“WELCOME back” to Harry T. Spence of Norwood, Massachusetts, as a guest essayist for THE WORDWRIGHT. Harry expresses himself in his unflinching straightforward manner leaving no doubt as to his personal feelings about those in stardom and their political views of America.

SUSAN SARANDON

The title actress has been of star quality since the mid-80’s. I have enjoyed her performances much. Recently, she made a political statement on the subject of the 2008 Presidential Elections. In short, she said that if John McCain were elected to the office, she would “leave the country,” move to Italy or Canada. My initial response was “Goodbye!”

Miss Sarandon has not been original in respect of her position. I recall that Barbra Streisand and Alec Baldwin made similar statements in earlier presidential contests. So far as I know both are still here. Too bad!

As Yul Bryner’s King of Siam would say, “I have a puzzlement!” Why would play actors believe that anyone could possibly care if they left the country? Maybe they are playing a role: show outrage!

In the United States we have fringe “left-wingers,” and fringe “right-wingers,” read: NUT cases! At one time, in a more realistic time, these “types” would be ensconced in loony bins. But the ACLU got them all out on the streets, so we, the rest of society, must find a way to cope. Perhaps some of the loonies became actors.

This piece, then, is a coping mechanism. I could care less who chooses to leave the United States and live somewhere else. If they can afford it, fine, go do your thing. But, the threats they make. Do they seriously believe anyone cares? I do believe they are serious believers that their “followers” will understand their frustrations and applaud their statements and actions.

So, I ask myself, what is going on here? Basically, it is very simple. These people hate their country. They hate The United States of America! Moreover, they love Cuba, Venezuela, North Korea, North Vietnam, the Soviet Union, Red China, ad infinitum; if any country hates the United States, these lefties love those countries.

Why do you suppose this is? What can have been their experiences that they bear such venom? They all look healthy and they smile a lot (except Alec Baldwin); they dress expensively; they drive expensive foreign cars;they eat in expensive restaurants. It would appear, outwardly at least, that their country has treated them very well. So, why the venom? As I said, it is a puzzlement!

To this point, I have singled out the acting profession. The hating of America goes far beyond just that ilk. It seems rife on college campuses, both at the student and teacher level. This phenomenon is not difficult to understand. Did you ever wonder what became of the radicals of the 60’s and 70’s? They all ended up teaching in our learning institutions of today. Do you suppose any of their radicalism found its way into their teaching of the classics? (Oh, right. They don’t teach the classics anymore.) But, I’m sure you get my meaning. Here they are, facing a roomful of heads full of mush, and who could resist the temptation? Fill the void with your own head full of mush.

Now, in a way, I applaud these ingrates. They are sincere in their hatred and after all they were born here, so don’t they have the right? Yes, they do! But, how about imports, such as George Soros? Where does he get off, bad-mouthing America? In his case, I would say, definitely: “Go back to Hungary (or wherever), we don’t want you!”

Is the United States above criticism? If one looks at the history of the world in the context of what the United States represents, then I say resoundingly: YES! Never, in the history of the planet, has any country, save the United States, tried consistently to better its people's way of life, to help where disaster strikes, produced inventions that have raised the standard of living of countless millions; I could go on, but, I’m sure you get the point.

Has the United States made some mistakes? I guess I’d have to say that such is inevitable. But, they were mistakes! Never, have we used our power except for good. There has never been an Attila or a Hitler or a Stalin or a Mao Tse Tung or a Castro or a Pol Pot or an Idi Amin, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera!

Lately, we hear a lot of: Is there a God? And I respond: There is a U.S. There is indeed a God!

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THANKS for some challenging thoughts, Harry. THE WORDWRIGHT