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Honor Clint Eastwood
The last of the stars, a veritable ancient at 90!, is also the most patriotic artist of our times. Yet he doesn’t have a Presidential Medal of Freedom. Bush didn’t want to do it. Trump’s not done it. We don’t even talk about it. Japan did it–France did it–even Obama awarded him a medal (along with Bob Dylan–they both chose to avoid attendance). I say it’s time we talked about it, spread word, got things going. We might find out that honor counts for something after all. Read my essay at Law & Liberty, and if you’re persuaded we should honor Clint, see whether there’s anyone you can tell about it. Read, share, and let’s talk Clint in the comments!
Published in Culture
I think it was Camille Paglia who said that the Left doesn’t respect religion and the Right doesn’t respect art. It won’t do to keep complaining about the drive-by shots conservatives take when they go into theaters. You’d think 2016 might’ve taught the right the value of connecting with the culture.
It doesn’t seem like a bad deal. Have more fun and win more elections.
Why would any actor get a medal from the government? Sounds like more pathetic attention seeking to me.
This is a no-brainer. And it needs to be done before Dirty Harry gets cancelled.
Clint is more than just an actor, and actually not at all the type to seek attention. Do your homework and get back to us.
I am on board with this idea.
I’m pretty sure it’s the Left who says that. Translation: The Right doesn’t appreciate Christ in a jar of urine or Karen Finley covering herself in chocolate being called “art.”
From Dirty Harry
Pervert in the bushes: “My friends call me Alice, and I will take a dare.”
Dirty Harry: “Well Alice, when was the last time you were busted?”
Pervert: “If you’re vice, I’ll kill myself!”
Dirty Harry: “Well go do it at home!”
From The Enforcer
Mustapha: [inviting Harry to come in and talk] Why don’t you just come into my office here.
Mustapha: [Inspector Moore starts following Harry in] : Uh, just you.
Abdul: Don’t worry, pig, we’ll see she don’t get lonesome.
Dirty Harry: Well, that’s mighty white of you.
You just know it’s coming.
In fact, it suddenly occurred to me that honoring Eastwood might actually accelerate the censorship.
Unforgiven is a top five film of all time. He had the rights to the brilliant script for more than a decade, knowing some day when he had the ability and everything aligned, he would get it made. He produced, wrote the music, directed and starred in it, getting Gene Hackman, Morgan Freeman, Richard Harris and several other talented actors to play parts. The result was a masterpiece that Hollywood couldn’t ignore, giving it Best Picture, Best Director, Best Supporting Actor and Best Editing, for a western in 1992, a genre that was considered all but dead.
If you haven’t seen it, you’re missing out. If you’ve only seen it once, unless you are some kind of film and literary genius, you missed a lot. Watch it again, you’ll enjoy it even more.
I’m very partial to Gran Torino myself, but, as a work of art, it’s probably not up there with Unforgiven.
“You better bury Ned right! And better not cut up or harm no more whores. Or I’ll come back here and kill every one of you sons of bitches!”
“I wish we had time to bury them fellas.”
“The hell with them fellas. *spits* Buzzards gotta eat, same as worms.”
Paglia ain’t no conservative, but she’s shown a lot of spine over this decade. I think her estimation is pretty accurate. She is not talking about a crucifix in urine – dehydration, maybe.
Oh, I admit the characterization has some grain of truth to it, very broadly speaking. I just don’t like the stereotype being applied to all of us, especially me for example, as I was raised by an artist and have studied art and art history, and so have many other Conservatives. And I think it’s unfair that this stereotype has taken root mostly because we aren’t as amenable as they are to government grants and other funding of “the arts,” especially when they turn out to be “performance art” which is not art in my opinion. I do like Pagia and I think she has guts.
What homework is needed to know that he’s an actor and a small time politician? Why do you think that you know more than the rest of the country? You have special homework assignments?
I like the guy, but giving out medals is stupid. It’s stupid in the military, except for acts of bravery, and it’s even stupider for the civilian world. That’s my opinion. I don’t need to do homework to have that opinion.
Maybe you should do some homework and read up on how to address people politely.
Agree. As to whether Eastwood or anyone else in his profession should deserve a Presidential Medal of Freedom, that cat is long out of the bag.
oopsie wrong thread
Sliding into the comments–this is not the way!
Exactly! Clint’s a very good director, he’s acquired all the prestige there is while being a conservative Republican. He’s spent the last twelve years at least making patriotic movies, trying to restore manliness, civic virtue, & Stoicism to respectability.
Nobody’s in public life has done more.
He’s Walt Kowalski!
Million Dollar Baby still stunk.
Clint occasionally does cliches. I’d like to know more about how MDB was developed.
Christ, I just watch Hereafter, that’s how much I love Clint. It stunk!
If “they” want to cancel Heartbreak Ridge, I could live with that.
Hearbreak Ridge is great! You’re gonna get your ass kicked by a nasty gunny who eats concertina wire & pisses napalm if you keep this attitude!
Did somebody say cliche?
Well, OK. I’m just jealous because my last name isn’t Highway.
Besides, we probably need something to memorialize our “invasion” of Grenada.
It’s a movie about how the military makes men of punks. Happened before, still happens today.
Hokey at times; maybe people will roll their eyes now & then; but I think people would love it; I do-
Are you kidding me? That movie had the (mostly) accurate account of a paratrooper/Navy Seal/2nd Lt. using his credit card to make a call to Ft. Bragg/the Pentagon/his girlfriend to order Navy gunfire/an artillery mission/an AC-130 hose-down.
(I’ve heard every permutation of that story, and a couple of more besides.)
Click and Clack would tsk, tsk.
He sings, too!
Okay, never mind.