Let’s face it, working on Wall Street isn’t exactly what it used to be. We arent making any money, friends and clients are getting laid off by the dozens and the average “main street” american blames us for this economic mess. Not only does our new President wants to tax us more, he expects us to pay for the guy who thought it was a good idea to buy a $2MM home in Rumson N.J with only putting down a whopping 50k.
All this being said, the thing that bothers me the most is Hollywood. For the last 8 years I have watched Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins bash every single move the Bush administration made. The Baldwin brothers threatened to move to Canada (except Stephen, last I checked he was driving around in a van recruiting Born Agains) while good old Sean (Spicoli) Penn visited with our pal Hugo Chavez and offerd to be a human shield in Iraq. Isn’t this the same guy who used to punch reporters for taking pictures with Madonna? I guess I had become ok with these high school drop outs lecturing America on morality, but the last few months have really been too much.
Within the last month both Brad Pitt and George Clooney have had special White House visits to discuss “policy” with our President. I guess what disturbs me the most is that noone seems upset by this. It seems to me that the populous is having trouble separating fact from fiction, that we are starting to think Hollywood is reality. That the 5’7″ Tom Cruise is the greatest secret agent on the planet, the 5’8″ 150lb Kiefer Sutherland saves the world every 24 hours and that Matt Damon really is Jason Bourne, the baddest man on the planet.
Maybe it’s time for a reality check. I have some questions. Where are these defenders of life and liberty now? Has the world changed? Aren’t there still troops in Iraq and more going into Afghanistan? Where was Barbara Streisand when Israel was bombing Gaza back into the stone age. Now don’t get me wrong, if people were shooting missiles into our cities every afternoon, I would be pushing for the same thing the Israels did, probably more. The question is did our Hollywood heroes stay out out of it because they thought it was a just cause, or because they were afraid that Steven Spielberg, or Harvey Weinstein wouldnt cast them in their next film?
How do these same people who walk the red carpet and give themselves awards, fail to notice California’s suffering draught, earthquakes, and sending employees home thanks to a budget that makes AIG’s look solvent? These people are frauds. Yet we continue to shell out whats left of our money to go see these Scientologist and give them even more of a forum to spread their make believe reality. Wake up. Who cares whether Paris is wearing underwear, or Lohans girlfriend is pissed or if Jessica is too fat. That’s their world. In our world, we’re in a mad rush to give $900MM to Gaza to rebuild something we didn’t destroy. And yet, after eight years, I work across the street from what still isn’t much more than a giant hole in the ground where the world trade center once stood.
I’m glad Slum Dog Millionaire took home best picture. Maybe it’s time that Bollywood replaces Hollywood, and all these Walt Disney characters that try to drag us into their fantasy world just go away.
-Six Gun
