he’s saying aboout WWII? Insane.
Agreed about his “deep thoughts”.
What I meant was that in order to navigate the shark infested waters of entertainment, he has to have some intelligence. Also, he has produced quite a few projects which involves more intellectual work than acting.
He’s definitely and ignorant loon.
I suggest vthat Mr. Hanks watch the documentary about the Rape of Nanking. In that case and others, it was the Japanese who implemented racist policies.
Dower’s 1999 book, “Embracing Defeat” also touches on the racial aspect that the Allies employed in the war and how quickly this evaporated once the US took control of Japan via the Occupation.
MacArthur got rid of any Occupation officer who could not get past the old animus.
These people are so isolated in Hollywood that what they say to their friends seems normal and right to them. I was stuck by that when I caught a red carpet interview with Cameron Diaz and she said what a nice opportunity the Oscars were for ‘the community’ to get together and see each other. It just struck me that these people think of their group as a land unto itself with only each other for neighbors. They’re ‘apart’ from the rest of us. That cannot lead to good things. Obviously.
You may be right. But if I go and I’m wrong (i.e., I end up thinking it’s not worth it), I probably can’t get my money back from James Cameron, and I’d be just sick over it.
This guy seems to be looking at history through politically correct lenses.
My father-in-law, as a young Filipino child during WW2, was hung by his ankles and beaten unconscious in an attempt to get information out of him - info he didn’t have to give.
I guess it would shock Tom Hanks to learn it was the JAPANESE who did this to him, and not imperialistic Americans!
My dad was on an carrier during WWII, also had uncles in the Pacific and Europe. But one thing comes to mind about “the bombs” being dropped on Japan is General MacArthur warned the President that an invasion of Japan would cost the Military with about two million men in casualties and deaths. That is 2,000,000. This was forewarned at the taking of Iwo Jima. You can not put into words how difficult it would have been in an invasion of Japan itself.
Bingo!
The Hollywood in-crowd has finally gotten to Hanks — I knew it was only a matter of time.
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