The three letters below are in response to Mick LaSalle's review of the new "True Grit" remake. Another LaSalle correspondent, whose letter was not included here, was a supporter of John Wayne and his comments mirror the two You Tuber comments that follow these Uploader Comments. The three letters were published in the February 6, 2011 Chronicle Datebook
The lady who wrote to Mick LaSalle didn't have any brothers in World War II or she never would have said John Wayne was a hero. I had four brothers in the service at that time and they used to call him ... well, I better not say all the words, but "coward" was one of them.
War is a dirty, brutal and often bloody business. Most of John Wayne's onscreen deaths overemphasized the heroics of battle without much attention to the inhumanity. Thanks to Mick LaSalle's comments, we can better understand the difference between a real hero - people who were willing to sacrifice their lives and careers - and an actor who portrayed a war hero without having to leave the safety and comfort of a movie set.
I had the pleasure of serving in the U.S. Army in 1957-58. At that time, many of our lifers were veterans of World War II and Korea who remained in the service and looked upon John Wayne as a draft-dodging, wife-beating phony and made sure the recruits heard that opinion. Consequently, calling a fellow serviceman "John Wayne" constituted an insult.
The three letters below are in response to Mick LaSalle's review of the new "True Grit" remake. Another LaSalle correspondent, whose letter was not included here, was a supporter of John Wayne and his comments mirror the two You Tuber comments that follow these Uploader Comments. The three letters were published in the February 6, 2011 Chronicle Datebook
JamieJobb 1 year ago
The lady who wrote to Mick LaSalle didn't have any brothers in World War II or she never would have said John Wayne was a hero. I had four brothers in the service at that time and they used to call him ... well, I better not say all the words, but "coward" was one of them.
Roberta C. Wallis, Alameda, Ca.
JamieJobb 1 year ago
War is a dirty, brutal and often bloody business. Most of John Wayne's onscreen deaths overemphasized the heroics of battle without much attention to the inhumanity. Thanks to Mick LaSalle's comments, we can better understand the difference between a real hero - people who were willing to sacrifice their lives and careers - and an actor who portrayed a war hero without having to leave the safety and comfort of a movie set.
Gary Rienzo, Berkeley
JamieJobb 1 year ago
I had the pleasure of serving in the U.S. Army in 1957-58. At that time, many of our lifers were veterans of World War II and Korea who remained in the service and looked upon John Wayne as a draft-dodging, wife-beating phony and made sure the recruits heard that opinion. Consequently, calling a fellow serviceman "John Wayne" constituted an insult.
Charles A. Leach, S. San Francisco
JamieJobb 1 year ago
It's not a real gun you idiot. William J Clinton?!? Are you a retard? John Wayne was nothing like that libtard Clinton.
You are one of the most confused and brainwashed bastards I've ever seen.
I do carry in airports. You just can't get past the checkpoint with one. Of course when I'm sitting in the pilot's seat, I'm armed.
Guns are a tool that was used to free this country and they're what will keep it free.
That's all I have to say for now.
AirstripBum 1 year ago
Theres 4:18 of my life I will never get back.
hoofpick8 2 years ago