KANSAS CITY, Kan. (BP) — Throughout the years, whenever I have viewed politically themed dramas such as “The American President,” “Talk Radio,” “Born on the Fourth of July,” or George Clooney’s “Ides of March,” I questioned, “Will the protagonist be a conservative, Bible-toting, Republican good guy?”
My question has always been rather tongue-in-cheek, as I already knew the answer — No. Long before I began analyzing films, liberalism had replaced conservative politics in Hollywood. Unlike Washington D.C., it appears the pendulum in the entertainment capital will never swing back.
Some are overjoyed with that prospect, while others worry about an entire medium governed by one prominent social and political viewpoint. Always, there is an exception to the rule, but a conservative proclamation from Tinseltown is indeed always the exception.
While our two-party system is the best in the world, with a checks-and-balances formula that allows citizens a voice, over the years a mix of greed, ego, fear and constitutional reinterpretation has turned a near-perfect political system into a corruptible machine. We need to be aware, vote intelligently and pray for our leaders.
And there’s one other thing — beware the media’s political persuasion.
Not satisfied with merely entertaining us, many in the industry have taken it upon themselves to debate political, social and religious standards, three subjects of which movie folk believe they instinctively know all there is to know. Red-carpet interviews that sway into social commentary tend to reveal a decided antagonism toward people who dare express opinions outside Hollywood’s comfort zone.
As Ben Affleck put it, “When I watch a guy I know is a big Republican, part of me thinks, I probably wouldn’t like this person if I met him, or we would have different opinions…” (“Ben Affleck On Republican Actors: ‘I Probably Wouldn’t Like’ Them,” The Huffington Post, 1/25/2014).
If I felt that way about actors with opposing political views, I couldn’t go to movies. As a film reviewer, I leave my prejudices against left-leaning actor/activists outside the cineplex. Still, it would be interesting to see the resulting effect if half the country abandoned moviegoing because actors speak dismissively of those with different cultural and moral values than their own.
Hollywood feels safe in its protected bubble because moviegoers don’t threaten their livelihood. No matter how outrageous a filmmaker’s stand, we still gleefully hand over our dollars at the box office. But we should be taking a stand as this arrogant, half-sighted stance from moviemakers threatens democracy and the employment of conservatives in the industry.
Remember Joseph McCarthy, or McCarthyism of the 1950s? It’s pretty hard to defend, because ultimately it was about silencing a point of view. Of course, 60 years later it is forgotten why Americans were afraid of that point of view. Fascism had just threatened the entire world and was defeated at a great cost. On the heels of that costly war, suddenly, communism sprouted up in college classrooms like unwanted weeds, with activists around the country, including those in Hollywood, proclaiming its “virtues.”
The populace saw it as another evil that might take down a system they had just fought for. Suffice it to say, a form of reverse McCarthyism now generates from liberal groups who falsely declare themselves open-minded. Try getting a job in Tinseltown when your conservative views are discovered. Think Ben Affleck would hire an outspoken Republican?
The better the actor, the more confident he seems when questioned about social reform. They’re rich, famous and charismatic. Surely those so blessed must have the proper answers, right? Sometimes they do; sometimes not.
So how do we decipher the thoughtful conclusions from deleterious manifestos? For one thing, we must take into account biblical instruction and realize that scriptural truth may not always coincide with a seemingly “makes sense” worldview.
“There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death” (Proverbs 16:25). “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. … The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile” (1 Corinthians 3:19-20).
An opposing political position can serve a purpose as it focuses our attention on societal problems and demands accountability from our leaders. That said, this remaining political season will be fierce and calculated. And as much as conservatives fear the outcome, so do liberals.
Beware the media’s bombast. And remember, we don’t need to fear the outcome of the presidential race. We just need to take the effort to know the issues and pray God’s choice will be seated in the Oval Office.
“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14).
Scripture instructs us to pray for our leaders, even the ones we don’t like.
“I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone, for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior” (1 Timothy 2:1-3).
