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Tom Hanks: Overcoming Racism Taking “Awfully Long Time” and Calls WWII a War of “Racism and Terror”
David Horowitz's NewsReal Blog ^ | Michael van der Galien

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 ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; Philosophy
KEYWORDS: stupid; tomhanks
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To: Michael van der Galien

61 posted on 03/15/2010 11:02:27 AM PDT by smokingfrog (You can't ignore your boss and expect to keep your job... WWW.filipthishouse2010.com)
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To: Maverick68

He’s directly out of his f//in’ mind...”

“”Stupid is as Stupid does”......


62 posted on 03/15/2010 11:03:53 AM PDT by ridesthemiles
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To: Catholic Canadian
This guy seems to be looking at history through politically correct lenses.

It is more like politically correct blinders. The liberals have largely erased the information about America's determination to win during WWII. They have turned it over and call the USA a bully. Also, they make no mention of the USA's role in rebuilding the countries of the people we defeated.

63 posted on 03/15/2010 11:05:19 AM PDT by oyez (The difference in genius and stupidity is that genius has it limits.)
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To: truthguy

“The basic problem is that he thinks that because he’s made a couple of war movies (as actor/co-producer), he’s some kind of historian.”

Some of us had to work hard for those credentials.


64 posted on 03/15/2010 11:06:29 AM PDT by BenKenobi (And into this Ring he poured his cruelty, his malice and his will to dominate all life.)
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To: ClearCase_guy

Tom Hanks also needs to Google Unit 731 and read carefully the section with the B-29 crew. What a Jack@$$!


65 posted on 03/15/2010 11:10:01 AM PDT by GatorRN
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To: Michael van der Galien

“he says that the U.S. wanted to “annihilate” the Japanese”

It was the stated policy of the Japanese to ‘annihilate or be annihilated’. If a Japanese soldier couldn’t get himself killed in battle, he killed himself. Our guys gave up trying to take prisoners when the Japanese made it clear they wouldn’t be taken alive. Their sense of duty required them to fight to the last man. It was never our decision. Like the jihadi’s, they could only be defeated by being killed.


66 posted on 03/15/2010 11:11:20 AM PDT by Spok (Free Range Republican)
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To: laweeks
Where in the world to these Hollyweirdoes come up with this crap? Just incredible!

Ans. At their Chablis sipping poolside circle jerks.

67 posted on 03/15/2010 11:16:28 AM PDT by Don Corleone ("Oil the gun..eat the cannolis. Take it to the Mattress.")
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To: TankerKC

The show differed from ‘Band of Brothers’ by the occassional, and gratuitous, ethnic slur. From Spielberg’s interpretation, one might conclude our soldiers never felt any animus towards the Germans, presumably because they shared the same skin pigmentation. Simplistic and wrong. I learned how our soldiers felt about Germans in the 60’s when my brother bought a Volkswagen. My father, a WWII vet, went ballistic..


68 posted on 03/15/2010 11:17:43 AM PDT by Spok (Free Range Republican)
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To: Michael van der Galien

“ignorance is being replaced by a certain amount of enlightenment “

Transate: Someday the unwashed masses will be as intelligent as us.


69 posted on 03/15/2010 11:22:02 AM PDT by Rennes Templar
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To: TankerKC

That scene stood out for me as well - such BS - I am a huge fan of Band of Brothers but so far The Pacific isn’t doing it for me - the scene with the Japanese soldier being shot numerous times while he stood in the river was BS too. I read the three books the series is based on. I don’t know if the same can be said for Hanks.


70 posted on 03/15/2010 11:22:08 AM PDT by BronzePencil (Liberty's in every blow! Let us do or die!)
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To: Eric in the Ozarks
I could argue with some of what you have said. all sides had their publications that made fun of the other side.
I have traveled that area of the world specifically looking at the areas where my family died. I've seen the fields of crosses in the PI and even the ones that represent my uncles who died there. I hired a driver to take me for a ride over the route of the march of Bataan.
I've also talked to the Koreans about how they were treated during WWII by the Japanese. I've seen it, I've listened and comprehended the total.
The Japanese murdered somewhere between 6 and 10 million unarmed innocent people during WWII.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Japanese_war_atrocities

War is always hell. I've personally been there. The entire purpose of fighting a way is to kill the enemy. Those that tell you anything different are lying to you. The purpose of a war is not to kill civilians or helpless prisoners. The Japanese refused to surrender so they were killed. We did not round up Japanese civilians and kill them but the Japanese did exactly that in many different countries.
I do now know how anyone can make the claim that we treated them badly as compared to the way that they treated every perceived enemy.
There is a word that applies, the word is “present-ism” it is when you look at history through today's glasses. It doesn't work. After seeing what I have seen, listening to the stories from survivors, after reading about the tens of thousands of women who were forced into sex slavery I'm not inclined to feel sorry for any Japanese troops during WWII. Read my tag line. I do wish that those who went before me had their hands on some of the weapons systems I have enjoyed. I wish I had been there to operate a few of them. Soldiers are trained to kill their enemies. This is how one lives through the experience. (don't be too shocked dead people can't kill you) Most of us take it as a point of pride to be very good at our jobs. Maybe Tom Hanks needs to go on a speaking tour to China. There are a few million people over there who have some memories of the war. As to our view of present day terrorists. You can't change them. If you catch them and put them in prison sooner or later they get out and they are still terrorists who want to kill you. Sooner or later you will have to kill them to stop them. This is just a very simple fact. Where the media gets this all messed up is that they try to make everyone we are fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan out to be terrorists. They aren't. Many of these folks can be defeated and reeducated or turned and payed off. BUT a true terrorist must be killed. That is the only effective way of handling them. The realities of war are never pretty. I have family in the big sand box of war right now. Some of our guys are dieing to give the civilians the benefit of doubt. WAR=DEATH. Nothing anyone can do about it.

71 posted on 03/15/2010 11:24:51 AM PDT by oldenuff2no (Retired AB Ranger.)
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To: Michael van der Galien

Let’s see; in Europe we fought the Nazis whose racist aim was to wipe out Jews, Gypsies, Poles and others who did not fall within the Nazi racial standards and we fought Japan who openly stated that caucasians and other asians were less worthy or subhuman. The Japanese made slaves of their captives, murdered and raped their women and children, performed experiments on the Chinese as well as captured Americans, made sex slaves of the “lowly” Korean women and committed many other atrocities on all of the ethnic groups and races they looked down on. They considered themselves to be superior to all other races, the very definition of racist. Their ideas on race and conquest of lesser peoples was one reason they allied with the Nazis. To call Hanks a moron is an insult to morons.


72 posted on 03/15/2010 11:25:06 AM PDT by RJS1950 (The democrats are the "enemies foreign and domestic" cited in the federal oath)
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To: truthguy

The real life Dick Winters from Band of Brothers had some issues with Hanks as well.


73 posted on 03/15/2010 11:25:32 AM PDT by BronzePencil (Liberty's in every blow! Let us do or die!)
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To: ClearCase_guy

Facts do not matter to liberlas.

Exhibit A: See their positions on guns.


74 posted on 03/15/2010 11:26:27 AM PDT by Red in Blue PA (If guns cause crime, then all of mine are defective!)
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To: ClearCase_guy
"Japan bombed us. Japan invaded the Chinese city of Nanking and slaughtered 300,000 people. Japan made captured Americans endure the Bataan Death March.

We weren't fighting them because we didn't like the Japanese race. There was a bit more to the story. "

Add that they attacked and sunk the USS Panay in 1937.

75 posted on 03/15/2010 11:32:59 AM PDT by SirFishalot
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To: OldBullrider

My Father-in-law was a pharmacist mate on a Hospital ship (Solace) in WWII. He said they had to turn off their lights at night after their sister ship, the Comfort, was kamikazied of Okinawa resulting in the deaths of 28 including 6 nurses. His ship handled wounded off Iwo Jima, Saipan, Okinawa, and many other Pacific battles.

My favorite story was when he told me he gave out the shots each night. I said you must have gone through a lot of needles. He said “only one - it was pennicillan.”


76 posted on 03/15/2010 11:37:54 AM PDT by OrioleFan (Republicans believe every day is the 4th of July, democrats believe every day is April 15)
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To: Mr Rogers

I know a lot of Filipinos and Japanese who are all fantastic people and we are all friends with each other. There will always be some lingering animosity in some regards but we all eventually wind up respecting one another in the end.

Hanks is just making matters worse by interjecting mindless stupidity on a subject matter that he obviously knows nothing about.


77 posted on 03/15/2010 11:52:00 AM PDT by montyspython ("I don't believe in 'no win' scenarios." - James T. Kirk)
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To: laweeks
Where in the world to these Hollyweirdoes come up with this crap?..
Liberals, especially the Hollywood variety, are not ruled by intellect, they are ruled by emotion. Hanks ‘feels’ like racism is still prevalent so history and facts are not going to persuade him otherwise. Sad but true.
78 posted on 03/15/2010 12:02:09 PM PDT by Old North State
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To: montyspython

‘zackly.


79 posted on 03/15/2010 12:05:17 PM PDT by Eric in the Ozarks (Impeachment !)
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To: Old North State

“Liberals, especially the Hollywood variety, are not ruled by intellect, they are ruled by emotion. Hanks ‘feels’ like racism is still prevalent so history and facts are not going to persuade him otherwise.”

And he probably admires the Democratic party, the one that has been historically racist from its core, right from the start of the KKK to the KKK-in-chief called Sheets Byrd in the Senate . . . amazing that they haven’t thrown him out years ago.


80 posted on 03/15/2010 12:05:36 PM PDT by laweeks
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