Winning the Cultural War - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Fred181 · 07-21-2003, 01:48 PM

I just recently added this to a different thread in support of an opinion, however I think that it is an important enough subject to warrant its own thread. This was a speech given by Charlton Heston (yes the president of the NRA whom I would very rarely agree with, but everyone has their shining moments) at Harvard Univ in 1999. I appologise for its length, but it is worth reading...
http://193.78.190.200/historic/files/heston.htm

seretogis · 07-21-2003, 02:03 PM

A sample:

Quote:

Let me back up a little. About a year ago I became president of the National Rifle Association, which protects the right to keep and bear arms of American citizens. I ran for office, I was elected, and now I serve ... I serve as a moving target for the media who've called me everything from "ridiculous" and "duped" to a "brain-injured, senile, crazy old man." I know ... I'm pretty old ... but I sure Lord ain't senile.

[..]

For example, I marched for civil rights with Dr. King in 1963 – long before Hollywood found it fashionable I might say. But when I told an audience last year that white pride is just as valid as black pride or red pride or anyone else's pride, they called me a racist.

I've worked with brilliantly talented homosexuals all my life throughout my whole career. But when I told an audience that gay rights should extend no further than your rights or my rights, I was called a homophobe.

I served in World War II against the Axis powers. But during a speech, when I drew an analogy between singling out innocent Jews and singling out innocent gun owners, I was called an anti-Semite.

Everyone I know knows I would never raise a closed fist against my country. But when I asked an audience to oppose this cultural persecution I am talking about, I was compared to Timothy McVeigh.

I especially identify with the third paragraph that I quoted. Some groups have replaced their need for "equality" with that of "superiority" and attempt to pass it off as the former. It's sad, and unfortunately accepted by the media.

Pennington · 07-21-2003, 06:24 PM

Good old Charlie is a very smart man, but he is also very charismatic. This is a bad combination, as he has strong views, yet he is fairly popular. This makes him a spokesperson and a target for anyone who is pro-gun control. He could be the most liberal person in every other regard, but as long as he is the head of the NRA he will be called a homophobe and racist just because doing so would rile up those groups on the left and gain more support for gun control from those groups.

fnaqzna · 07-21-2003, 08:46 PM

"brain-injured, senile, crazy old man."

Good enough... NEXT!

Lebell · 07-21-2003, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by fnaqzna
"brain-injured, senile, crazy old man."

Good enough... NEXT!

It's very easy to marginalize the man and ignore his words instead of addressing them head on.

Phaenx · 07-21-2003, 09:05 PM

Equality to superiority, that's about right. What's the deal? Affirmative action, equal opportunity employment quotas, someone should start a group or something. It's going to be a very hard thing to fight as well since you're almost garaunteed to be written off as a crazy racist biggot, by now it looks even impossible to turn around.

XenuHubbard · 07-21-2003, 09:45 PM

What he says sounds good. The problem is that a lot of other things Heston has said have sounded very bad to me - and totally opposite the good things I've read above.

Both knee-jerk morons and people with brains have called him names. In this message, he dismisses the knee-jerk morons. This is smart, since it also takes care of the valid criticisms from a PR point of view.

Fred181 · 07-21-2003, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by XenuHubbard
What he says sounds good. The problem is that a lot of other things Heston has said have sounded very bad to me - and totally opposite the good things I've read above.

I couldn't agree with you more. I am far from a fan of CH, however that shouldn't degrade from the rare truth that he speaks here.

Xell101 · 07-21-2003, 10:51 PM

Quote:

It's going to be a very hard thing to fight as well since you're almost garaunteed to be written off as a crazy racist biggot

Tis incredibly annoying. Everytime my anti-AA opinions come into a discussion it always ends with them failing to understand anything I said whilst steadfast in their new belief I'm a closet biggot in denial who thinks they are stupid because they disagree.

Zeld2.0 · 07-21-2003, 11:04 PM

The irony in all this is that the next generation descended from the immigrants will be the ones saying "damnit don't give them <insert newest mass of immigrant group> benefits."

The nativism in this nation has always been in this cycle and probably will continue for a long time.

All i can say is, if its equal keep it that way. if its not, then equalize it - and equal means equal.

sportsrule101 · 07-22-2003, 05:10 AM

The man was smart, he was as good at politics and giving speechs as some liberals. Which is why they clashed so much.

07-21-2003, 01:48 PM	#1 (permalink)
Fred181 Crazy Location: Frigid North	Winning the Cultural War I just recently added this to a different thread in support of an opinion, however I think that it is an important enough subject to warrant its own thread. This was a speech given by Charlton Heston (yes the president of the NRA whom I would very rarely agree with, but everyone has their shining moments) at Harvard Univ in 1999. I appologise for its length, but it is worth reading... http://193.78.190.200/historic/files/heston.htm

07-21-2003, 09:05 PM	#6 (permalink)
Phaenx The Northern Ward Location: Columbus, Ohio	Equality to superiority, that's about right. What's the deal? Affirmative action, equal opportunity employment quotas, someone should start a group or something. It's going to be a very hard thing to fight as well since you're almost garaunteed to be written off as a crazy racist biggot, by now it looks even impossible to turn around. __________________ "I went shopping last night at like 1am. The place was empty and this old woman just making polite conversation said to me, 'where is everyone??' I replied, 'In bed, same place you and I should be!' Took me ten minutes to figure out why she gave me a dirty look." --Some guy

07-21-2003, 09:45 PM	#7 (permalink)
XenuHubbard Cute and Cuddly Location: Teegeeack.	What he says sounds good. The problem is that a lot of other things Heston has said have sounded very bad to me - and totally opposite the good things I've read above. Both knee-jerk morons and people with brains have called him names. In this message, he dismisses the knee-jerk morons. This is smart, since it also takes care of the valid criticisms from a PR point of view. __________________ The above was written by a true prophet. Trust me. "What doesn't kill you, makes you bitter and paranoid". - SB2000

07-22-2003, 05:10 AM	#11 (permalink)
sportsrule101 Insane	The man was smart, he was as good at politics and giving speechs as some liberals. Which is why they clashed so much. __________________ winning isn't everything but losing isn't anything

07-21-2003, 06:24 PM	#3 (permalink)
Pennington Banned Location: Autonomous Zone	Good old Charlie is a very smart man, but he is also very charismatic. This is a bad combination, as he has strong views, yet he is fairly popular. This makes him a spokesperson and a target for anyone who is pro-gun control. He could be the most liberal person in every other regard, but as long as he is the head of the NRA he will be called a homophobe and racist just because doing so would rile up those groups on the left and gain more support for gun control from those groups.

07-21-2003, 08:46 PM	#4 (permalink)
fnaqzna Meat Popsicle Location: Left Coast	"brain-injured, senile, crazy old man." Good enough... NEXT!

07-21-2003, 11:04 PM	#10 (permalink)
Zeld2.0 Cherry-pickin' devil's advocate Location: Los Angeles	The irony in all this is that the next generation descended from the immigrants will be the ones saying "damnit don't give them <insert newest mass of immigrant group> benefits." The nativism in this nation has always been in this cycle and probably will continue for a long time. All i can say is, if its equal keep it that way. if its not, then equalize it - and equal means equal.