Johnny Depp To Help Tonto Punk The Lone Ranger; Avenge His Ancestor's Rape
Why does America have such a high tolerance for celebrities who hate America? Why do we still shower them with money at the box office?
Johnny Depp first blipped on my radar as an unabashed America-hater in 2003 when he gave this interview shortly after the U.S. decided to invade Iraq. While residing in France, whose leaders at the time thumbed their noses at America, Depp said this of our country:
America is dumb, it's like a dumb puppy that has big teeth that can bite and hurt you. Aggressive.
Don't think that Depp was referring to just the American government. The following quote reveals a man who sees America's people as trifling, too:
My daughter is four, my boy is one. I'd like them to see America as a toy, a broken toy. Investigate it a little, check it out, get this feeling and then get out.
And stay out, I say.
Only two years earlier Depp gave this interview where he admitted he recently came out of a 30- year cocaine induced fog. Clearly he is in a qualified position to comment on American politics and culture, having just come out of a 30-year drug induced fog. Must be a Democrat.
Even though Depp saw America as a broken toy, the American money machine proved unbroken and reliable. We've been showering the American expatriate with hard earned Uncle Sam notes since then, particularly in his Pirates of the Caribbean series and other movies, too.
Now Depp takes on an American cultural icon while developing The Lone Ranger movie. Depp feels that Indian sidekick Tonto secretly suffered under the Lone Ranger's bossiness.
According to this report, Depp plans to reverse the duo's "power dynamic." Watch out, Ranger Reid, this isn't the same sidekick who helped you fight evil. The new Tonto has powerful friends in Hollywood and the Casino business and he's not going to take it anymore.
Gone will be the days where Tonto was loyal to the Lone Ranger for saving his life. No longer will Tonto call the Texas Ranger "Kemo Sabe" which means "trusted friend." I suppose "whitey" will do.
More interesting than Depp wanting to act as Tonto's workplace "human resources diversity representative," the reason why is fascinating:
Rape.
Huh?
Now follow this line of thinking closely. Depp makes two giant leaps of unproven fact to get to his conclusion, but the conclusion makes him a multicultural victim, which makes the lack of facts acceptable. Depp said:
“I guess I have some Native American somewhere down the line.” You guess? I guess that means it's true then.
Depp continued: “My great grandmother was quite a bit of Native American, she grew up Cherokee or maybe Creek Indian. Makes sense in terms of coming from Kentucky, which is rife with Cherokee and Creek.”
Depp's grandmother was from Kentucky, Kentucky has Indians, therefore Depp is an Indian. Let me try that: Tommy's from New Jersey, New Jersey has vegetable farms, therefore Tommy is a tomato. No, I'm sorry, it doesn't seem to work.
But here is where Depp goes for the full monty of victimology:
(When you) go back and read the great books, Dee Brown’s 'Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee' or (John Ehle's) 'Trail of Tears,' you have to think, somewhere along the line, I’m the product of some horrific rape.
He read two books that mention Indians being raped, he fancies himself an Indian, therefore he is the product of rape.
It's a fact, man. Buy it. At the theater.
Good grief.
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Comments :
Sep '10
Re: Johnny Depp To Help Tonto Punk The Lone Ranger; Avenge His Ancestor's Rape
The other thing you will find most prominently in John Ehle's book is that many Cherokee owned black slaves and found nothing wrong with the practice. I wonder if Depp would own up to that part of his history?
Edited on May 9, 2011 at 10:52amMar '11
Re: Johnny Depp To Help Tonto Punk The Lone Ranger; Avenge His Ancestor's Rape
The Lone Ranger used to be one of my favorite TV programs, in my mis-spent youth, back in the UK. I can see how such a program could never be made, now. I think I'll skip Depps' version.
It's like most movie stars and celebrities - once I learn of their political views, I don't watch or listen, anymore. Same thing happened with Garrison Keillor.
Jul '10
Re: Johnny Depp To Help Tonto Punk The Lone Ranger; Avenge His Ancestor's Rape
Were Tonto and the Lone Ranger, um, partners? Could be a great love story...
Apr '11
Re: Johnny Depp To Help Tonto Punk The Lone Ranger; Avenge His Ancestor's Rape
Methinks Mr. Depp takes himself way, way too seriously.
Jan '11
Re: Johnny Depp To Help Tonto Punk The Lone Ranger; Avenge His Ancestor's Rape
Whaddaya mean 'we', white man? I haven't seen a single one of those pirate movies, or anything else he's been in since Edward Scissorhands.
Edited on May 9, 2011 at 11:34amJun '10
Re: Johnny Depp To Help Tonto Punk The Lone Ranger; Avenge His Ancestor's Rape
Very funny, Tommy. Wasn't it Descartes that proposed, "He thinks, therfore he's a fool." He must have been prognosticating the future existence of all our current batch of Johnnie Deppsters. I will say, though, these jerks have forfeitted any of my hard earned recreational dollars. My wife and I go to a movie regularly...about once a year.
Re: Johnny Depp To Help Tonto Punk The Lone Ranger; Avenge His Ancestor's Rape
Ajax Telamônios
Whaddaya mean 'we', white man? I haven't seen a single one of those pirate movies, or anything else he's been in since Edward Scissorhands. · May 9 at 11:32am
Edited on May 09 at 11:34 am
I'm with you, but it's hard to get my teenage daughter not to watch Johnny Depp movies (I have to pick my battles, and I have more important ones to win with her!).
Jul '10
Re: Johnny Depp To Help Tonto Punk The Lone Ranger; Avenge His Ancestor's Rape
I just can't help thinking how gay those costumes look. Makes me think of the Village People.
Re: Johnny Depp To Help Tonto Punk The Lone Ranger; Avenge His Ancestor's Rape
The Indian from the Village Peeps lives in my hometown (Asbury Park).
Guess that's our claim to fame. Besides that other singer.
May '10
Re: Johnny Depp To Help Tonto Punk The Lone Ranger; Avenge His Ancestor's Rape
I simply accept that most artists, always and everywhere, are fools.
May '10
Re: Johnny Depp To Help Tonto Punk The Lone Ranger; Avenge His Ancestor's Rape
I think that's the diagnosis. Mr. Depp is a great play-actor but, so are small children.
For him to indict all America and all Americans as beings of some lower order is simply bigotry. If he were wiser he would know that.
Oct '10
Re: Johnny Depp To Help Tonto Punk The Lone Ranger; Avenge His Ancestor's Rape
Isn't this rather insulting to his ancestors? I'm hardly Asian on this, but I don't go around saying "well, one of my ancestors was probably raped, and that's why I'm alive" (of course, I don't go around inciting political sympathy, either).
Jan '11
Re: Johnny Depp To Help Tonto Punk The Lone Ranger; Avenge His Ancestor's Rape
You have to preface these comments with a spew alert. I had to wipe off the coffee from my computer screen after that comment.