Eastwood Rejects Lee's Criticism of His WW2 Films

reuters.com ^ | May 23, 2008

[Free ThinkerNY]

BERLIN (Reuters Life!) - Veteran actor and director Clint Eastwood rejected criticism from fellow U.S. director Spike Lee that his films "Flags of Our Fathers" and "Letters from Iwo Jima" failed to recognize the role of African-American soldiers.

In an interview with Germany's Focus magazine, Eastwood said it was nonsense to suggest he had "erased the role of black GIs from history". He said there were no Afro-Americans in those films because there were no Afro-American soldiers involved.

"Does he know anything about American history?" Eastwood told Focus when asked about Lee's criticism. "The U.S. military was segregated til the Korean War, and the blacks in World War Two were totally segregated. The only black battalion on Iwo Jima was a small munitions supply unit that came to the beach.

"The story was about the men who raised the flag and we can't make them black if they were not there. So tell him: Why don't you go back and study your history and stop mouthing off!"

[SandRat]

Nope.

[purpleraine]

25th Hour, Summer of Sam come to mind. Does that mean you think he’s only 90% racist now?

[y6162]

“Clint took the bait and shot back regardless that it plays into Spike’s hands.”

True. Spike has a movie coming out and is desperate to become bankable again. However, the difference in stature between Clint and Lee is huge. I think Clint smacked him away like a fly.

Spike maybe obamamizing that black resentment plays. Just the opposite, whites are sick of black bitching.

[purpleraine]

You’re embarassing yourself.

[zeestephen]

tarawa - I know the Japanese had a military presence in Manchuria almost from the beginning of the 20th Century - in the 1930’s the Japanese began expanding southward in China - their treatment of Chinese civilians was savage - the USA and other western nations began to sanction Japan in various ways in the 1930’s because of this - tension between Japan and the USA continued to escalate until 1941, when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor - the PI’s were captured by Japanese forces soon after that - I would guess your great grandfather was a conscripted laborer taken to PI after the Japanese invasion - remember, conditions in China were horrifying at that time - it's also quite possible your great grandfather was starving to death in China - the Japanese may have offered him food and a place to sleep, and your great grandfather made the best decision he could, namely, trying to stay alive

[El Gato]

“Very few Hollywood films deal with black soldiers,” Lee said. “For the most part, if you look at the history of Hollywood cinema they haven’t dealt with anybody other than white Americans.

The Dude hasn't seen "Hamburger Hill" I guess. My favorite character in that movie, which is based on a real battle, my wife knows a woman whose brother was killed in it, is the black medic, played by "Courtney Vance" (a Yale graduate). Vance also played electronic genius (well in the books anyway) Sonarman Jones, in "Hunt for Red October", in which James Earl Jones (Univ. of Michigan grad) played Admiral Greer. (Neither character was particularly identified as "Black" in either the books or the screenplay, the actors chosen for the roles just happened to be black, and very good).

I also liked the characters portrayed by Michael Boatman in China Beach and Hamburger Hill.

And then their was the movie Buffalo Soldiers, 1997 version with Danny Glover, about the all black, Cavalry. Also "SERGEANT RUTLEDGE" from 1960, also featuring the 9th cav.

[Nam Vet]

I am so sick and tired of these black racists I could puke. Love it the way Clint just exposed Spike Lee as an uneducated and bigoted jerk to his whole film industry.

So tell him: Why don't you go back and study your history and stop mouthing off!

Nam Vet

[wtc911]

During World War II, the only prominent blacks involved in combat were supply battalions operating just behind the front line of advancing American troops on the ground and the famous all-black 332nd Fighter Group. It wasn't until President Truman integrated the military that blacks became involved directly in combat, starting with the Korean War.

____________________________________________________

I guess the three Black Tank Battalions (including the Black Panthers) that fought under Patton in France, Germany, Czechoslovakia never really existed...thanks for setting the record straight.

[wtc911]

I have many Korean friends...hatred for the Japanese is almost a prerequisite for the friendship.

[The Wizard]

Go Harry.....Go Harry Go...."Tell me punk, (Spike) do you feel lucky...."

[metesky]

Nice link.

Our first position was in the wrong place. Everywhere on Iwo Jima was the wrong place...

[Randy Papadoo]

Spike, yo momma is so nasty.......

Guess Spike’s not going to do the dozens on Clint any more, cause Clint be kickin’ his po’ black a$$.

[submarinerswife]

Watching history Channel's "Cities of the Underground", there was an episode of a massive group of underground bunker complexes (went on for miles)built under a mountain range in Japan to protect the emperor (with a palace complex), the essential Gov't offices and the military.

All built with Korean slave labor where they estimated, tens of thousands died.

Since we never invaded Japan, the cave complexes were never occupied.

We will never know how many actually died.

[cowboyway]

"The story was about the men who raised the flag and we can't make them black if they were not there.

Sure you can. It's called 'revisionist history'. The libs do it all the time, especially for blacks.

If the libs prevail for the next 100 years the history books won't have ANY white Europeans involved in the founding of the US. It'll be blacks and hispanics.

For example:
George Marcus Washington - first president
Benitez Franklin - founder, statesman
Tomeka Jefferson - third president, author of Declaration of Independence
Juan Hancock - signer of Declaration of Independence

[Old Student]

“That would solve a lot of problems if people would do it.”

Why would we want to do that? Actually learn not only what people did, but what the results were? That's ridiculous! We don't need no stinkin’ facts!

And just in case someone missed it, /sarc.

[Old Student]

“Anyone on this thread a historian of Iwo Jima or a Pacific War expert?

...

Anyone here know how the Koreans were treated, or how many Koreans died, or where they went after Iwo, or what ultimately happened to them?”

I am not a historian, or Pacific War expert, but considering how the Japanese treated Koreans in other parts of the theater, I can make an educated guess. They worked them to death.

[Altura Ct.]

Absolutely! Just like the current prevailing idea that we’ve always been a “multicultural nation” and that we are only a “nation of immigrants”.

[andy58-in-nh]

There are few Republicans left in public life who are willing to take a stand on anything for which they risk being called bad names. They are intimidated by the voices of increasingly sectarian and radicalized Democrats as amplified by an increasingly partisan news media.

Every time I hear someone stand up to these bullies, I want to stand up myself, and cheer.

[BibChr]

I believe the full quotation should be: "Why don't you go back and study your history and stop mouthing off... punk?"

[Charlespg]

Does he know anything about American history?" Eastwood told Focus when asked about Lee's criticism. "The U.S. military was segregated til the Korean War, and the blacks in World War Two were totally segregated. The only black battalion on Iwo Jima was a small munitions supply unit that came to the beach.

"The story was about the men who raised the flag and we can't make them black if they were not there. So tell him: Why don't you go back and study your history and stop mouthing off!"

Ha ha ha ha