We Are Moving Backwards in Time

Sally Field is politically relevant.

Sally Field praised mothers when she won an Emmy for lead actress in a drama series but also let her anti-war sentiments surface with a God-related swear word.

"And, let's face it, if the mothers ruled the war, there would be no (expletive) wars in the first place," Field said.

Here's the video: Field painfully fumbles around for her words and wrestles with the invisible orchestra then gets censored. She had no regrets, either:

"I have no comment other than, 'Oh, well.' I said what I wanted to say. I wanted to pay homage to the mothers of the world. And I very very seriously think that if mothers ruled the world we wouldn't be sending our children off to be slaughtered."

When she was pressed for further comment, she added, "Too bad. That's a shame. And I think I probably shouldn't have said the 'god' in front of the 'damn.'

"If they bleep it, oh, well. I'll just say it somewhere else."

It could have been worse. She could have blamed all wars on Zionist hoodlums. For that we'll probably have to wait for HBO's inevitable miniseries David Chase's Mearsheimer and Walt.

The FCC has previously excused the "G-D" word on prime time TV, but the context would have created a fight for Fox (the network broadcasting the show). If you give enough of a shit to learn more, check out Jeff Jarvis.

Comments

The Artist Formerly Know as Travis | September 17, 2007, 8:31am | #

Sally Fields is lookin fine in that picture, I didn't realize she was so stacked.

mimbo | September 17, 2007, 8:35am | #

and she used to look great nekkid. Ever see, "Stay Hungry"?

Warty | September 17, 2007, 8:53am | #

God-related swear word.

What in the fucking cock-related shit is this phrase?

Isaac Bartram | September 17, 2007, 8:58am | #

"And, let's face it, if the mothers ruled the war, there would be no (expletive) wars in the first place," Field said.

Yes, the administrations of mothers like Indira Ghandi, Golda Meir and Margaret Thatcher were ever so pacific, weren't they?

Space Monkey | September 17, 2007, 9:00am | #

"Gandhi", not "Ghandi" goddamnit.

Isaac Bartram | September 17, 2007, 9:04am | #

Hey, it's the internet, godamnit. Spelling is fluid. :)

Isaac Bartram | September 17, 2007, 9:06am | #

And to think the spelling I was worried about (and still am) was "Golda Meir".

But I think everyone knows who I'm talking about.

BakedPenguin | September 17, 2007, 9:13am | #

Isaac - are you saying you don't think Hilary will lead us to peace? But she's a MOMMY!

Field's statement is an extension of the suffragette argument that once women had the right to vote, there would be no war.

Some delusions die harder than others.

NP | September 17, 2007, 9:15am | #

Warty,

"God-related swear word."

What in the fucking cock-related shit is this phrase?

The phrase refers to about 99.93% of all the swear words in the English language. The exceptions are shit, piss, fuck, cunt, cocksucker, motherfucker, and tits.

Space Monkey | September 17, 2007, 9:23am | #

I was just messing around, and wanted to say goddamnit.

Most mother presidents in South Asia (Bhutto, Gandhi, Bandaranaike, Kumaratunga etc.) were a result of dynastic politics and were no different than their husbands or fathers as far as warmongering.

I see a lot of Indira Gandhi in Hillary: personally unappealing, brand name, acts disproportionately tougher to disprove soft feminine label, politically smart, but driven more by ambition than ideals. Although it might just be because I don't know too many female heads of state and I am unfairly categorizing her as such.

Tom | September 17, 2007, 9:28am | #

"And I very very seriously think that if mothers ruled the world we wouldn't be sending our children off to be slaughtered."

Probably so. But our society also wouldn't be nearly as progressed as we are. The motivation-motor inside men's brains that causes them to do shit like fight is the same one that propels them to do big things.

My personal theory is that it's all related to the sex drive. Speaking of which -- yes, Sally Field was indeed a cute little fox back in the day.

John | September 17, 2007, 9:29am | #

Sally was damned cute back in the day and really not bad looking for a grandmother these days but what a nitwit.

Nancy Pelosi | September 17, 2007, 9:33am | #

As a mother and a grandmother, I too am relevant.

shecky | September 17, 2007, 9:33am | #

I saw Sally about a year ago at a local home improvement center. She's still as cute as a button.

Taktix® | September 17, 2007, 9:36am | #

I think I'm going to try and find a way to get the "god-related swear word" into every god-dammed post today.

Maybe if I say it three times, Beetlejuice will appear...

Warty | September 17, 2007, 9:36am | #

NP: What if I worship tits? Then there's only one god-related swear word for me.


Mmmmm...tits.

joe | September 17, 2007, 9:36am | #

How is it shocking to describe the JDL as "Zionist hoodlums?"

Which of those words is remotely inaccurate?

And are they still around?

Randolph Carter | September 17, 2007, 9:41am | #

huh, I've only seen her in old lady mode. Young Sally Field is smokin! Although, after I saw Sybil, I can't really look at her any more.

Is there a worse idea than having mothers run the world? Anyone remember what it was like to be 13 and have a mother run your life, let alone everyone else's?

Episiarch | September 17, 2007, 9:55am | #

And I very very seriously think that if mothers ruled the world we wouldn't be sending our children off to be slaughtered.

And "nanny-state" would be a literal truth. My own mother is a nany-statist at heart. I would dread any world she was allowed to run.

NP | September 17, 2007, 9:58am | #

Warty,

You should certainly try to worship tits as much as possible while you can, before the feds declare such a filthy activity illegal :)

thoreau | September 17, 2007, 10:04am | #

Actress says something anti-war.

In other news, sun to rise in east today.

JW | September 17, 2007, 10:05am | #

And I very very seriously think that if mothers ruled the world we wouldn't be sending our children off to be slaughtered.

Not so, there would still be wars. But all the pointy and sharp things would be wrapped in foam rubber and all the guns would have child-proof locks on them. That, and Humvees would be replaced by Dodge Caravans.

Meh, you're probably right in the end. They'd never let them point their guns at anyone anyway.

J sub D | September 17, 2007, 10:05am | #

Sally Fields is lookin fine in that picture, I didn't realize she was so stacked.

Is taht a Gidget still? Just wondering.

tarran | September 17, 2007, 10:09am | #

joe

They're not around: Kahane was the driving force behind of the group and it collapsed into inactivity after his arrest.

The thing about the JDL that really disgusted me was that they were so incompetent.
One of the NYPD officers who infiltrated the group write a book about them called 'Rookie Cop', which described an organization characterized by equal parts grandiosity, incompetence, paranoia and childish faith. Not funny to the two people killed by their bombs.

anon | September 17, 2007, 10:19am | #

And are they still around?

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/11/06/national/main1015856.shtml

Earl Krugel, a former dental assistant from Los Angeles, and late JDL leader Irv Rubin were arrested in 2001 and charged with conspiring to bomb the King Fahd Mosque in Culver City and a field office of Republican Rep. Darrell E. Issa, who is Lebanese-American.

Krugel pleaded guilty in 2003 to one count of conspiracy to violate the civil rights of worshippers at the mosque and one count of carrying an explosive device in connection with a conspiracy to impede or injure an office of the United States.

James Kabala | September 17, 2007, 10:22am | #

I never actually read Redgrave's controversial speech before and while her political views were generally noxious, it seems clear that she was attacking not all Jews or even all Zionists, but specifically those JDL members who attacked her nomination. I'm more offended by the fact that she chose to star in a movie about the awful Lilliam Hellman in the first place.

joe | September 17, 2007, 10:43am | #

Darrell Issa?

They wanted to bomb Darrell Issa?

That's nuts.

Alan Vanneman | September 17, 2007, 10:58am | #

Also, Redgrave complained about "Zionist hoodlums" protesting her award and the film she made glorifying the PLO. (I guess that makes me a Zionist hoodlum--well, if they take Episcopalians.) She didn't say they were responsible for all wars. So, thanks, Dave! You made me stand up for Vannessa Redgrave!

JW | September 17, 2007, 11:06am | #

Here's a thought:

You're an actor/actress. You are at an award ceremony with your peers to congratulate you on your fine acting skills that you developed whilst waiting tables. It's not a political event and it can be generally said that your political view of the world wasn't relevent, if at all, when they made the award.

How about you graciously accept the award, thank everyone who helped you win this and then shut the fuck up and sit back down in your seat?

Nah. Celebrities know everything.

gaijin | September 17, 2007, 11:23am | #

Nah. Celebrities know everything.

And that's annoying to those of us who actually do. Right?

John | September 17, 2007, 11:25am | #

I agree JW. A year or so ago, Noel Gallahger of Oasis was doing a childrens charity event and Chris Martin the lead singer for Cold Play showed up and did some rant about George Bush and the Iraq war. Gallahger to his great credit told Martin to shut the hell up the event was about the kids and that he was tired of Martin bringing his skinny bird (Gweneth Palthrow) around and ranting about politics all of the time. It was fucking great.

jtuf | September 17, 2007, 11:30am | #

And I very very seriously think that if mothers ruled the world we wouldn't be sending our children off to be slaughtered.

Add Queen Victoria, Queen Elizabeth I, and Queen Mary to the list of counter examples.

John | September 17, 2007, 11:34am | #

Catherine the Great would be another example. Of course you can look to ancient history for some good ones as well. The world would be such a peaceful place if someone like Livia Drusilla or Cleaopatra ruled the world.

J sub D | September 17, 2007, 11:35am | #

Add Queen Victoria, Queen Elizabeth I, and Queen Mary to the list of counter examples.

And Catherine the Great, Czarina of all the Russias.

ed | September 17, 2007, 11:35am | #

Don't forget Queen Latifah.

Randolph Carter | September 17, 2007, 11:35am | #

Or Medea.

Jim Treacher | September 17, 2007, 11:42am | #

Yes, think about the children, Sally. Let's hear it for the infantilization of our armed forces!

Isaac Bartram | September 17, 2007, 12:03pm | #

Yes but Queen Elizabeth I was never a mother (as far as we know). Likewise Queen Mary died childless (which was why her half-sister succeeded her).

I mean, we all know becoming a mother changes everything. Don't we?

This stupid "if the mothers ruled the war, there would be no wars" has been around for a long time. People keep saying with a straight face in spite of it having no foundation at all.

joe | September 17, 2007, 12:04pm | #

Queen Latifa: You are Not Forgotten!

Isaac Bartram | September 17, 2007, 12:08pm | #

Mind you, I've also had people tell me with a straight face that the women who have risen to political power likw Gandhi and Thatcher are not "real women".

This is not meant to contradict Space Monkey's comment at 9:23am. His second para is quite true IMO. It just doesn't prove much about the verity of Sally's silly cliche.

JW | September 17, 2007, 12:19pm | #

And that's annoying to those of us who actually do. Right?

God yes! You do understand! You do!

Really, I just want my entertainers to entertain me. I don't care what they think about anything, but I know we have built up this culture of personality where celebs can pontificate on oh, global warming or residential housing density and the like, and the media will hang on every word.

I just thank the gods for beauty pagent contestants and those really tough questions.

CoveAxe | September 17, 2007, 12:21pm | #

It's not a political event and it can be generally said that your political view of the world wasn't relevent, if at all, when they made the award.

Not to mention that of all the controverstial things one could say at an event and crowd like this, saying something against the war is the least of them.

Dave Woycechowsky | September 17, 2007, 1:12pm | #

How is it shocking to describe the JDL as "Zionist hoodlums?"

Its a Dave Weigel thing. You wouldn't understand. To explain it best as I can, our Weigs is like Jeffrey from Blue Velvet and 9/11 was his severed ear in the grass.

Dennis | September 17, 2007, 1:16pm | #

How utterly simplistic! Yea those mothers that teach hatred of other religions. Those mothers that encourage their offspring to become murder bombers. Those mothers that even blow themselves up and kill innocent children of other mothers. Yea lets let them rule the world.

joe | September 17, 2007, 1:19pm | #

She looks like the girl from Gilmore Girls in that photo.

thoreau | September 17, 2007, 1:25pm | #

Well, we know from Dan T. that once a woman becomes a mother she won't be a libertarian. Libertarians are allegedly anti-war, but there's a fair contingent of libertarian hawks who beg to differ. What are the implications for what the actress said?

Follow-up question: Does anybody actually care?

joe | September 17, 2007, 1:26pm | #

I care about her oppression by that bathing suit.

Randolph Carter | September 17, 2007, 2:06pm | #

She looks like the girl from "I'm-hot-ville" in that photo. It really is deeply disturbing that the alluring chantuses that are my age now will be 50 in like 30 years. AARGH! TIME MAKES FOOLS OF US ALL!!!

Nemo Ignotus | September 17, 2007, 2:06pm | #

Has either Mearsheimer or Walt ever used the phrase "Zionist hoodlums" Or are you saying that David Chase would join all the yapping fools insisting that no one can criticize Israel without being a Judeophobe?

Kevin B. O'Reilly | September 17, 2007, 2:21pm | #

I understand the Mearsheimer and Walt reference was meant as a joke, but it's not very funny considering that (1) they don't use terms like "Zionist hoodlums" (2) they are not anti-Semitic (3) a lot of people who favor an ultra-conservative Israel policy would like everyone to believe they are anti-Semitic.

So, for the record, they are not. And a joke contributing to that misperception is misguided, I think.

mullah cimoc | September 17, 2007, 2:38pm | #

mullah cimoc say usa not the free press. for understand the brainwash technical of usa control media please to google:

mighty wurlitzer +cia

next to google: robert maxwell +mossad

mullah cimoc | September 17, 2007, 2:55pm | #

mullah cimoc say usa not the free press. for understand the brainwash technical of usa control media please to google:

mighty wurlitzer +cia

next to google: robert maxwell +mossad

robc | September 17, 2007, 3:19pm | #

joe,

She looks like the girl from Gilmore Girls in that photo.

Good call, joe.

You know, the mother-daughter threesome fantasy had no appeal to me before Gilmore Girls.

Mike Laursen | September 17, 2007, 3:21pm | #

All I know about the JDL is that Irv Rubin started showing up at Libertarian Party of California functions. I think he was checking out the LP because of its gun rights stance, but I got the feeling he didn't fully grok the rest of the platform.

A few months later, in jail, he alledgely slit his own throat and "accidentally" fell of a balcony.

Alphahawk1999 | September 17, 2007, 4:36pm | #

Don't forget the Spartan women who would tell the men, including their sons, "Come back with your shield or on it." No pro-war stance there.

Jim Walsh | September 17, 2007, 5:48pm | #

Since Ms. Field is (as I recall) Jewish, it would be curious indeed to hear her rant against "Zionist-based hoodlums"...

How about you graciously accept the award, thank everyone who helped you win this and then shut the fuck up and sit back down in your seat?

Best Oscar acceptance speech ever: Joe Pesci.

Warren | September 18, 2007, 9:58am | #

FWIW, I hate that no actress lets herself age anymore. Every actress over 35, has had her face sculpted. At least the technology is getting better and they don't look so freaky like they did. But still I'd like to see old women, look like old women. Women like Katherine Hepburn, and owned their age at every age. Who can you say that about now?