April 16, 1975

U.S. Incredibly Tolerant, Of Defiance, Insults

It was an incredible week of nose-thumbing, and - even more incredible - it was generally applauded.

Therein lies much of the explanation of the decline in the quality of civilized life today.

Many of the public characters we used to emulate for dignity, civility and inspiration nowadays set themselves above law, manners and good taste.  They defy the rules that you and I must live by - and are cheered for it.

A fink named Burt Schneider started off the week of boorishness by praising the Vietnam communists as he accepted an "Oscar" for an anti-American film he produced in Indochina.

"The liberation of Vietnam is a wonderful thing," Schneider sniveled, tears welling into his eyes and his voice choking.  He then proceeded to read a telegram from Ambassador Dinh Da Thi, head of the Viet Cong delegation at the Paris peace talks which betrayed South Vietnam.

"Please transmit to all our friends in America our recognition of all that they have done on behalf of peace and for the application of the Paris accords on Vietnam," said Thi.  "These actions serve legitimate interests of the American people and the Vietnamese people.  Greetings of friendship to all the American people."

A good round of applause from the show-business types present greeted this treasonous tripe.

Later, Frank Sinatra read a statement which he said was from the Motion Picture Academy apologizing for the "political reference."  This time the reaction from the crowd was a mixture of applause and boos.

Next day the president of the Academy would neither back up nor disclaim Sinatra.  Shirley MacLaine, another mush-brained pinko, rushed to the press to condemn Sinatra and praise Schneider.  Without exception, her statements were treated in respectful tones, while those of Sinatra came off as unreasonable.

I, for one, am fed up to the teeth with the adulation we give entertainers and with the attention we give to their juvenile views.  They have to be ego-maniacs to get into the business, and very few can stay in the limelight without developing a distorted view of real life.

At mid-week, Jack Scott, former sports director for Oberlin College and an eager - radical, called a press conference in San Francisco to announce "total non-collaboration with this government."

He and his wife, Micki, are accused by the FBI of harboring Fugitive Patricia Hearst and her companions of the Symbionese Liberation Army.

The Scotts vowed not to talk to a grand jury seeking to unravel the Hearst mystery.

They admitted their involvement by a press-conference statement that "our actions of the past year are completely defensible."

They said, "If we somehow acted to avert bloodshed and killing, we certainly find that nothing to apologize for."

Waiting in the hall to defy the jury also were Pro Basketball Star Bill Walton, a two million-dollar flop for the Portland Trail, Blazers; and Phillip K. Shinnick, former Olympic star.  The athletes were called before the jury because they allegedly had information about Miss Hearst.

My criticism of film stars goes double for sports figures.  I never did expect much from entertainers but, as a former sports writer, I resent the Numero Uno attitude of today's crop of muscle bound morons.

Finally the incredible week drew to a close with a display of three-year-old tantrums in the Hall of Congress which theretofore had been seen only in the bush republics of Africa.

President Gerald Ford was asking for a billion dollars of additional aid for beleaguered South Vietnam.  It was an exercise in futility for the doves are in firm control of this wild Congress.  But, the President obviously felt it was his duty to try.

For the first time in the history of this nation, a President was booed and hissed to his face by duly elected Congressmen.

The United Press International reported that James Symington (D-Mo.) shook his head in disgust, and later a loud boo was heard from the same area.  A hiss was heard from the area of.  freshman Democrats where Toby Moffett of Connecticut was sitting.  Ms.  Bella Abzug (D-N.  Y.) shouted a defiant, "No."

All in all it was disgraceful exhibition.  Our home grown radicals spout the most preposterous rhetoric and demand to be heard out.  Yet, they do not accord the same civil right to those with whom they disagree.

It was a Nazi-like performance that sought to intimidate a President of the United States while addressing the Congress on a most critical topic.

It was a shameful week for which I, as an American, hang my head.

Law enforcement officers and a jury were successfully defied.  The government was ridiculed.  Traitors drew hearty applause for anti-American statements.  Insults were showed on a U.S. President while in performance of his constitutional duty.

I say we must turn our backs on these calculated assaults to reason and good manner.  We must arouse an indignation greater than the ravings.

Either we demand two-way tolerance, or we will succumb to one-way oppression.

Author: Lindsey Williams