I Live In The Land Of You, Me And We

I was recently a guest on a highly rated TV show to promote a new production of a play I'm performing in at the Hartford Stage in Hartford, Connecticut. The play, To Kill a Mockingbird, is based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Harper Lee. It was made into an Academy Award-winning film in 1962 and is, in many people's opinion, a book that helped the American public raise its collective moral conscience and take real and necessary steps toward racial justice and equality.

For those of you who don't know the story, it's about a young girl, Scout, and her family. At the heart of the tale there is a criminal trial at which Scout's father, Atticus Finch, defends an African-American who has been accused of raping an impoverished and uneducated white woman. The African-American, Tom Robinson, is found guilty by the all-white jury. On his way to a jail outside town, for "safe-keeping." Tom is shot and killed. The deputy says he "aimed to wound Tom, but missed his aim." This was the kind of justice a black person could expect for more than half of the past American century.

Between 1889 and 1930, over 3,700 black men and women were reported lynched in the United States. Mob violence led by groups such as the Ku Klux Klan encouraged families to bring their children to attend these hangings. There would be picnics, and vendors would sell the body parts of the victims as souvenirs. White supremacists did not want them or those people to be allowed "inside the fence." It was not unusual to hear them say, "We don't want them in our country." Never mind that the first three words of the U.S. Constitution say, "We the People..." "We" is a lovely word because it is inclusive. There are some people who have a deep understanding of how delicate and intricate all life forms and nature are to each other: a delicate dance of symbiotic relationships. Some people understand that there is only one world and we are all in this together. Life is like a spider's web: what you do to a strand has an effect upon the entire web.

I wanted to promote To Kill a Mockingbird on TV because I felt that if there was anyone at all watching who could learn important lessons from our theatrical production - lessons of racial prejudice, cronyism, exaggerated and uncorroborated facts, rumors, fear-mongering, creating hysteria, and injustice - then I might just get through to them. I won't go into the details about how my segment on the show was edited and restructured to make me appear to be questioning the goals and intentions of our new president. That shouldn't have surprised me. I campaigned for, and I continue to be a supporter of, President. Obama But that's another story.

Let me simply describe how I was introduced on the show: "We'd like to welcome our pal Matthew Modine..." That sounds nice. Welcoming. "Our friend." "Our" implies that I am "inside the fence" or in agreement with the person that says it. If you listen to the TV or radio news, the pundits or certain members of the Republican Party, you will begin to notice that more and more often they use "Our" to preface their thoughts about the United States. Their use of the word "our" aims to create a schism. And it's working.

The use of "our" is becoming a crucial turning point in history -- crucial because a third of the U.S. population is confused and feels alienated. For eight years American citizens were force-fed a daily meal of fear and supposed threat from outside forces. Today, most Americans are embarrassed by the truth of the Iraq war. Those people and groups that were in favor of the first U.S. preemptive war have been humiliated. Today they must consider the consequences -- the loss of life and financial cost to the countries involved. Follow the money trail of those that profited from the war and you find the possible cause and truth. The Republicans and the citizens who supported them can accept neither the defeat they were dealt nor the embarrassment served up by their comical nominations for president and vice-president. Today they question their party's leadership and they are angry. As a result, every step President Obama takes for the next four years will be scrutinized for error. Any slip he makes will be magnified and criticized as a step toward the destruction of the United States or, as they will say, "our country."

Being introduced as "our friend" was a not-so-subtle way of putting me in line with a way of thinking or a movement -- their way of thinking and a part of their movement. In their minds, "our" is not an inclusive word but a group, clique or party of like-minded people. Ours against theirs. During the show I was asked if President Obama was, by bailing out the banks and auto industry, gambling with our country's future. Yes, he is. He is taking a risk by bailing out the companies that failed because of mismanagement and speculation. I replied that the president is being advised by people who understand the situation much better than I do. I also said that the automobile industry in America was failing because it was guilty of not competing with a global market of hybrids and fuel-efficient auto manufacturers. And that the rules of evolution teach us that you need to adapt and change or become extinct. I said that rather than building Hummers, General Motors should transform itself by going in the business of building light-rail trains. Imagine how many jobs that would create in the U.S. I finished by saying that nobody in America wants to see the president fail, except Rush Limbaugh. This was dismissed by the host of the TV show. Oh, really...

On 16 January 2009, Rush Limbaugh went on national radio and said it. Here is an excerpt straight from the mouth of Mr Limbaugh, "I hope he [Obama] fails. [interruption] What are you laughing at? See, here's the point. Everybody thinks it's outrageous to say. Look, even my staff, 'Oh, you can't do that.' Why not? Why is it any different, what's new, what is unfair about my saying I hope liberalism fails? Liberalism is our problem. Liberalism is what's gotten us dangerously close to the precipice here."

And here is how Mr Limbaugh, both on his radio show and cited on his own website, uses the phrase "our country": "I'll tell you how we're going to get our country back, and I'll tell you what we're going to do when we get our country back."

There is something deeply unappealing about Mr. Limbaugh, who appears to enjoy casting himself in the role of avenger of the Conservative Right. Mr. Limbaugh is even making a list of who has been naughty or nice: "We are taking names. We are taking names now. We are monitoring who on the left is going to deserve payback, and it's going to be hell. This much I promise you."

Given his penchant for lists, it appears that Mr. Limbaugh could teach Senator Joseph McCarthy a thing or two about the divisive power of the bureaucracy of hate.

The chilling fact is that there is no "we" in this new supremacist movement in America. These new-age zealots do not embrace the concept of Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness unless it fulfills their view, their definitions of what life, liberty and happiness are. In their world of "our," there are no "We the People." In their world of "our," all men are not created equal.

These new-age bigots are the reflection of the things they claim to fear most. Listen carefully to those who scream loudest -- usually about "them" or "those people" destroying our country -- and you quickly realize that while they accuse liberals of destroying our country, it is actually they who are damaging the promise and ideals of the Great Experiment that is America. It is the bigot who causes the most trouble and strife to a free and democratic society. Bigots live in the land of our. Without considering the obvious facts derived from logical thought, bigots exhibit obstinate, blind devotion to their unscientific beliefs and opinions. Witness the attacks, contempt and intolerance for those who do not agree with them.

I choose to live in the world of you, me and we. My door will always be open to a friendly conversation with them, or those people. I hope the same might become possible for the people who live in the land of our.

 

 

Follow Matthew Modine on Twitter: www.twitter.com/MatthewModine

Comments

[excentric]

I wholeheartedly agree with what Mort said. I enjoy your work as an actor, and now I respect you as an individual, as well. It's seems true that the more the religious right has taken over the republican party, the more hateful and mean-spirited they have become. Religious extremists. Does that ring any bells? Anyway, well said, Mr. Modine, and thank you.

[observer100]

Thank You Matthew,

You have barely scratched the surface of ours and theirs. 145 years ago a bloody coup transferred sovereignty of every citizen and state to the national government in Washington D.C.. At that point, nothing in this nation was mine or yours, including our lives and property if Washington wanted either. In 1913, THEY morgtaged the United States to the International Bankers. "The borrower is servant to the lender." Presidents and Congresspersons do what pleases these lenders and all who pay taxes serve them, which is a clear majority. Call it whatever we like, Democracy, Republic, Corporatocracy, it is no more ours than China, until the revolution.

Blessings X 10,

Ed

[Romeover]

Thank you, Rush. You have succinctly stated the divisive principle that Mr. Modine laid out as the primary problem in our society today.

[Mort]

I've always enjoyed and respected your excellence as an actor. This article puts you in a whole new light. Many in your profession use the podium to draw attention to themselves, by way of a cause. But you have beautifully crafted a message designed to open our eyes and draw us together. The divisiveness in this country is staggering. Us vs Them in almost every issue and media. It's vital that we take a step back and see that contention will never solve anything. You've given us pause to do that. "WE" thank you!

[liveinhope23]

As I have had occasion to mention previously, if the President cured cancer the Right would blame him for government interference in the tobacco industry. The President is the most immediate and visual reminder that the grass has grown around them.
So we are left with a deeply divided Country. Those who expend all their energy trying to throw the Country into reverse, to somehow put things back where they were - where African Americans, Hispanics, Women, Gays and every other non-white, non-male, non-mainstream group was marginalized and kept in their place. Limbaugh is only one (very) subtle degree removed from "do you want them marrying our daughters?" Fear is a powerful motivator and a good paycheck.
On the other hand, we have a Left movement that is slowly finding it's feet. We owe a lot to the Internet and to places like Huffpo that are, at long last, providing a sense of community in which we can exchange ideas and foster change.
Some of us are tired of having our lives controlled by corporate-fueled, jingoistic, self-justifying religious cynics who smugly proclaim that they know what's best for America. Their nonsense notwithstanding, the promise of America is still very much alive. It is finally turning a long overdue corner towards a more equitable society- but don't expect acquiescence from those whom oppression and corruption benefits. It will be an uphill battle.
It is never easy. But it is always worth it.

[GoodNews]

Wow! Sexy AND Smart...Matthew, I hardly knew you.

[seawolf77]

Is there anything more punitive than a republican. Maybe God. You see that's the whole ball of string. Religion gives you the moral authority to be cruel.

[CaveatMagnusFrater]

Hi Matthew,

The truth is out here ready for the plucking. The right wing commentaters will never admit to racism, sexism and religious intolerance but their listeners will. A woman I know couldn't vote for Obama because his dad was black and his mom was white and they just don't think it's right to mix the races. A man I talk with occasionally asked me last December if I voted for that N.....r. I ansered that I voted for President Elect Obama. Flyover country is more open about their prejudices then city slicker bigots, but they all know the code words and for some reason think progressives don't know what they're talking about.

Mike

[kobrock1]

Code words would have even greater meaning if it weren't for all of the portraits of President Obama, prominently displayed in all federal buildings. I also seem to remember unedited images of him on television and in popular magazines and newspapers. I would submit that at least a large percentage of voters suspected that he may have been black even before the election. Incidentally the N word isn't really code, it offends almost universally.

[SEQUOIABISON]

Very well said Mr Modine, unfortunately the right wing in our country is tone deaf to such inclusive politics.

[racetoinfinity]

Matthew: good post, except please don't use the term "new-age" to define these reactionaries. Perhaps you meant "modern-day" but "New Age" refers both to the true green and integral postmodern visionaries who see beyone the isolated ego and some regressions, but on the whole it was up the spiritual ladder. These mythic-membership ethnocentric pre-rational to rational regresses are just that - regressed - very "old-age."

[Maerwynn]

Lynching did not cease in 1930. Let us not forget Mr. James Byrd, Jr. lynched in 1998 in Jasper Texas.

Thank you for this post. I was in danger of losing hope that there could be such a world as you describe.

I am so happy to be your fellow citizen in the world of you, me and we.

[kobrock1]

Yes, who could forget Mr. James Byrd, immortalized in those campaign adds with the rattling chains meant to imply that candidate, Bush, approved of such behavior because he did not support the kind of hate crime legislation that would have truly punished the perpetrators. Instead, in a mockery of justice, the two received a relative slap-on-the wrist of life imprisonment for one, and death by lethal injection for the other. Neither of the two were ever subjected to tortuous attempts at rehabilitation.

[CaveatMagnusFrater]

The Jena Six and the faux lynchings indicate that the message is clear to white supremists. They know what they're doing and they know it's wrong.

[Steve1]

"Bigots live in the land of our. Without considering the obvious facts derived from logical thought, bigots exhibit obstinate, blind devotion to their unscientific beliefs and opinions. Witness the attacks, contempt and intolerance for those who do not agree with them."

Exactly! That about sums up virtually all Republicans I know. They still even refuse to admit there were not WMD in Iraq despite all evidence to the contrary/facts. Instead they choose to believe those Fake News hosts like Hannitty still claiming the WMD are there..."somewhere...we just haven't found them." This makes those numbskulls/lizard brains on the right feel better about the Iraq war and the reasons we went in, despite what were the known facts at the time reflecting there were NO/ZERO WMD in Iraq, especially nuclear WMD.

One can't even have a rational conversation with these Fake News viewers, as they only listen and want to believe there version of the truth and reality.

[gosolar]

Not only will President Obama's actions be scrutinized, and every mistake pounced upon, but also every success will be twisted and perverted until it is somehow something negative. Their hatred and vitriol is not rational enough to simply wait for Obama to slip up. If there is never a slip up, they will invent one.

[kobrock1]

It's all just so sad, why can't those mindless, bigoted Republicans treat our Supreme Leader, Obama, with all of respect that we lefties unerringly bestowed upon the never-maligned, despot, Bush.

[Dynamohum]

You are NO lefty!!

[Romeover]

How sad you are, kobrock. You can't see the difference.

[iamjones]

"Some people understand that there is only one world and we are all in this together."

also known as democrats, liberals and progressives.

[William50]

First the largest use of separation of people by race, sex or religion is the US political parties. At each and every election, if you watch the way the parties divide the nation the use of race is first and then religion and sex.
While your ideals are great, as they do hit home in a christian country, as they have been taught in the public schools for decades the fact is there is as much racism by all the races in America, by women and by churches as there ever was in this nations history.
I will agree that middle class people have less race problems then most, however they are still divided by religion and by sex in their attitudes and actual actions.
Education has helped, a strong economy is the best way to fight race issues, conversely a poor economy with people fighting for jobs will build the race and sex issues faster then anything else.
The best way to leave the race issue is to,,,,,,I have no idea what it is and neither do you. But I do know that if this economic down turn continues for another few years you will see hate crimes explode....

[ALYankees12]

I understand that the hate and hope of failure is a burden on American. There are certain policies that I hope do not get passed. I personally don't like the health care reform being proposed. However, I would love to see Obama have an approval rating of 90 and get re-elected. Having said that, it is impossible because currently 0% of the population like the Baucus bill, about 50% or more want single payer, and the rest would like to see a truly free market. Almost half of the population is going to be unhappy with him and hope his policies fail. Of those people, there are some that want him to fail as a president for no reason than just to see him fail.