Meryl Streep's harsh words about Walt Disney.- Page 2

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 1/8/14 at 4:37pm

But thank goodness those eras also had progressive thinkers and activists who saw right through the prevailing customs of their days and saw those prejudices for what they actually were. Thank goodness for the men who fought for women’s rights, whites who fought for black rights, and heteros who fought for homo rights.

I remind my mother of this whenever she tells me that I can’t, oh, I just simply can’t come out to my 80-year-old grandmother because she’s from a different generation, you know, that fictional time where everyone just hated gay people because it never occurred to anyone not to.

So, yes, my grandmother is from a time when homophobia was a lot more prevalent, but she’s also an unconscientious cun+. (For a lot of reasons, not just this one, if that seems too harsh.)

Updated On: 1/8/14 at 04:37 PM

[dreaming]

Posted: 1/8/14 at 4:41pm

Sadly, growl, those progressives tend to be a vast minority. (And note how many were silenced for daring to speak out.) American society isn't that progressive as a whole-we'd like to believe it I think but it's not.

I think it's horrible you can't come out to your grandmother. It's a very difficult situation.

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 1/8/14 at 4:52pm

They are. Which is why it's all the more important to never forget that they were there. And that they're here.

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 1/8/14 at 4:55pm

"but she’s also an unconscientious cun+. (For a lot of reasons, not just this one, if that seems too harsh.) "

Yeah. I'd say that is a little harsh.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 1/8/14 at 5:19pm

Mmm, I'd say we don't know growl's grandmother, so how about he has the right to say whatever he wants?
I think people are way overreacting to this. I don't get the "well, these other people were also sexist and anti-semitic" since she, at no point, said that he was the only one who felt that way or acted that way towards people in that time period. I also hate it when people act as if actors have no right to express their opinion about a certain person, if that's what Meryl Streep chooses to highlight, why is that a problem? And to me, the pearl clutching on here shows that she was onto something in terms of trying to demystify someone that everyone (and apparently everyone on here especially) sees as a saint. I don't get why she shouldn't be allowed to talk about this, especially when Disney as a figure is quite relevant today. Mind you, she didn't trash the film featuring him, she didn't say the film should have shown this or that, she read a few quotes about the man. We also are getting NONE of the context for this, the Variety article carefully chooses what they consider scandalous quotes.
And yes, I get Disney was a product of his time, but you know, there were also people around that time period who didn't name names or who didn't participate in anti-Jewish organizations or who compared women to cats. Sorry, whenever my Venezuelan, extremely Catholic, straight-laced father makes comments about women, or black people, I call him out on it, and I love him very much, and he can be the sweetest man in the world, but I will call him out for what I think are his unfair politics over and over again.

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 1/8/14 at 5:23pm

Preach, ray. I also think a lot of people are extrapolating an awful lot from Ms. Streep's comments.

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 1/8/14 at 5:30pm

"Mmm, I'd say we don't know growl's grandmother, so how about he has the right to say whatever he wants?"

Where in my post did I ever say he didn't? Just as he has the right to call his grandmother a C U Next Tuesday, I have the right to voice my opinion. You are more than welcome to block me if you don't like that opinion.

I also think it's rather ironic that Growl defends Streep's pro-feminism comments but then turns around and calls another woman a word that I'm going to guess is rather disrespectful and offensive to most, if not all, feminists.

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 1/8/14 at 5:34pm

I've never understood why THE C-WORD is seen as anti-all-women.

And I consider myself a feminist.

I apologize if these two things are hard to reconcile.

Life ain't easy.

Updated On: 1/8/14 at 05:34 PM

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 1/8/14 at 5:39pm

http://www.slate.com/articles/life/explainer/2013/02/quvenzhan_wallis_and_the_onion_tweet_why_is_the_c_word_so_offensive.html

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 1/8/14 at 5:48pm

I have no idea what you're trying to tell me with that link. That just explains why it's an effective insult.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 1/8/14 at 5:50pm

Oh, what the hell. Why not just blurt it out to Granny band see what happens?

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 1/8/14 at 5:56pm

Growl,

You can call you Grandmother anything you want. She's your Grandmother.


I was told to never come out to my grandmother, because "it would kill her".

I finally sat down and told her. I used the line 'When did you decide to be straight?' and I could LITERALLY see her 'get it'. So, what have you got to lose?

Either she will understand and life can proceed, or you will kill another bigot.

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 1/8/14 at 5:59pm

Well, PJ and TD, I hate to use such a trite phrase... but it’s a complicated situation.

The short answer is that I don’t tell her for the sake of my mother.

My mother’s argument is that the stress of dealing with the fallout will all come down on her – and she’s absolutely right. I rarely see my grandmother, but my mother sees her often, so she’s the one who will have to deal with the flurry of Bible verses and anecdotes and calls for action to "fix" me that will surely follow. And I can assure you that they will be relentless. The woman attends a "church" in someone's basement.

Now, of course, my counterargument is that if my mother had the courage of her convictions – which she sadly does not – she would tell my grandmother mother to fvck off, full stop, period, end of discussion. Because that’s surely what she would do if my grandmother ever said a bad word about my sister or brother-in-law. So, the problem is that my mother pretends to be 100% okay with my gayness but isn’t actually, and pointing this out -- to say nothing of having a valuable conversation about it -- makes it very uncomfortable for everyone.

That’s the fulcrum upon which this unfortunate situation hinges.

Updated On: 1/8/14 at 05:59 PM

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 1/8/14 at 6:18pm

oy

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 1/8/14 at 6:26pm

I know more than a few women, ardent feminists, who resent the notion that they need to be protected somehow from the so-called c-word.

Growl, I'm sorry you're in the situation you are. It sounds as though everyone's feelings are to be considered except for yours.

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 1/8/14 at 6:33pm

Oh, thank you, Reg. I really, really hope that didn’t come off victim-y.

(I appreciate the concern and comments, nonetheless. hugz guyz)

I can live with it. I mean, it sucks… but she’s 80. Not that I’m waiting for her to die… but I’m waiting for her to die. Not to sound too harsh.

Anyway, this thread is supposed to be about Walt and Meryl, whose comments, I’m now reflecting, I never defended, feminist or otherwise.

That’s what I was talking about when I mentioned extrapolation.

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 1/8/14 at 6:35pm

You didn't sound victim-y at all; many of us have dealt with similar situations.

[DAME]

Posted: 1/8/14 at 6:40pm

Growl,
I am so sorry for your situation. You should not be put in that position. Sounds like your mom needs to step up for her son. But is very easy to sit here in judgement of a stranger. But that really sucks. Very sad. Oh and you are not nor do you sound like a victim. If you really wanted too you could blow the lid on this. I bet it would feel really good.

Updated On: 1/8/14 at 06:40 PM

[beautywickedlover]

Posted: 1/8/14 at 9:33pm

Here's another reason why Streep may be wrong. The lovely Julie Andrews said, "had a little twinkle in his eye. He had a wonderful sort of bubbly personality that you knew also masked a very serious businessman."

http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/people/2013/12/16/julie-andrews-and-richard-sherman-revisit-mary-poppins/4037271/

And she is talking more about him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZ_VFGlrQJY

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 1/8/14 at 9:40pm

Once again, I'm not sure how the experiences of performers negate the reactions of people who worked with him in other capacities.

And to be clear, I'm not saying he was any of the negative things that have been alleged. I'll be forever grateful for the gifts Walt Disney gave the world. I just think you're comparing the supposed experiences of apples and oranges.


Updated On: 1/8/14 at 09:40 PM

[Kad]

Posted: 1/8/14 at 10:08pm

Walt was a charmer and very talented. He was also very deviously clever, manipulative, shrewd, arguably bigoted, image-obsessed, controlling, and a giver of names before HUAC.

Why does he have to be a saint or a monster? He's just a person. Why does everyone either have to be a saint or monster?

[Joviedamian]

Posted: 1/8/14 at 10:32pm

I think people are making this more than it should, is because she just finished a movie for DISNEY and it does not look good to talk bad about the man who invented the company she just worked for.

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 1/9/14 at 7:44am

This is reminding me of Soho Rep's A PUBLIC READING OF AN UNPRODUCED SCREENPLAY ABOUT THE DEATH OF WALT DISNEY last season and the wonderful Larry Pine's performance as Uncle Walt. I think I'm interested in "Saving Mr. Banks" mostly to have Tom Hanks' performance to stack up against that one.

[Kad]

Posted: 1/9/14 at 7:52am

I loved A PUBLIC READING... and Larry Pine's performance.

Tom Hanks and Larry Pine, naturally, depict Disney in entirely different ways. Pine's Disney was a man at the end of his life (or after his death?), arrogant and afraid and controlling.

Tom Hanks is Uncle Walt, who is charming. The only stroke of any darkness at all is the three-line scene in which he says that P.L. Travers shouldn't be invited to the opening night of Mary Poppins.

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 1/9/14 at 7:53am

Kad, do you think SMB will be nominated for Best Picture?