An American's Letter to Jon Voight

[NanceGreggs]

RE your Letter to the American People, April 10, 2010:

You began your little self-serving dissertation predictably – as those of your mindset have a tendency to do.

“In one year, the American people are witnessing the greatest lie that is cleverly orchestrated by President Obama and his whole administration. The lie is a potent aggression that feeds the needs of people who either have not educated themselves enough to understand the assault upon us all or the very poor and needy who live to be taken care of.”

The thing is, sir, that most Americans understand that their collective responsibility as citizens goes beyond merely keeping a nation healthy and fed. That responsibility includes empathy and compassion, a desire to extend a helping hand to those in need, a determination to lift those who have fallen by the wayside – often through no fault of their own – and render whatever assistance is necessary to get them back on their feet.

Your use of the phrase “the poor and needy who live to be taken care of” is a pitifully sad commentary on yourself as a human being, as well as an American. It implies that there are those whose very existence is nothing more than a drain on society as a whole, people who have nothing to contribute – nothing to say that is worth listening to, nothing to teach that is of value, nothing to usefully add to the lives of those around them.

I have never met such a person, sir – and if you believe you have, I would suggest that you just couldn’t be bothered to look beyond your own inflated sense of yourself in order to see the true worth that resides in others.

“Now the lie goes very deep and President Obama has been cleverly trained in the Alinsky method … a socialistic, Marxist teaching and with it, little by little, he rapes this nation, taking down our defences, making new language for the Islamic extremists.”

Again - as is oh, too predictable - you make such statements without offering any basis in fact. Exactly who “trained” President Obama in this method, and when? Precisely how is he “taking down our defences”? As for the phrase “making new language for Islamic extremists” – well, quite frankly, it is simply too nonsensical to deserve comment.

“The world (that) looked up to us as a symbol of hope and prosperity now wonders what will become of the entire world if America is losing its power.”

Of what power do you speak, sir? The power to illegally invade other nations based on lies about non-existent WMDs? The power to incarcerate and torture innocents for political purposes? The power to plunder the treasury in pursuit of aggression that only corporations and political cronies benefit from? The power to look the other way while unsafe foods line our store shelves, while lead-laden toys are offered to our children, while healthcare insurers leave people to sicken and die in order to increase their profits, while bankers extort millions from hard-working citizens in order to reward themselves with obscene remuneration?

I hope this doesn’t come as too much of a shock to you, sir, but the world does not “look up” to such behaviour as being a symbol of prosperity. They look down on it as a symbol of greed, that renders many citizens completely without hope of the better life they’d envisioned for themselves and their children.

“The American people who understand exactly what is taking place have come together in the thousands, vowing to try to stay together as a unit of love and freedom for all men and women … Every loving American for peace and truth and the security of our nation must come out and join the Tea Parties in their states.”

We have, unfortunately, seen the “love and freedom” these Teabaggers represent. We have heard them hurl racial epithets, taunt our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters, and incite violence against their fellow citizens who disagree with them. And we have also heard people of your ilk deny such things – despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary.

In addition, we have seen their placards and signs – mis-spelled, factually incorrect, and grammatically incoherent to the point of being laughable. How ironic that you should refer to “aggression that feeds the needs of people who either have not educated themselves enough to understand the assault upon us all”, and actually mean anyone other than these ignorant bigots who take pride in their lack of understanding of the most basic government processes, as well as the words they use.

“Every loving American for peace and truth and the security of our nation must come out and join the Tea Parties in their states. The opposition will continue their tactics; they will lie and plant their own bullies amongst us.”

Thanks for the invitation, Jon – but no thanks. The fact that Teabaggers are gathering, as you have stated, “in the thousands” should be an indication that they are, in the great scheme of things, nothing more than a handful of voices in a country of over three hundred million.

They are small in number because most Americans do not share their views, nor wish to associate themselves in any way with what they represent. It’s as simple as that.

As for their opposition lying and planting bullies in their midst, suffice to say that when it comes to lying and bullying, they need little help from the outside in either regard.

Our founding fathers created these “united” states of America – not the “every man for himself” nation you seem to believe so strongly in. They taught us that our strength lies in unity, each citizen dependant on the other – each man’s individual freedom dependant on freedom for all, not the chosen few.

We have also learned from our immigrant forebears that inherent in being part of a nation that affords an opportunity for prosperity is an obligation to contribute to the prosperity of all; that we are each diminished when our neighbor is marginalized due to their financial standing, their ethnicity, their sexuality, their religious beliefs; that we are collectively responsible for the well-being of the individuals who make up the whole of our citizenry.

“Everyone must pay close attention to who stands next to them. We can weed out the liars and agitators.” Yes, Jon – we certainly can. And we, The People, intend to do so.

In closing, I would add something on a personal note. I have long admired your ability to bring so many characters to life on the screen; you have added immensely to the films we have come to love, and the stories we have enjoyed being told via the magic of movies that are so much a part of our culture.

That being said, I would be remiss if I did not add that your ability to act the part of a conscientious citizen of these United States is, to put it mildly, woefully inadequate – in fact, appallingly so.

Many an actor has endeavoured to play a role that proved too challenging for his skills – and the role of a decent American Citizen is obviously beyond your talents.

Yours Truly,
Nance Greggs


(The above is for "Cha" - I hope I have not disappointed.)


Edited to add a link to the meandering mindlessness of the aforementioned: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VS-n9nKg7dM

[PBS Poll-435]

1. K/R

:thumbsup:

[babylonsister]

2. Rec'd, and props for calling this fool out! Here's another

person I wish you'd call out-Sean Penn. He is walking the walk. Thanks, Nance. You know I love you.

http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Americas/2010/0412/Shakira-visits-Sean-Penn-launches-effort-to-help-rebuild-Haiti

[Joe Bacon]

3. X-ray Voight's head, you'll see the wheel still spins, but the hamster died years ago

What an ass he is :rofl:

[Mira]

7. My favorite for that is:

The gates are down
I hear the bells clangin'
but there ain't no train comin' down the track.

[medeak]

20. his sister lived across street from my parents and Angela Jolie

and her brother were there for holidays when he had visitation and he was never there. They were the most well mannered young people you can imagine even putting up with my 4 yr old who wanted to play with them and my 10 yr old at the time. They would knock on door asking if my kids could play. Was so impressed with their manners and disgusted that their Dad relinquished visitation to his sister. It's no surprise they have issues with their Dad

[Duer 157099]

91. I knew them a little bit before that time, when

Angelina was still a baby, but Jon was completely devoted to his son. He and his wife had separate apartments in the same building, and Jamie would stay upstairs with his dad while Angelina stayed with her mom in the downstairs apartment. It was bizarre, yes, but I never questioned that Jon loved his kids, at least at that point. Who knows what happened to him/them later (obviously something did).

I used to admire Jon, especially for his acting, and he used to be a decent human being. I don't know what happened to him.

[bluestateguy]

4. I don't think it's very patriotic to be going against the commander in chief in a time of war

Voight should shut his trap hole because he's giving aid and comfort to the enemy.

[solara]

5. Beautiful. I hope he reads it, or better still, I hope someone he admires reads it to him.

I wonder if he realizes just how pathetic and obvious his ignorance has become. He is a fool. And I am sorry to see it.

Thank you Nance, once again.

:kick:




:patriot:

[Mira]

6. Thank you for taking this on, and so ably!

He has galled me for a long time. I don't know his daughter, nor have I seen her work. But in rejecting him she is Oscar worthy to me.

[Major Hogwash]

8. Nice rant. Voight needs to seek help, he thinks he is relevant.

So does Huckabee.
He thinks he is relevant, too.
I wish he would have just stuck to making comments to his blog and left everyone else alone.

[Cleita]

9. Shouldn't someone introduce him to Victoria Jackson?

E Harmony, where are you?

[NanceGreggs]

11. ...

:rofl:

Who knew that the wackiest character ex-SNLer Victoria would ever play was her real-life self!?!

[liberation]

14. LOL, you know.... I have thought that myself. Either she was never acting...

... or she is pulling some sort of elaborate Andy Kaufman sort of long running joke on the wingnuts.


PS. Excellent letter BTW.

[Divine Discontent]

26. oh my.... they're perfect for each other, aren't they? when I saw her last year I thought, 'wow, she

is the same person as on SNL, how bizarre!'

It's a shame that her "Toonces the Driving Cat" skit was only make believe, well, I take that back, if it were we'd also be without Steve Martin since he was in the car with Victoria and Toonces as they launched off that cliff in one of the skits. hehe

[Cha]

10. Nance, thanks!

You'd never disappoint..thanks for answering the call from the wilderness.

Something about jon voight getting up there and acting like a wild eyed facist, lying his fool head off, just really boggles the imagination..you dissected his accusations perfectly.

Nice job on letting him know he's not up to the challenge of just being a conscientious citizen of the USA.

I won't watch anything with him in it anymore. I can't separate seeing him on screen from what I know he's doing to my country.

:hug:Thanks, Nance~

[NanceGreggs]

15. Thank you, Cha ...

... for everything you do - and for inviting me to attempt to say what needed to be said.

:hug:

[Cha]

16. I saw that letter to the American People and thought.. somebody needs

to write him a letter and it took about 5 seconds to come up with you..and then I went to GDP and you'd just written an open letter to teabaggers!

It was Perfect.:bounce::fistbump: Oh, it needed to be said, alright.. As the Goddess of Guiness posted in PV .."I'd sign that letter!":)

[SwampG8r]

12. call me a crazy dramatic but

if you could get christopher walken to read voights letter i bet it would be the funniest shit ever

[Cha]

13. Yeah...read Nance's letter to

jon voight..I like the way you think!

[chollybocker]

17. Did ya ever notice....

...that Jon Voigt has been writing the SAME article, over and over, for about a year and a half now? Practically word for word.

Sign of an unstable mind? You decide, Nance.... ;)

[Voice for Peace]

63. maybe it's a brain implant

maybe that's what happened.. they got to his brain.

[NoSheep]

18. Who knew Voight was a sociopath?

[Cha]

89. That's exactly what it amounts to..

that or his brain got fried on something and this is what the remaining cell can come up with.

[FrenchieCat]

19. Glad I didn't read that fools' letter, and glad that I read yours!

I think I got the best of both worlds! ;)

[DesertFlower]

21. joy bahar just had a clip of him.

she said "too bad, i liked him in midnight cowboy".

[political_Dem]

22. As always, a sterling and relevant commentary, Nance. Thank You.

John Voight's views have severely disappointed me--especially now. His "treatise" was uncalled for and rather inflammatory. I am glad that you are there to give a voice to the voiceless--especially to chip away his rhetoric only to reveal the chicanery that he is trying to sell the public.

Well done!

[BlueMTexpat]

23. "Meandering mindlessness" indeed!

Thanks to you, Nance, and to Cha for inspiring this wondrous rant. I think that Voight may be somewhat like Ronnie Raygun. Just because he had one role as a Vietnam vet, he remembers it as having actually fought in the war. He hasn't been outside his little bubble of fantasy for a long, long time.

[Divine Discontent]

24. *chuckle*

oh how I wish I could see his reaction to this - especially the ending, cuz you know his ego would cause his head to pop like a balloon.

[saltpoint]

25. Nance, you take Voight to task over his positions but you also

acknowledge his talent as an actor.

In so doing you are showing him a lot more generosity of spirit than Voight is showing to those who would be victimized by his beliefs and positions.

You rock, lady.

[Ken Burch]

27. K&R

Jon Voight used to be a progressive with decent values(well, other than the cruddy way he treated his family). What the hell happened to him?

[madrchsod]

28. saul would be disappointed in obama and...

john is to stupid to realize that. why anyone would give this guy any creditability is beyond me. a c list actor who`s had one or two films in his life that were note worthy. ironically his best was about the very people he hates.

[Dappleganger]

29. Why are we wasting time and energy writing to Jon Voight?

He's yet another self-important actor convinced that people actually listen to what he says outside of a Hollywood movie.

[srf Rantz]

30. more sheer nonsense from the right--but really troubling

it just goes on and on and on.

read the original full transcript. he says nothing. its garbled and rambling and unclear.

he opens talking about some "lie" but never states what that "lie" is.

he makes the usual wild accusations about marxism and socialism but as usual provides no examples.

he talks about those who have seen "the truth" of what is going on banding together to stop it, but doesn't say what that "truth" is.

but the bottom line is it is a "call to action"

this may seem laughable on the surface but its some downright scary shit. we now have millions of heavily armed people in this country who believe their "freedom" is actually under assault, and although I doubt any of them could articulate just how that is happening, they are ready to commit violent acts to stop it and they know exactly who to blame: Obama is the leader and head conspirator and Liberals are the "foot soldiers" and enablers. and someone is clearly trying to get them started doing just that.
this has all happened before people!!!

just read a piece yesterday that dubbed this propaganda technique "the Big Lie squared."

basically this is the Fox News syndrome. convince people that everything else they hear or know is "The Big Lie" and only "we" tell you the "truth".

its like a virus and its spreading out of control. and sadly there does not seem to be any cure.

[lunatica]

31. If someone were to actually address the causes of poverty in this country

They would see it has strong roots in historical facts. Today's poor and needy are a direct result of yesterday's disenfranchisement by the white men in power. One direct cause of Black people and their overwhelming poverty is the almost immediate dismantling of reconstruction laws which were created to help former slaves become constructive citizens in the South. The poor have been systematically created. And they're being systematically maintained in that position today, starting with a piss poor education and everything just getting worse from there.

[defendandprotect]

36. Exactly . . . because capitalism is based on exploitation of nature and human beings...

[Jakes Progress]

32. Post card to Jon: "You're an ass."

[grantcart]

68. Post card? No nowadays its a Tweet!

[judesedit]

33. Superbly put

Thank you for so eloquently writing this response to that very disturbing letter from Voight. No wonder Angelina wants nothing to do with him. He's a total nazi using Hitler's tactics.

[The Wizard]

34. Vioght's role as a second hand citizen

isn't an act.

[defendandprotect]

35. Horrific outlook . . . but I think his daughter, Angelina has done many good works?

At least my impression that she has been involved with a lot of charitable

"giving" of money and her own time?

Don't pay that much attention to this -- and think the father a bully in his

ignorant attack on people in need. Disgusting!

[JTFrog]

45. She has done many good works despite her father.

He's a right wing tool.

[Highway61]

37. Well said

Thanks Nance, another one out of the ball park

[DrZeeLit]

38. Use of the word "rape" to refer to President Obama smacks of code-wording ...

How many black men have been lynched for the "rape" of white women -- the "rape" that was defined by merely standing on the same street, or being in the same store, or smiling, tipping a hat, or speaking? How many?

Use of the word "rape" has connotations and reverberations in that teabagging crowd of white racists. Yes, it does.

To use this word, Voight has marked himself clearly.

Shame, shame, shame on Mr. Voight for perpetuating such a disgusting stereotypical lie.

[defendandprotect]

71. Agree with you on that word --

has a lot of potential for harm.

[DonCoquixote]

39. If Air America and Democracy Now hired you

We might be better off, as, on your best days you can exceed any of their pundits.

[femrap]

41. I believe Air America

has gone bankrupt. And Amy wouldn't agree to that.

[Kablooie]

40. But he was great as Joe Buck, the slow witted lunk that wanted to be a stud.

"Midnight Cowboy" for those of you who didn't see this, the first X-Rated mainstream movie.

[FarLeftFist]

42. This is good, real good.

[hisownpetard]

43. Nance - Thanks for the letter to that Neanderthal imbecile. I can't stand his ignorance

and pomposity. He makes steam come out my ears.

Great letter, as always!! I hope there's someone who can
read it to him...

[Cha]

66. Yeah, it's that pompousassity that he

bullseye's that's so grating.

[Rainngirl]

44. Is there any chance

that that pathetic, feeble-minded, self-important man will read it? God, I hope so!

[freddie mertz]

46. Voight is an easy, pathetic target.

He used to be good in films, many decades ago.

Now he is some sort of deranged clown.

It's easy to refute and to mock him, but I can't view the effort as anything but a diversion.

We face some serious struggles in he nation and the world right now.

Many are not suited to the black-and white, good vs. bad narrative, but involve more subtle and difficult kinds of analysis.

I guess this is fun for some of you, and that's just fine.

For me, it's a waste of time that I shouldn't have even bothered to respond to.

To late now though, so here it is.

[Zomby Woof]

47. What did you expect of a hack "writer"?

Shooting fish in a barrel is the best diversion in town.

[freddie mertz]

52. I do consider it a diversion.

We have real issues to discuss.

This thread, and my contribution to it, are all a waste of time.

Stop reading this then, OK?

[defendandprotect]

49. It's still right wing propaganda and we need to pay more attention to it --

Sadly, it's still highly effective --

"Partial birth abortion" = Partial Truth Abortion

[freddie mertz]

51. But Voight is not important to anyone. nt.

[defendandprotect]

53. It's not Voight . . . it's the propaganda he's spewing . . .

There are concepts and ideas involved -- and I haven't read the whole thing --

which will be picked up by people who don't know any better!

Voight is simply "catapulting the propaganda" for the right wing --

[freddie mertz]

58. He's just a convenient target for our anger and frustration.

Not a major player in the RW sweepstakes.

Other than his obvious utility as a rec magnet, I don't see the point of this.

[ProgressOnTheMove]

96. Yes, we have to always deconstruct their arguments or they take on a life of their own. We have to

challenge each others ideas, that's the main back and forth of democracy. It maybe exhuasting or feel like we never made a difference, but it gives them something to at least think about.

[janet118]

48. Didn't Voight play the evil insurance company lawyer in . . .

The Rainmaker? Maybe he's just stayed in character every since. No wonder Angelina Jolie can't stand her own father. He's an asshole.

Your argument is, as always, flawless; but who cares what this boob says and, if there are those that take him seriously, they will not be able to follow your train of thought . . . or any train of thought for that matter.

[cognoscere]

50. He also played a rich, powerful, right wing nut job who organized a coup

against the U.S. by using a bio-weapon in last season's 24. Looks like he can no longer differentiate between his roles and reality.

[Cha]

55. And, there was that time he played a rwasshole

who wanted to get a Bill through Congress and advance his own career that led to his getting a left wing Congressman murdered by one of the rogue FBI agents he had on his payroll.

"Enemy of the State" with Will Smith..A Tony Scott film.

[butterfly77]

54. Love it!

K&R :applause: :kick: :kick: :kick:

[krispos42]

56. I wonder if it ever occurs to these people...

...that the reason we're nominally in charge is because we HAVE educated ourselves enough to understand what was happening under BushCo?

[boycottfaux]

57. OMG, this is a keeper . .

That was wonderful, right on point and well deserved!!

I wish that Angelina Jolie could read these comments but I'm
sure she already knows everything she needs to know about her
'deadbeat' Dad . .

[calimary]

59. Rec'd! Damn, girl. I tend to want, automatically, to hit recommend whenever I see you've

written a piece. But this...

Such a damn ridiculous pleasure to read, this particular one. Aw hell, they're all great, Nance.

:patriot: :yourock: :thumbsup:

[Bobbie Jo]

60. K&R

Brilliant, as usual. :thumbsup:

[LiberalLovinLug]

61. I wish he could actually read this Nance

Very good as usual.

He is one of those Hollywood stars that I was shocked to find out was a raving wingnut loonie.
It became difficult to separate some of the fine acting work of the past with his off screen behavior. (ie. Mel Gibson)

I remember loving a film he did in 1974 called Conrack, where he plays a liberal minded young teacher who takes a small poor black class on a remote South Carolina island and movingly teaches and opens minds of these students. In the film he describes how he used to be a red-neck bigot but that he changed. Seems like in real life it went the other way.

And of course Midnight Cowboy is a classic.

[thelordofhell]

62. There's a reason why the anaconda threw him back up.....

Nobody can stomach his shit.

[Ticonderoga]

64. That is a great letter Nance

It certainly speaks for me.

[vercetti2021]

65. Dear Mr.Voight

You were a good actor, century's ago, and now you step to this low? I'm guessing tea baggin is your last resort?
All i can say is....FAIL!!!

[crim son]

67. Bravo.

This is an absolutely wonderful, powerful letter.

[Patchuli]

69. Hearing Voight's own words

really demonstrated to me why his daughter has trouble even being around him! Ickky human being!

[Styxiv]

70. Let not forget

I find it funny that when some Hollywood type is AGAINST war and Bush etc. They are labeled idiots and should just shut up and who cares what some liberal pinko actor has to say and that they know nothing and are unAmerican. BUT, BUT when someone like Vioght is on their side then all of a sudden we should listen to them and their words are golden. Don't you find that a little odd?

[orbitalman]

72. Yet another NanceGreggs GEM...

I think there must be something wrong with his DNA and people like him. It defies explanation.

[awoke_in_2003]

73. Much more elegant

than the open letter I was going to send him-

Mr. Voight

Shut the fuck up.

EOM

[NanceGreggs]

74. We were both heading in the same direction ...

... you are just more succinct than I tend to be!

:hi:

[awoke_in_2003]

76. I have never been called subtle

:hi: back at ya

[NanceGreggs]

77. And I've never been able ...

... to say what I want to say in less than three thousand words.

My ideal job: Turning Reader's Digest condensed stories into "War-and-Peace"-length novels.

:hi:

[awoke_in_2003]

78. Funny thing about War and Peace....

I have owned my copy for over 20 years, have attempted to read it 4 times, and can never get past the half way point. It is the only book I have been unable to read.

[PSzymeczek]

81. There is never a wasted word

in anything you write, my eloquent friend.

[anachro1]

75. So old

and he never learned how to act.

[PSzymeczek]

79. Out of the park again, Nance

This person used to have a heart and has one no longer.

[Generic Brad]

80. Voight's letter is more embarrassing than his performance in "Anaconda"

:crazy:

[akbacchus_BC]

83. Was Voight in Anaconda? Which character was he?

[akbacchus_BC]

82. K&R Nance, as usual another great piece, I love your musings on here.

By the way, do you know that your rants keep me glued!

[Hawkeye-X]

84. Does Jon Voight know that there is internet?

And is making an ass of himself?

Good writin' Nance.

[mstinamotorcity]

85. Great Letter

An actor,who claims to be the voice of America. When we are children the things of our heart are what make us beautiful Adults. But when I see Adults with such ugly behavior it leads me to believe their child hood was filled with no exposure to out side life. And as an actor Mr voight wants us to think what? That this is merely only another part in a really, really cheap movie that we have seen before. This whole movement is astro turf and I am tired of people giving credibility to anything that you see,or hear from these right wingers.In my belief I feel that he has been paid a substantial amount to spit venom :puke: My reason for saying so is the big corp and right wing beneficiaries have teamed up together to keep their money plain and simple. And the country standing up and exposing them is something that they are truly pissed off about.And they don't care what they have to do to protect it. Yes they will even sacrifice peoples lives for their own personal gain (Blankenship). So whatever Mr voight says,I would put in the category with Sarah,Glen,Rush,and the rest of them that have been deliberately going to the bank on people's emotions.Which is lower than earthworms at least they serve a purpose.As usual Ms. Nance great op!!!!!!!!!!:applause: :applause: :applause:

[Cha]

87. Earthworms are a valuble part of the life cycle..

these people have chosen cheap ignorant lies to whip up hate against Democracy..leading to a dead end.

[moondust]

86. I think Jon may have taken the brown acid. n/t

[saltpoint]

88. There was more dignity in Ratso Rizzo at any moment of the day or

night than there is to the people Voight is attempting to stir into a frenzy.

I had the grievous misfortune of hearing clips from his most recent tirade against common sense. I had to cringe. Yes, the man has a right to his opinion, but it still makes me cringe to think that his leanings are so desperate and far afield.

So here's a kick against Voight's empty-headed anger and also for Mr. Rizzo, who deserved better than he got.

[Cha]

90. To keep Nance's An American's Letter to jon voight in

the forefront.

[RichGirl]

92. Apparently....

Angelina has not only reconciled with her dad, but she has taken on his views. She hates Obama. Brad Pitt, on the other hand, thinks very highly of him. They argue about it constantly.

I got this from a very reliable source...US Weekly...

http://momento24.com/en/2009/11/28/angelina-jolie-obama-is-a-camouflaged-socialist%C2%B4/

[Cha]

93. If true, that wouldn't be very much

fun to be with someone so vacuous in something as important as the path of our country.

[kentuck]

94. Nance, I seldom see you this pissed off...

:-) But, with reason.

[ProgressOnTheMove]

95. Gracious, dignified, critique, always a great read Nance. :)