Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Zorro

(15,691 posts)
Thu Jul 2, 2020, 01:30 AM Jul 2020

John Wayne's heroism was fake. Take his name off Orange County's airport

This is not as momentous an issue as tearing down monuments to Confederates who took up arms against the United States, removing the Confederate stars and bars from state flags, or striking the names of racists from universities, but, yes: It’s time to get John Wayne’s name off the Orange County airport.

That’s the view of the Democratic Party of Orange County, which passed a resolution to that effect on June 26.

“An airport name should reflect our values, and white supremacy isn’t one of them,” party Chair Ada Briceño stated after the vote. “If an honorary name does not reflect our ideals and values anymore, why not change it?”

The movement to take Wayne’s name off an airport that it has adorned since 1979 last erupted in February 2019. That was in the wake of the rediscovery of an interview that the action movie star had given to Playboy in May 1971. I reported then that the interview bristled with Wayne’s contempt for Black people, Native Americans, gay people, and those he labeled leftists, socialists, and communists.

The movement to rename the airport went dormant for more than a year. It has become revived with the Black Lives Matter movement and the nationwide reconsideration of which figures from American history we choose to honor in bronze and granite. For some reason, some Republicans are standing firm against this reconsideration.

https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2020-07-01/john-wayne-airport

Renaming the airport for John Wayne was a big "fuck you" to liberal California, just as renaming Washington National after Reagan was to liberal America. Republicans manufactured Reagan as some hero to counteract the country's reverence of FDR.

1 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
John Wayne's heroism was fake. Take his name off Orange County's airport (Original Post) Zorro Jul 2020 OP
I'm rather neutral about this. heckles65 Jul 2020 #1

heckles65

(544 posts)
1. I'm rather neutral about this.
Thu Jul 2, 2020, 09:14 AM
Jul 2020

There are things I like about Wayne, things I don't like. I believe Abbie Hoffman compared the man to a dinosaur - doomed but awesome nonetheless.

Wayne's lack of military service is like Jane Fonda's Hanoi visit: a dead horse that keeps getting flogged. I thought the Playboy interview was common knowledge. (Remember when the Playboy interview was a big deal?)

They - Orange County CA - were his neighbors, let them decide. If they chose to retain the name, I won't be bothered.

Latest Discussions»Issue Forums»Editorials & Other Articles»John Wayne's heroism was ...