Video: “Bring Our Brothers Home”
posted at 3:23 pm on August 6, 2007 by Allahpundit
Ooooooold news, apparently, but still news to me — today’s the first I’ve heard of it despite it having hit YouTube two months ago. For that reason alone it fails as a comeback vehicle, but it fails for another too: it’s the first and thus far only plea for withdrawal you’re likely to encounter that’s mildly pro-Bush. Guaranteed to piss off liberals and conservatives alike!
It’s not the same without the pants anyway. But the coffins as set props are a nice touch.
Blowback
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I don’t wanna touch this.
saint kansas on August 6, 2007 at 3:30 PM
I’m not sure why it would offend any conservative, it was done respectfully and expresses a dissenting opinion on the war. I don’t ascribe to the view they are stating but do respect the manner in which they presented their view.
doriangrey on August 6, 2007 at 3:33 PM
You can’t touch this.
PBoilermaker on August 6, 2007 at 3:34 PM
Not horrible. It’s pro-military, acknowledges the terror threat, says Bush led us well through our darkest hour…overall, not bad.
It’s actually not anti-war, just asking for them to be brought home. I’d actually say it is supportive of the war, just wants it to be over. It’s very respectful.
One thing I take issue with, however, is the use of the coffins.
amerpundit on August 6, 2007 at 3:35 PM
Hannity had Hammer on “Hannity’s America” a few weeks ago to talk about this.
CP on August 6, 2007 at 3:36 PM
emotionalism trumps facts, right?
jgapinoy on August 6, 2007 at 3:38 PM
amerpundit on August 6, 2007 at 3:35 PM
I don’t even see anything there to be offended by, in the context of what they were saying the coffins make a very profound statement, not one of exploitation, but the serious nature of the subject matter being discussed.
doriangrey on August 6, 2007 at 3:40 PM
Not anti-war per se, but the call to “bring em home” shows an incredible naivete – what does Hammer expect? We bring the troops home tomorrow and it’s all pretty rainbows and cake the day after in Iraq?
Like it or not, we’re there, and now we’ve a responsibility to prop up the fledging Iraqi democracy so that when we do leave, it won’t implode.
Mindcrime on August 6, 2007 at 3:40 PM
I didn’t find it offensive. Just the expression of a viewpoint without slander.
But I would like to respectfully request an explanation of why the coffins are offensive. I object to their use in a political advertisement because it does not take into consideration of feelings of the families whose loved ones died, but here these are merely symbolic props.
Spirit of 1776 on August 6, 2007 at 3:41 PM
True. He’s doing it with respect to the troops, which is different than the political ads which have a political agenda.
amerpundit on August 6, 2007 at 3:42 PM
How about some Hip-Hop with all the coffins of artists and fans that have been shot and killed over nothing?
The flag-draped coffins of US Servicemen are sacred. Rapping around them is in pretty poor taste, although I did like when he was targeted. The message that it’s time to come home in any form is the same old, same old. I thought Jackie Mason’s message and logic were much better.
Hening on August 6, 2007 at 3:48 PM
The coffins are a subliminal message. The viewer’s eyes are drawn to them. The message is clear. Iraq=coffins we have to get out now before there are more US coffins.
This is a similar technique used in WWII by propaganda films… and not that different from the “Daisy ad”. I am not saying Hammer is a propagandist. But I am saying he is using a similar technique to send his withdrawl message. If my son had died in Iraq, I would be very offended that he is using that death as a reason to cut and run. I don’t think a similar film would be that well received on the home front in 1943.
bnelson44 on August 6, 2007 at 3:55 PM
I agree with that. Might I ask if you think we should treat the real coffins and artificial coffins as equals?
Spirit of 1776 on August 6, 2007 at 3:59 PM
A symbol is a symbol. And they were used as symbols of the real thing. There is no mistaking the meaning. As there is no mistaking the meaning of the artificial graveyard and the caisson.
bnelson44 on August 6, 2007 at 4:02 PM
Interesting – though I don’t quite understand.
He says on the one hand, he supports Bush’s war on terror, but simultaneously, that it is time to bring the troops home immediately.
He says people are crying that the war is wrong, but right or wrong, it is time to come home. But, if it is right, then why is it time to come home? If it is the right thing to be fighting there, if the pretenses under which this war is being fought are just, then what is the rationale for ending it?
He says that if we bring them home “in the end we all win.” But is that true? I’m thinking that we won’t be saying that when the next attack hits, or when Iraq becomes disneyland for AQ. I’m also thinking that there are a lot of Iraqis who won’t be on the winning end of things if we “Bring ‘em home,” immediately.
I do, however, like his line about suicide bombers: “Ain’t no good talkin’ to ‘em. They say that when they die a bunch of virgins gonna screw ‘em.” Well – then, what do we do? If talk is out, and the motivation is sex/religion, then pulling out now makes total sense?
I guess I don’t understand what alternative he’s positing (or, is he not positing one at all?).
nailinmyeye on August 6, 2007 at 4:03 PM
there’ve been lots of songs on that subject.
Pretty simplistic song, but at least it was pretty tasteful. I had no idea that MC Hammer was still around. And his flow still sucks. Same single syllabic rhymes.
crr6 on August 6, 2007 at 4:04 PM
I thought this was well done and respectful as many here have said. The one part that I took objection to was the shot of Katrina flood damage set up with the line “and I prayed for you when you made that error.”
That line was a low blow which was cleverly slipped in to blame George Bush for the hurricane. They laid it out there like it is incontrovertible fact that the dysfunctional govt response to Katrina was the President’s fault entirely. There was no need for that. Its factually innacurate and unfair and was a odd deviation from their seemingly honest anti-war message.
Its amazing to me how successful the media has been in making it common knowlege that the ills brought along by that hurricane were the fault of George Bush’s incompetence. I believe that media message is the true wound that bled down Bush’s poll numbers and continues to do so today. Yes, the war hurts him, but I think not nearly as badly as did/does Katrina. I think Katrina combined with refusal to enforce immigration laws is truely what has hampered this president’s approval ratings. These cut at the heart of what drives the American public’s approval, competence.
Zetterson on August 6, 2007 at 4:06 PM
As I write this I have tears of grief and sorrow running down my 57 year old cheeks for what I saw on the video.
I know what it’s like to bury a hundred or more of my comrades that fell on the battlefields of Nam during my 13 month tour there as a 18 yr. old Marine infantryman.
But the fact that millions of innocent Vietnamese civilians were slaughtered after we “came home” leaves me with the un-comforting conclusion that our very best people must remain in that hell so my two small sons will never have to be forced to fight the evil on their front door in their future.
The Iraqis slaughtered will be on the heads of those who force us to leave at this critical point.
Sgt. Khe Sahn
1GooDDaDDy on August 6, 2007 at 4:10 PM
Does that mean to you that is a ‘yes’ to you? If so is that applicable for symbols relating only to life and death or all symbols, such as say, the empty boxes at that imm. press conference which were supposed to represent all the letters they “received” that were ‘pro-amnesty’?
Not trying to be irreverent. I’m just curious as to when symbols are offensive.
Spirit of 1776 on August 6, 2007 at 4:10 PM
With obligatory Katrina reference to boot!
Brat on August 6, 2007 at 4:12 PM
Zetterson on August 6, 2007 at 4:06 PM
First of all, sadly there are many many people who feel that as the president of the United States GW was ultimately responsible for any and all failures and mistakes with regard to Katrina, and secondly I suspect it was put there so give the appearance of not overly supporting GW.
doriangrey on August 6, 2007 at 4:15 PM
That was precisely my point. Its no accident that so many people believe that.
Zetterson on August 6, 2007 at 4:21 PM
Thank you for your service.
Zetterson on August 6, 2007 at 4:28 PM
Well, of course everyone wants to bring the troops home, but some are more understanding that it is not that easy, a civilization could be at stake.
Plus, as the AP says, the death toll is climbing….I venture to say that the death will always climb and never decline.
You know, it hit 3,660 it seems like a 2 weeks ago. Heck, I know it hit 3,600 in June.
WoosterOh on August 6, 2007 at 4:31 PM
The left won’t like it because of the positive remarks about Bush.
Rightwingsparkle on August 6, 2007 at 4:55 PM
I will not view this because… 1) it will probably sicken me and …. 2) I don’t want to give it another hit count.
Maxx on August 6, 2007 at 5:06 PM
The chorus is contradictory to the rest of the song. Even so, this is the kind of anti-war video that truly is respectful of the troops. It’s only flaw is that it is way too naive. They can’t come home yet.
mram on August 6, 2007 at 5:23 PM
wow this song basicly sums up exactly hoe I feel about the war. Nice.
libertytexan on August 6, 2007 at 5:47 PM
I don’t think it necessarily offends either, but I do object to it on the grounds I feel like he’s using serious issues and video (9/11, etc.) to try to jump start a career that has been dead for almost 2 decades.
RightWinged on August 6, 2007 at 6:31 PM
Alright, props to my boy Hammer. Yes, I noticed and disdained the “media-induced” Katrina BDS, but otherwise, it’s time to come home ya’ll!
The US is the wisher of freedom for all, but the securer of such for none but itself. Look folks, ask yourself this – are the Iraqis worth more or less than Americans? Civil war, civil war, civil war, slaughter, civil war, that’s all we hear. “If we leave now, the place will fall apart and there will be a civil war and much killing!”
Does anyone even remember 1860-1865? WEEEEEEEEEE had Civil War, and yes, nigh upon a million Americans died as a direct result. Should the British, or French, or Prussians have intervened to “Stop the mindless killings, NOW!”???? A thousand times, NO!
Wars are gonna happen, and unless Our interests are heavily involved, we can’t go around sacrificing our lives and resources (weakening ourselves for the future) to police the world. Yes, I know that WE would have “caused” this civil war as it were, but hey, you better believe that a failing chance at true freedom is better than no chance at all. If Iraq returns to a dictatorship or oppressive Sharia Islamic state, then that sucks for its poor citizens. But don’t tell me that those ends de-justify the means.
Saddam had to go. He’s gone, we stuck it out to help the fledglers about 3 years more than we should have had to, and it’s time to come home. If AQ or various other thugs take over that demand such action, we’ll bulldoze back in there and take them out too. And don’t tell me that will be harder. We lost like 50 soldiers taking the entire nation of Iraq, we since lost more than 3000 trying to police it.
I voted twice for W, and it’s still time to come home.
sleestak on August 6, 2007 at 6:45 PM
Notice how different liberals and conservatives react? Just by the posts here, most of us disagree with what this vid proposes, but ummm no overly used caps or angered responces.
- The Cat
MirCat on August 6, 2007 at 7:08 PM
Tim Burton on August 6, 2007 at 11:20 PM
We get it.
Generations ago, the Kinks sang “Some Mother’s Son”.
http://kinks.it.rit.edu/discography/showsong.php?song=365
No one gets out of here alive, but we all wish to die well.
And now, for something not-completely different, I suggest we retire to Rush’s living room for that groove-yard hip-hop hit “Womb To The Tomb”.
http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_080307/content/01125102.member.html
Starts about 4:20 into this clip from last Friday’s broadcast.
Randy
And please don’t shout, “Hammertime” in the theater if it isn’t MK. Some of us live in Rio Linda.
williars on August 6, 2007 at 11:46 PM
I appreciated very much that he never used the words, “end the war.” There isn’t enough duct-tape in Virginia to wrap around my head if I hear that formulation too many more times. Whoever said Hammer’s position was naive above, I think that nails it. It lacks the malice that usually accompanies these views, but that doesn’t make those views any more intelligent. And sleestak, we’re not trying to “police the world,” that’s a slogan, or a bumpersticker, as the Pony would say. We do not want to leave a vacuum into which Iran and/or Al Qaeda can flow. The idea was to deprive them of training camps, and places where they could set up organizational infrastructure. That’s about protecting us here at home, not policing the world. It may be that there is destined to be a massive bloodletting between Sunni and Shiah, until some kind of balance is achieved over there. But that should work to our advantage, not our disadvantage. In other words, better they have that fight in Syria, or Iran, rather than Iraq. I don’t think AQ is attached to the idea of a particular nation, so they will just go where it is most conducive to them to make the plans they want to make. If we make it harder for them to be in Iraq, they’ll go be somewhere else, which will be good for the Iraqi people. In the meantime, we’ll have given them a black eye, and made them a little less appealing to your average Habib.
smellthecoffee on August 6, 2007 at 11:58 PM
It’s a good video. I disagree with MC Hammer insofar as I think withdrawing at this point would be a mistake and would lead to further American casualties. But damn. It’s not hard to understand his feelings. Also, sounds great — the music and singing impressed me.
doriangray, I don’t agree with you too often and you said:
This time I do. It was his opinion, earnest I’m sure, and put not only respectfully, but artistically and eloquently.
Unfortunately I fear there would be greater casualties in Iraq and around the world if you withdraw now. I think you are starting to produce measurable military results under a new commander and, finally, some better strategy under George W. Bush.
I like that MC Hammer criticized — in a very respectful way — what he thought were some mistakes made by George W., while respecting his motives and his successes and praying for future successes.
You’d have to be a real sicko not to want Bush to succeed in his foreign policy goals, however far fetched you believe they are. Fortunately, MC Hammer displayed great class.
Christoph on August 7, 2007 at 4:55 AM
You should open your mind and see what a reasonable dissenting viewpoint looks like.
That said, you know your tolerance level. Maybe you can’t hack it.
Christoph on August 7, 2007 at 5:04 AM
What a woeful lack of understanding your country’s history. I guess if you don’t count former Nazi German, Fascist Italy, Militarist Japan, or Soviet Occupied Eastern Europe and on and on. Yep. You’d be exactly right.
Christoph on August 7, 2007 at 5:07 AM
Seems to me to be disengenuous and subversive. Veteran’s For Peace is an anti-war, anti-military organization. Their current strategy for ending the war is “denying troops” by counter-recruiting. I have a previous president of the group on tape sayings this last Saturday.
JNC1991 on August 7, 2007 at 10:31 AM
Delayed reaction:
PUKE
Hammer this
americaslaststand on August 7, 2007 at 4:56 PM
Except Japan, Germany, South Korea, the Phillippines, Taiwan and thirty plus countries in Europe. Yup I see what you mean.
aengus on August 7, 2007 at 5:45 PM