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| Cher's anti-WoT DVD "The Ground Truth" 86'd by military |
| 2006-11-21 |
| Cher had 5,000 DVDs of "The Ground Truth: After the Killings" made, but unless American soldiers are on her mailing list, they're not getting to see it. Army, Navy and Marine Corps base officers have refused to show the documentary, about difficulties Iraq War vets have after they return home, according to director Patricia Foulkrod. "It's hard for them to reconnect to their families," Foulkrod told us. "They've been in a very dramatic situation. The adjustment is so difficult. They come back and are offered only minimum wage. We spent so much money on the war, the government didn't really set aside the proper money to take care of these guys when they get back." During one phone pitch to a Colorado base, a commanding officer told a Focus Features distribution exec that the content of the film was "inappropriate" and would be "detrimental" to the servicemen and their families. Actresses Olivia Wilde ("The O.C.") and Susan Sarandon are also trying to get the word out. "I understand why the Armed Forces would be afraid to show this film because it shows the huge gap in recognizing and providing help for returning soldiers' psychological and physical needs," Sarandon told us. An Army spokeswoman replied: "First of all, I actually only know one place they went to, and that was West Point. Â… This is more of an activist piece than a documentary," she said. "If you look at 'The Ground Truth,' it has a definite point of view. We don't say, 'Don't go see it,' but we don't see why we should promote it. "We don't get too many requests on documentaries," she said. "It's usually more things with entertainment value, people saying we'd like to do something nice for the troops - like the movie 'Sahara.'" |
| Posted by:Dar |
| #19 Of course, all these "stars" know dead certain that the guys entering the service didn't have any problems to begin with. /snark My father-in-law joined the military at 16 (he was 6'3", and that was 1936) to get as far away from his family as he could. He stayed for 26 years and retired as an E-7. He got a job at Martin/Denver as a QC inspector on the Titan assembly line, and did quality control work on the Mars Lander and the X-24B. Not bad for a guy that dropped out of school in the 8th grade, and never took a college course in his life. I had problems getting readjusted to "normal" family life when I came back from Nam. Most guys did. Most of us made it. Those that didn't refused to admit there was a problem. The rest of us recognized that we were different, and worked to adjust to what we had before. It wasn't easy, but it was sure as he$$ worth it. Cher knows sh$$ about the military and the people in it, and should STFU. |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2006-11-21 23:37 |
#18 Other then the odd case that slips through the cracks, usually the guys who don't take advantage of the program have issues. Some people are gonna have issues no matter what the hell you do for them. This bears repeating. I heard virtually the same thing from a partly-disabled Viet Nam vet. |
| Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 2006-11-21 19:58 |
| #17 Sorry, lol. I shoulda guessed, but I wuz distracted. My bad, bro. :-) |
| Posted by: .com 2006-11-21 18:49 |
| #16 I had my tongue firmly in my cheek there, .com. Sorry, forgot the {8^P smiley. |
| Posted by: Parabellum 2006-11-21 18:48 |
| #15 Parabellum - If something serves her career - at that moment - then she's sooo there. Just ask Sonny. Oh, wait, you can't cuz he hugged a tree to death. Giving the benefit of the doubt, mebbe she has Diane Sawyer Syndrome: "I care so deeply I can't stand it... [Insert stupid quote here]" Taking it away, I can't stand her, either. |
| Posted by: .com 2006-11-21 18:33 |
| #14 This can't be correct Cher's Pro Military, ain't she? |
| Posted by: Parabellum 2006-11-21 18:24 |
| #13 LOL .com, - a good "hamburger hill" reference. I agree w/the good Sergeant. The VA may not be perfect but I've not seen a crisis. Other then the odd case that slips through the cracks, usually the guys who don't take advantage of the program have issues. Some people are gonna have issues no matter what the hell you do for them. In the case of minimum wage; what a joke. Most of the first term guys I've seen get out do well. Plus every guy I know comes out w/a GI Bill and college opportunities, it's on them to get into school and close the deal. The ones that have problems were the ones who made bad decisions while in the military - i.e., got married and had kids they couldn't afford in the first place or never took advantage of on base education, etc. |
| Posted by: Broadhead6 2006-11-21 15:48 |
| #12 Say what you want about Cher and Susan Sarandon and chances are I'll agree with you 100% of the time. But that Olivia Wilde is HOT, HOT, HOT, HOT, HOT! GRRRRRRR! ;-) |
| Posted by: eltoroverde 2006-11-21 14:48 |
| #11 "Pass the fuckin' mashed potatoes, Ma." |
| Posted by: .com 2006-11-21 14:04 |
| #10 WX, There are lots of transition programs for troops and even more for those that were wounded. The ones that don't take advantage of those programs are the ones that usually have difficulties. These guys/gals are adults and need to take charge of their life. FYI Every county in the U.S. has a designated Veterans Rep that any Veteran can seek out for assistance. They are usually located at the county seat. I work with the ones in California and NONE of them ever complain about having too many customers. |
| Posted by: Cyber Sarge 2006-11-21 14:01 |
| #9 I give them a chance to IT gives them a chance. Sorry bout that. |
| Posted by: 49 Pan 2006-11-21 11:15 |
| #8 WX, For the Guard and Reserve troops they do this. They end up at Ft. Dix, and other locations, and stay there two to four weeks for "Outprocessing". I give them a chance to settle in before they head back to their communities. |
| Posted by: 49 Pan 2006-11-21 11:14 |
| #7 I have heard stories, and I have this advice. Bring soldiers home from the front a month before they are discharged, so they can have some time to relate to the non combat of the base and surrounding areas. Have the sucure ones guide the hyper ones into a soft landing. Is that so hard to do ? |
| Posted by: wxjames 2006-11-21 10:50 |
| #6 There are a group of people with psychological needs so huge they are untreatable. They are called celebs with narcisicm. |
| Posted by: Bright Pebbles in Blairistan 2006-11-21 10:04 |
| #5 If Cher really wants us out of Iraq, and fast, all she has to do is have a few planes or helicopters fly over the country blaring "Do you believe in love after love" from loudspeakers. War is hell, but none of our troops could stand that. |
| Posted by: mcsegeek1 2006-11-21 09:57 |
| #4 "They come back and are offered only minimum wage." Yup, the only job that any vet can get is at Burger King at minimum wage. Must be reading the Kerry script Dumb Military + low skills = Minimum wage earner. Just when I thought I think I couldn't hate these people any more they come up with this shit. Is it clear now that they constitute a fifth column trying to sow discontent in the ranks and with the public? |
| Posted by: Cyber Sarge 2006-11-21 09:31 |
| #3 If one wishes to see an excellent film on vets readjusting to civilian life, rent "The Best Years of Our Lives". It's got Myrna Loy in it. Yum Yum. |
| Posted by: JDB 2006-11-21 08:00 |
| #2 This is why country music is so popular with the military. For the most part, they support the troops and are patriotic. And no, the Dixie chicks really aren't country. |
| Posted by: DarthVader 2006-11-21 05:07 |
| #1 Aiding and abetting the enemy in wartime. I love recording artists! |
| Posted by: gromky 2006-11-21 00:21 |
