January 03, 2008
Celebutards on parade
Hollywood types are like space aliens when it comes to the military and patriotism, as unfamiliar with the customs and practices of soldiers as an extraterrestrial at the Iowa Caucuses.
Even when they're doing a good thing, celebs are still offensive jerks.
I'm watching Letterman and his guest, the insufferable Robin Williams, discussing the comedian's recent USO tour in Iraq.
Williams is describing how, in the midst of his stand-up routine, he hears something -- "Retreat," he says someone told him, with a wry grin -- and was stunned to see all the GIs in the audience stand and turn their backs to the stage.
"It's as if you were in a small town and suddenly everyone turns and faced the sun," he says, then acts it out, turning, zombie-like, away from the audience, then looking back over his shoulder and saying in a creepy monotone, "You're not one of us."
He and Letterman yuck it up, going on about how weird it was, Williams climbing up on his chair, sticking his ass out at the audience as he peers at the backdrop.
Letterman cues up tape of the performance, and we see Williams telling a joke, as the troops laugh.
He begins another joke when we hear a trumpet, and Williams pauses, then starts to riff on the interruption ... then he falls silent as every last GI jumps to his feet, back to the stage, and faces the flag, standing at attention.
Someone tosses a soldier a helmet; he quickly sets it on his head and snaps a salute, holding still.
The bugle sounds retreat as the flag is lowered, the last mournful notes fading away; it's sunset, and the same scene is playing out on U.S. military bases around the world, as it has for more than a hundred years.
Every man who has served in the military knows this moment, when cars on post come to a halt, drivers sitting at attention, when casual conversation stops and all eyes turn to the flag, the same flag that fighting men have died for in every war since the American Revolution.
It's a thrilling moment, one that made the hair on the back of my neck stand up, even sitting in my living room, watching TV.
And Letterman and Williams continue to goof at the weird ways of the rubes, those brainwashed folks who are like something out of Invasion of the Body Snatchers.
This is what we get when our candy-assed celebrity elites have no contact with the heartland, with the values of flyover America -- we're just a never-ending geek show to them.
Giving Williams his due, it's great that he went to Iraq.
Notwithstanding that trip, he and Letterman are a couple of repugnant celebutards.
Posted by Mike Lief at January 3, 2008 12:13 AM
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Comments
What a great reminder of an event that still brings tears to my eyes. During 22 years in the Navy, I experienced retreat in many places.
After 9 or 10 months away from my family, trying to help undo what damage politicians managed to create, the image of our flag in front of a setting sun evoked the reminder of why I was there in the first place. It was always an emotional experience for me.
Posted by: Robert Worthley at January 3, 2008 02:42 PM