Whac A Pratt

By: American Decency Staff

 

Do you remember the arcade game, “Whac-a-mole,” where one of a group of animatronic moles would randomly pop out of its holes and the player was to bop it back down with a hammer? That’s a picture of the left’s attitude towards those who take pride in America’s legacy.

First it was Nike recalling their Betsy Ross flag themed shoes, but now the same outcry is rising against one of Hollywood’s biggest stars for wearing another historic flag: the Gadsden flag.

Under the Obama administration, the Gadsden flag became the banner of the TEA party movement, of which many of us were a part. It organized against former President Obama’s left swinging agenda, particularly socialized medicine, but was often baselessly smeared with accusations of racism.

Those smears are now rubbing off on actor Chris Pratt, as TMZ reports, “Chris Pratt wore a shirt that repped the "Don't Tread On Me" flag, which has now been labeled by some as "racist" and something white supremacists use …Chris has been criticized over the past few days for repping the flag and the slogan — originally created during the Revolutionary War as a message from the American colonies to England. It has since been adopted by the Tea Party and other far-right political groups.“

Note that uniting under the mantra that we are “Taxed Enough Already,” makes you part of a far-right political group.

The article, to TMZ’s credit, goes on to point out that, “Chris wearing the shirt doesn't mean he supports white supremacy or anything else hateful or extreme…”

But Yahoo! – the organization that broke the story wasn’t so diplomatic: “Although the symbol has a non-racial history – it is has been used by the U.S. men’s soccer team and Metallica – over the years it has also been adopted by political groups like the Tea Party and some Libertarian groups, as well as gun-toting supporters of the Second Amendment.

It has therefore also become a symbol of more conservative and far right individuals.”

Again, conservatives, TEA partiers, Libertarians, and supporters of the Second Amendment are now “far right.” This kind of moral outrage over different opinions and conflating every opposing view as racist serves two purposes: it riles up the weak minded in the circle of influence and it shames those who do disagree with you into silence. Why speak out in support of the second amendment if it’s just going to make people think you’re a racist? Why show pride in your country or respect for your military when it’s going to result in being smeared as a bigot?

Hopefully Chris Pratt will provide a good example on how to not cave when faced with these ridiculous accusations. And. In fact, he’s already shown that he has the intestinal fortitude to deal with them when actress Ellen Page accused his church of being “anti LGBTQ.” Pratt responded that, "Despite what the Bible says about divorce my church community was there for me every step of the way, never judging, just gracefully accompanying me on my walk. They helped me tremendously offering love and support. It is what I have seen them do for others on countless occasions regardless of sexual orientation, race or gender.”

Hardly a soulful defense of Scripture, but far from the cringing apology we’re used to when someone is accused of the “heresy” of intolerance for the sexually confused.

Most admirably, Pratt used his acceptance speech for the 2018 MTV Generation Award, to deliver this message:

“Nobody is perfect – people are going to tell you you’re perfect just the way you are—you’re not! You are imperfect—you always will be—but there is a Powerful Force that designed you that way, and if you’re willing to accept that, you will have grace, and grace is a gift. And like the freedom that we enjoy in this country, that grace was paid for with Somebody Else’s blood. Do not forget it! Don’t take it for granted.”

How often do you think that message has been delivered from an MTV stage?

But here’s the point.

Everybody loves Chris Pratt. He’s starred in Marvel Movies, Jurassic Park movies, and one of the best loved comedy shows from the past decade, Parks and Recreation. He doesn’t even have to act, because he just is the loveable goofball he always plays. The question is, can Chris Pratt survive the hammer? Will he continue to be allowed to express the conservative ideas that most of Hollywood anathematizes so long as he rakes in the money at the box office or will he get “whacked” because of them?

The answer will tell us whether Hollywood values its money more or the values they’ve been pushing through our screens over the years.

I wonder where the next mole will pop up?

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