April 16, 2003
Robbins' speech to the National Press Club.
From the Daily KOS comes a reference to the Salon article reprinting Tim Robbins' speech to the National Press Club in Washington yesterday: Salon.com News | "A bully can be stopped. So can a mob".
One part I particularly liked: When his history teacher was impugning Susan Sarandon's patriotism, Robbins' shy eleven-year-old nephew stood up to it with "That's my aunt you're talking about. Stop it!" The teacher backed down.
I think that the point of Robbins' speech was, in fact, that the bullies will back down when we stand up to them. We can't be afraid to speak out; when we speak out we encourage others to speak out as well. "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." Ashcroft and the Bush Whitehouse would have you live in constant fear. All so they can do what they please without interference or having to worry about those pesky "civil rights" that people go on about.
Posted by Frank at April 16, 2003 6:03 PMSo the conclusion that must be drawn on Iraq is either that Bush and Rummy are not bullies or that they haven't been stood up to, the whole France/Russia/China/Germany/millions of protestors in the streets thing notwithstanding?
Posted by: bigwig at April 17, 2003 9:19 PMDid you read the article? The "bullies" to which Robbins refers are those who claim that to protest the war or to protest Administration policies is somehow "unpatriotic" or "unAmerican" or, much worse, "traitorous."
Unfortunately, it takes a bit more than mere dissent to stop national bullies like Rumsfeld and Mr. Moron. We have to express our dissent in ways that count, like writing our representatives in Congress, voting and marching. Among other things.
I personally think that it would be nice if we could impeach the bastards, but as long as the Republicans have overwhelming control of the House, chances of that are between slim and none.
Posted by: Frank at April 17, 2003 9:52 PM