Tommy Smothers SHOCKs Vegas audience with SERIOUS anti-war song.

[MrEniena]

To the people who disliked this: do you have any heart at all or do you just enjoy pressing that button to annoy people?

[wixperiments]

Thank You-Peace

[monergistical]

Q: Who do I have to hate to be Tommy Smothers' friend?

A: Those who are pro-war.

Ironic, isn't it?

Touching song, however oversimplistic and naive. It will certainly stir emotions, especially of those who share the same oversimplicity and naivete.

Perhaps we will live in a world without war someday...after we somehow eliminate all the bad warring people...without warring against them somehow.

lol

[Westwerld]

@monergistical ....when we dont have people who want to kill us, and when there arent threats against us.....yeah right lol

[OVCMA]

God bless you, @GeorgeCF99. Sadly, some people fail to see the distinction between a terrorist and the hero who stops the terrorist. You, sir, are the latter and I thank you for your service. It is they, the terrorists you fight, who sow the seeds of hatred of which Tommy sang. If it weren't for brave men and women like yourself, the terrorists you risk your life to stop would have long ago massacred us all, including the poorly-informed individuals mocking you here.

[tonybenn1000]

@OVCMA you are as screwed up as george! Tommy is trying to get through to people like you in his song. it;s like this, WE are going from country to country, bombing, kidnaping, torturing rapeing, murdering & spending hundreds fo Billions to do it. ( beware the millitary industrial complex ) They don;t care who, or, how many they kill ! it;s all about the bottom line! it;s taken me since NOV. 22, 1963 to figure out that the people behind the US. GOV. are the REAL TERRORISTS! thats why They hateus

[hslot4]

I would call this the politicians song Nato /USA who do i have to hate to be your friend

To sad to true

[braveTOMINATOR]

You might be concerned with Abdul, the 17 year old Taliban fighter, but what about his 17 year old cousin, who will be stoned to death for an affair she didn't commit? What about the thousands of Northern Alliance fighters who risked everything to overthrow the Taliban, and gain their freedom? Should we forget about them?

[KMartin730]

You don't "celebrate" any one one of them

[grandmachristine42]

I have a huge respect for all those who refuse to be bribed, tricked, or scared into killing the defenseless poor. As for those who didn't know then that it was wrong, I have much pity for them and respect if they know the truth now and say it. But for those veterans that keep sayingt that we OWE THEM GRATITUDE for doing a horrible thing in our name because they were PROTECTING us. . .it's best I say nothing about how I feel towards them.

[ToddBoyle]

Tommy is Low-T.



[KaptKan1]

“In a society where truth becomes treason, however, we are in big trouble. The truth is that our foreign spying, meddling and outright military intervention in the post-WW2 era has made us less secure, not more, and we have lost countless lives and spent trillions of dollars for our trouble. ...it’s the official government lies that have given us endless and illegal wars resulting in hundreds of thousands of deaths and casualties.” ~ Dr Ron Paul

RON PAUL in 2012~

[Martie725]

Sure could have appreciated you on TV all these years. Thank you for still caring and sharing.

[GeorgeCF99]

Love the Smothers Brothers, but this song is a bunch of crap. Peace comes from war; good vs. evil.

[KaptKan1]

@GeorgeCF99 YOU are a bunch of crap, and an idiot.

[GeorgeCF99]

@KaptKan1 I am very proud of the good things that I did in a WAR in Afghanistan. Yes, bad things happen - like my guys getting killed; but I know that what I did was good. I personally built schools for young girls and dug wells to give needy people clean water. I did this and got shot at. We ALWAYS stood up for the innocent and, guess what - this is all a part of WAR. If that makes me a bunch of crap and an idiot, well... what does that make you? What have you done for the innocent?

[KaptKan1]

@GeorgeCF99 You personally never did shit for anyone and we both know it. The nonsense about building schools and digging wells is standard military agitprop; it hasn't changed one bit since the Viet Nam War. The fact is that you helped prop up a totally corrupt dictatorship that pisses away billions in "aid" money while forcibly occupying a foreign land which never menaced your own in any way. The occupation forces have slaughtered the innocent in large numbers, and you are a war criminal.

[KaptKan1]

@GeorgeCF99

“The welfare of humanity is always the alibi of tyrants.” ~ Albert Camus

“...mass murder is not made any the less immoral and destructive to civilization simply because it is ordered by presidents and generals and carried out under the guise of flag and uniform.” ~ Anthony Gregory

“He that is the author of a war lets loose the whole contagion of hell and opens a vein that bleeds a nation to death.” ~ Thomas Paine

[hanksnow2]

@GeorgeCF99 -You say," I personally built schools for young girls and dug wells". Well I'm not sure where you come from, but here in Can. Schools are being condemned, many are being taught in trailers, and we won't shoot at you if you would like to build some good schools here. It won't cost Billions of dollars either, well at least not legitimately. No service men have to die, I believe we have lost over 160, so little girls can go to school in Afg. If you swallow that, we call you sumdum.

[tonybenn1000]

@GeorgeCF99 what NORMAL people do is NOT KILL, you fool ! you say you built schools? you & your nut friends bombed the children in those schools! WAR IS MURDER & TERRORISUM- YOU ARE THE TERRORIST, so dont give anybody your bull shit about innocent, you fucking murder of little children!!!! there would be no war, if there were no people like you who beleave the liers, who are getting rich, off murder. its a very big industry. Kaptkan is trying to HELP you understand whats going on .

[GeorgeCF99]

@tonybenn1000 It's ironic to see all the comments on here directed with "love" and non-judgment. I have a clean conscience with EVERYTHING I did over there. Almost all comments on here are totally fabricated. I, on the other hand, have first hand experince. Judge my actions, but you have no idea what my motives are. I am called a murderer, terrorist, and still called a "murder of little children" but actually defended the innocent in America and in Afghanistan from murderers and terrorists. :)

[tonybenn1000]

@GeorgeCF99 you never defended anybody! you dont go to the other side of the world to defend. its the ARMS INDUSTRY your killing for, but your so brainwashed you just dont know. some day i hope you understand

[GeorgeCF99]

@tonybenn1000 It's ironic to see all the comments on here directed with "love" and non-judgment. I have a clean conscience with EVERYTHING I did over there. Almost all comments on here are totally fabricated. I, on the other hand, have first hand experince. Judge my actions, but you have no idea what my motives are. I am called a murderer, terrorist, and still called a "murder of little children" but actually defended the innocent in America and in Afghanistan from murderers and terrorists. :)

[hanksnow2]

@GeorgeCF99 -You said,.." Peace comes from war; good vs. evil."...You must be real good at 2 piece puzzles!

[JayBBluejay]

It reminds me of my high school years. A new person comes to town, you want him or her to be your friend, but usually people in cliques would tell them you to be a friend or be snobbish to, although not as much as in the tone that Tom Smothers does in an anti-war song.

[watayapupuya]

The U.S.A. is Imperialist Idiot Pig -Nation. Plain and simple. Wise-up,folks!

[neoregulus777]

@watayapupuya What about the two men in the video? What about the audience?

[Shari225]

I love the Smothers Brothers all over again. As for those who don't get it - when has hate ever solved the world's problems? The definition of insanity - repeating the same thing but expecting different results. Hello.

[LTCDave88]

#1: It's "Whom" do I have to hate.

#2: We're NOT all the same. Enemies of the United States are enemies for very good reason. They are typically murderous dictators who threaten our national security and way of life.

#3: Capitalism is better than socialism, communism, or utopianism because the latter are based on an incorrect understanding of human nature. The have-nots in a free country are so because they choose to be.

#4: I used to be a dove, too; then I turned 14. Hippies don't help.

[rleary1]

@LTCDave88 Yeah but you forgot that God doesn't like America anymore than any other country on the face of the planet. We all suck. I want to seal the borders & get the Hell out of the middle East but assholes Bush & now Obama are playing the same stupid game. Just because we can murder hundreds of thousands over there doesn't make us any more noble. Hell, we're torturing humans & holding them in prison now with no hope of trial. How F'd up is that?

[mac423]

@LTCDave88 these "enemies" are a joke. they are simply leaders that do not cower to what we tell them to do. Way to let fear dictate your thinking. Realistically, most of these "enemies" are countries we could literally flatten in a week. Yet, you find it necessary to fight a never ending war against them? Our national security has NOT been threatened since WW2. You see how that huge fear campaign against the soviets went right? Never once were we attacked.. Woodrow Wilson wannabe...

[watayapupuya]

@LTCDave88 I'm sure they know its really "whom".

What a crock of typical meaningless american right-wing drivel.

[ThePeaceprof]

@LTCDave88 Your naïveté is almost touching.

First, singing "who" instead of "whom" is no more egregious an error than saying "ain't" in a song.

Second, the "enemies" of the US are not any threat to "out national security and way of life." You have cheerfully drunk the government's kool aid, and facts be damned.

Third, your "understanding" does not reflect human nature but rather your own depraved character.

Finally, hippies fought for your right to free speech more than any troops did.

[KaptKan1]

@ThePeaceprof You are right on all counts!

“Peace and friendship with all mankind is our wisest policy, and I wish we may be permitted to pursue it.” ~ Thos. Jefferson

“A state of war only serves as an excuse for domestic tyranny.” ~ Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

“ Setting a good example is a far better way to spread ideals than through force of arms.” ~ Ron Paul

[TaliskerLaphroaig]

I live in the downwind shadow of 150 intercontinental ballistic missilies. That means I live in "fallout central" for those of you without a clue to the effects of total nuclear war. But it's those of you who live far beyond your needs who make these missiles necessary, for when shortages create chaos and starvation, some conflict will be created that allows the missiles to fly and human population will be brought to more tolerable levels. It's all because of pizza-eating and beer-loving you.

[SonOfMrGreengenes]

Remember that Tom's father was killed in war when he was a young child. I feel sorry for people who don't get this. They seem to be unable or unwilling to grow past the weaknesses that they have been indoctrinated with. The world is getting smaller...different cultures of the world are being forced into contact with each other more and more. We can succumb to what we have been taught by our environment.... to fear and hate that which is different. Or we can do what children know is best... LOVE

[MaxPennington]

@philipjrichardson

You should hate yourself for being so intolerant.

If I weren't such a tolerant person I'd hate you too.

Intolerance is enough to try even the most tolerant person's tolerance.

[SuperDachshund]

Stay outta my way

Or you'll pay

Listen to what I say!

(verse 2)

How 'bout I just go eat some hay

I can make things outta clay

And lay by the bay

I just may

Whaddya say?

(Just saw Penn's video of how Tommy bashed him. Penn didn't deserve that.)

[OneVoiceMore]

It's pretty simple, really. Those who either don't get, or worse, disparage this message, ARE the problem.

[crazysingingchick]

You know, I'm a war supporter for the most part, but I'll tell you that I get this song. It's a great song about love. Makes you think. Both brothers are great, but I always liked Tommy best. ;)

[toddy824]

Remember, comedy was the method they used to deliver the very serious and controversial truths of the times. People were more likely to listen if it wasn't considered direct and serious protest to the government's actions and war in general. I for one am glad to see them make a bold statement without any props or quips to lessen the blow or mask the reality of the message.

[tjmccormack]

This song reminds me of the style of antiwar song made famous by the late great Phil Ochs.

[peiklk]

Love the Smothers Brothers, but this is just awful and stupid. They need to stick to comedy.

[thisismyidgdi]

@peiklk You cannot love the Smothers Brothers because you don't get Tommy. Comic genious with serious and social beliefs. If you disagree with him, say so. That is what the Smothers Brothers were all about. Tell us your beliefs. Its easy to say its awful, its harder to say why. Try.

[FW190BK]

@peiklk

I agree. Just more of this kum by ya crap that is just so unrealistic. I guess it's easy when you are looking at the outside world and don't have to worry about being killed by idiots in this world. Like everyone in the world can just kiss and make up.

[lilackine]

@FW190BK If you knew how to spell Kumbaya, I still wouldnt listen to you. If you knew what it meant, and how it feels and still said what you said I would feel sorry for you. If you had a gun i would be scared of you. the mess we are in from running scared from the Viet Cong to the Iraqis will continue if we cant get beyond that we as a country are dying of ignorance and hatred. We have become so weakened that we go to war to try and strengthen ourselves but the devil is still to pay.

[FW190BK]

@lilackine

FYI. This country is not “dying of ignorance and hatred” it’s dying because of over spending by idiot presidents who have used “our” money on “goberment spending” for lazy idiots. Go sing kumbycrap and have another drink while others are dying to protect your ass.

[lilackine]

@FW190BK I dont drink. I'm sorry for anyone who dies for me. Many of our presidents are idiots? Our current mess is due to Clinton deregulating the banks and not paying enough attention to Al Qaida, Bush spending on two wars that made his cronies rich. and then Obama paying off the banks. I dont know any lazy idiots caused this mess. I know some idiots who to cut taxes for the rich, and invade other countries to control oil, a futile attempt to delay the inevitable demise of our country.

[mac423]

@FW190BK actually, our biggest spending waste is in the departments of "national defense" (which should be called imperial global governance spending) AND social welfare/entitlement programs. This is not a partisan issue, as both sides are seriously corrupted by their ideals. You are right about our overspending however. 1.171 TRILLION for wars, and trillions more for entitlement programs... ALL of which is either borrowed from CHINA, or printed unbacked FIAT currency.....

[watayapupuya]

@lilackine What is all this idiotic liberal crap you're rambling on about?

Why not just say : Hey U.S.A.: Stop being Imperialist War- Mongers?!

[watayapupuya]

@peiklk The Hell they do!They need to say whatever they can say.Like John Lennon would have.Like everybody who has any moral principals should.

[PlacentaPudding]

These guys are so funny! HAHA!

[ladygagafan33]

onision tweeted this :)

[Dani0l1vo]

thumbs up if Onision send you here!

[trecool567]

@Dani0l1vo

Onision mentioned this? O.o''

[hanksnow2]

@trecool567 -Hi George & I think you mean well, but,...you don't have to go so far away to try & defend people from terrorist & murderers.

I believe you know that over 17,000 Americans are murdered every year, & I believe that's just with hand guns. Perhaps you know that 4,000 children will be murdered by their parents in the USA this year.

When you & others get this under control, then perhaps you & others could look afar, to those so uncivilized to be doing similar crimes of terror.

[trecool567]

@hanksnow2

All I asked was Onision mentioned this?

My goodnes..>.>

[hanksnow2]

@trecool567 - Sorry about that; as my comment started out, you may have read;-"Hi George",- meaning 'GeorgeCF99'....I just hit on the wrong reply,..Thanks again for the correction!

[trecool567]

@hanksnow2 Ah, yeah, that makes sense, lol, sorry about that

[silverfishes]

This guy kinda reminds me of mister rodgers :)

[hanalei169]

I don't know the words.....to say, this song is so..... real and so.... needed. Thank you.

[sheltv100]

That song should have been sold in millions of copies on CD's. But the entertainment companies won't go for it because they don't want to sell music that educates people and build up social consciousness. That song is a great song.

[silverfishes]

@sheltv100 Yay someone gets it! So many people are telling me (I'm 13) and other people my age we can't be aware of things like this in society because we are too young and are just trying to make ourselves look smart, but we need all the help we can get to reestablish humanity, because it is all of our faults we let the world become the way it is, so we all need to help fix it, and that help just happens to come from 13 year olds :)

[sheltv100]

@silverfishes Thank you. Your mom and dad must be really proud of you to have such social consciousness at age 13. You may not be old enough to vote, but to learn about these things is very important for you to formulate your philosophy for the cause of humanity, because you are the leader of tomorrow. As a teacher I congratulate you for your efforts, you deserve an A.

[silverfishes]

@sheltv100 THANK YOU for understanding!

[RockyMissouri]

That was beautiful...I was thinking of you this am and here you are! Serendipitous!!! Loved you guys in 68, seems like yesterday..your show was something I looked forward to..! Thank you...!

[redblugreenjello]

.. no shock at all.. and why should they be..

[1churd]

thanks Tommy. great song

[1churd]

thanks Tommy.  great song.

[jr788]

I hate GWB and he will never be my friend!!!

[toiseywoisey]

Shut up and play your guitar!

[TOKAMEEL]

Thanks Tom

[toiseywoisey]

This is an audience member calling, no one told me for the $200.00 dollar ticket cost I'd have to sit through a sophomoric, poorly written sermon!

[darius595]

@toiseywoisey why would you be in the audience then

[halt20]

@toiseywoisey Here, let me sell you a clue. You went to see "folk singers." That's exactly what folk singers do.

[rod1148]

Thanks for posting. Wonderful message. A bit hard for many to accept but the message Jesus preached was similar. We know what happened to him.

[herzogsbuick]

@rod1148 He bought a kilo and drove to Siberia in a Ranchero, iirc

[mac423]

@rod1148 very true... The bible is VERY clear about loving your neighbor as Christ loved all.

[dgraham72]

" A true warrior wishes for peace" Sun Tzu

[PerennialLucidity]

yeah, i just enjoyed layering irony on top of irony.

[PerennialLucidity]

oooh thanks for the clarification... you can't tolerate intolerant people? that makes so much more sense.

[PerennialLucidity]

so you hate yourself? oh snap!

[Soundstage8]

I don't disagree with him, but I'll admit that its pretty uncharacteristic of the Smothers Brothers to do this kind of thing.

[primalsource]

Good for you Tommy!

Very sad statement when people post whole groups they 'hate' on here...

bobs..."I wonder when people like Tommy Smothers sit alone at night"...

According to one Viet. vet I ran into...It wasn't really the protesting that ended the war...WE - our soldiers - were falling apart...Fragging was quite a problem...

I guess for some people...It's okay when our bombs, and bullets kill innocents...But not when others kill innocents...

[CASteinman]

Tommy Smothers is not pure... he also hates people and has proven it in actions.

Hypocrisy is rampant.

And just being anti-war does not mean you are Pro-peace or a good person. It really takes more than that.

[redstateabsentee]

Try hating Tommy Smothers, there's a thought. That would go a long way to being a friend.

[bobs0331]

I wonder when people like Tommy Smothers sit alone at night if they feel guilty because their pressure caused the U.S. to pull out of Vietnam and millions were murdered as retaliation by the communists and that even more live in a society without the freedom of religions, assembly, press, association and the right to vote?

[KentuckyLane1984]

i hate hippies

[PerennialLucidity]

i hate dirty commies

[major600]

Apparently you have to hate Glenn Beck to be Tommy Smothers' friend. He ripped Penn Jillette a new asshole for comparing protesters of Beck's show to protesters of Smothers' show. Hypocrite. As the grave yawns for him, he can't believe he hasn't completely changed the world yet. Also, the family of the suicide terrorists don't mourn. They celebrate.

[jennbeez]

Their material hasn't changed because warmongering hasn't changed. In Vietnam, the ones who made the war kept their kids out by keeping them in college or by getting them appointed to cushy national guard posts where they didn't have a chance of seeing real battle. Those are the American leaders of today. Chicken hawks. Love you, Tommy! Keep telling it like it IS and maybe enough people will wise up to put a stop to the killing.

[HelloWalterSobchak]

you're right. I get so F'in angry when conservatives say Bush jr., "served in the military". That spoiled, failure couldnt even do the bare minimum, in a champagne unit. He is legally a "deserter". He stopped showing up for his weekend warrior training, and never got thrown in the brig, like normal deserters do.

[PerennialLucidity]

what has ANYTHING got to do with vietnam??

[HelloWalterSobchak]

ask Cheney with his five deferments. Yet his approval of Vietnam

ask bush jr., with his, texas air national guard, champagne unit, that was promised no war time activity. Then ask his opinion on Vietnam.

War is sometimes necessary. If that is the case; why didnt Cheney or Bush Jr., ever fight? How about Limbaugh? Nugent? O'Reilly? Hannity?...

Tough talk from people that never fought. Cowardice is not an excuse.

[PerennialLucidity]

hmm maybe you would've caught on to what i was saying if i'd dropped a few f-bombs. just thought that you'd catch it judging by your username.

[klotzstang]

I HATE to break up this war rhetoric, but Tommy looked like he was back in the '69's, doing what he did best. Telling it as it is. We just have more liberal rights to freedom of speech.

[rbwsoul]

Opposing those who seektodestroy is not "Hate"....it's "Survival".

Elephants don't "Hate" the Lions that attack their Calves, when they defend their Calves.

We don't "Hate" Polio, when we seek to eliminate it. We are simply seeking to survive.

It's not about "Hate".

rbwsoul

[tablerunner202004]

We're not an animals...it's always about hate.

[erl49]

There is a difference between defending oneself, and attacking another. This song is about our attacking others.

[glemmstengal]

Elephants can't talk to Lions and come to an agreement, you're a fucking human so don't try to use that rationalization

[14thetruth]

He doesn't have a clue about God, reality, etc...

Best wishes.

[lilifyre]

Hello! Have you ever thought that maybe it isn't "them" who need to hear this message but "us"?

"when are we gonna see that WE are THEM?"

Listen to the words and look into a mirror.

[Gnillob802]

On PBS a lot of folk singers sang same anti-war songs they sang in 60's. I think the Smo Bros were only ones that didn't look like overweight aging hippies and had current material. They're never offensive and though I disagree with them politically I've always been a fan. There's a way of doing this type of thing correctly and they know how to do it. I guess it doesn't matter to me because most people know terrorists could care less what he has to say.

[lilifyre]

So what's wrong with "overweight aging hippies?"

As for their songs being "current material" well, it's the same stuff they did 40 yrs ago...it's STILL current. The message hasn't changed, just the names.

From an overweight aging hippy!

[Gnillob802]

If they haven't had an original idea in 40 years I think the word here is stagnant.

[lilifyre]

No, they are still waiting for the narrowminded bigots to hear their message. That's called perseverence.

[souperman1124]

I wish he'd go to the other side of the world and sing this in Arabic. Al Qaeda, Hamas, Hezbolla, Taliban need to hear it too.

[Gnillob802]

Souperman1124, they have heard it, and similar, they have the internet and You Tube, but those groups could care less. They hate ALL Americans, democrat, republican, smothers brothers, doesn't matter, even Muslims who live in America. Tommy Smothers is in infidel to them and that's all that matters.

[lilifyre]

You want this sung in Arabic to various Moslem groups, but you've missed the whole point he was making. Listen again and look in a mirror!

"when are we gonna see that US is THEM?:

[elmerfusco]

I respected their stance against the Iraq invasion.

They are very qualified as they were spokesmen for Vietnam withdraw. They weren't just shooting their mouths off for publicity or attention.

[shas1814]

Wow.

Talk about getting it right, eh?

Thanks for the nudge, Sirant.

[sirant]

Moving.

[hoosierhiver]

Could've heard a pin drop in that room.

[americanmuslimgirl]

Come see the latest project of the man who wrote this song. His latest project is the featured video on my page.

[honestelvisfan]

The Smothers Brothers have always been a favorite of mine and my brother. Great to see them still take a stand. Too many people sit in silence.

[dakotahstr]

@honestelvisfan  I totally agree with you. You have to stay true to yourself..

[postgraduate]

They haven't changed since they were on CBS in the late 60's. Glad to see it!