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Jessica Lange who, upset by President Bush's Iraq policy, charged during a press conference at a film festival in Spain last September that "it is an embarrassing time to be an American.... it's humiliating," complained on Monday's Late Show that "the thing I resent most is...some kind of equation between being anti-war and anti-American."
Lange's concern for being considered "unpatriotic" came during an interview with Late Show guest host Whoopi Goldberg, who was filling in for David Letterman who remains at home because of shingles. Goldberg: "I saw you this morning in front of the UN. I was really proud to see you doing this press conference. Now, it’s funny, because whenever you watch things, whenever you watch famous people talking about things that are near and dear to their heart, we always see these polls that come out and they’re so and so, and they poll immediately. And why do you think that whenever famous people get involved in things like anti-war movements or things that mean something in the world, people start to get nervous about it? Because they use us to sell cars and stuff." Lange: "Yeah, you can sell cars, you can sell cosmetics, but God forbid you should speak of something that’s important to you. I actually think that people lack a certain amount of imagination, so if they see you one way, that’s the only way they want to see you. And they kind of deny you credibility, too. I think everybody’s point is if you are given the forum, then you better take it, because there are an awful lot of people out there who don’t have the voice, who aren’t given the opportunity to speak out. So for me, it’s never been a question of, 'Should I do it, should I not do it?’ It’s always been, 'You want me, okay, I’ll be there. I’ll be there, I’ll be there early." Goldberg: "Well, I was glad to see you and I believe a lot of people are listening, more people than the polls say." Lange: "A lot more people than the polls say and a lot more people than are being accounted for. I mean, there is that thing of diminishing the numbers. But they are growing. And it’s pretty powerful, and it’s across the board. So everybody has to speak out for peace whenever they can." Goldberg: "Well, I like that." Lange: "Because I’ll tell you, the thing I resent most is this making some kind of analogy, some kind of equation between being anti-war and anti-American." Goldberg: "Yes, I find this interesting on the news, this is a new sort of wrinkle." Lange: "Yes. That if you are for peace, you are unpatriotic. Which then kind of indicates that there is some kind of basic tenet in our democracy that says we have to wage war?" Goldberg: "You know what it is? I think sometimes people get mixed up about what the Constitution actually means here, when you can have an opinion. One of the great things about living in this country is you can have an opinion that’s different from everyone else’s and it does move." Lange: "Yes, and you should question your government." Goldberg: "You can question government." Lange: "Absolutely have to question it. We are not a nation of sheep, after all." Goldberg: "No, we’re not, thank goodness." |
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