Thursday, April 10, 2003

Stung by anti-war criticism, Hall cancels `Bull Durham' festivities

It's such a good film, too. A shame that it shares a legacy with two fools.
The baseball Hall of Fame has canceled a 15th anniversary celebration of the film "Bull Durham," and the shrine's president said it was because of anti-war criticism by co-stars Tim Robbins and Susan Sarandon.

The weekend affair, planned months ago, also was to feature "Bull Durham" actor Robert Wuhl and Ron Shelton, who wrote and directed the 1988 film.

"We believe your very public criticism of President Bush at this important -- and sensitive -- time in our nation's history helps undermine the U.S. position, which ultimately could put our troops in even more danger. As an institution, we stand behind our President and our troops in this conflict." wrote Hall president Dale Petroskey.

In his letter, Robbins said he'd been looking forward to "a weekend away from politics and war." He said he remained "skeptical" of the war plans and told Petroskey he did not realize baseball was "a Republican sport."

Are 70% of American people who support the war, Republicans?

"I am sorry that you have chosen to use baseball and your position at the Hall of Fame to make a political statement," Robbins wrote. "I know there are many baseball fans that disagree with you, and even more that will react with disgust to realize baseball is being politicized.


Ha! Is Dale Petroskey politicizing baseball and the HOF? It's more like Sarandon and Robbins have politicized the movies. Petroskey is just demonstrating that words mean things. Sarandon and Robbins want their words to have meaning when it comes to changing public policy. But they don't want their words to have enough meaning that they are judged by them. The reason freedom of speech is protected is because every opinion has the right to be said. But every opinion doesn't have to be respected and endorsed. When you speak, you are telling us what kind of person you are. We get to decide if we like you. That’s why conservatives are quiet inside Hollywood. And why Jacobin actors who venture outside those circles have so much trouble being respected.

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