Americans Rewrite History….Again!

It is almost laughable the way Americans start wars, do not or cannot finish them, and then claim to be the great conquering heroes. To serve their own delusions they then rewrite history. Well they have done it again. Case in point… the new movie ARGO.

The movie has recently won some minor movie awards and is set to take an Oscar for its portrayal of the 1979 Iran Hostage crisis. Well, I cry foul! I think that this movie is a joke and a lie as it rewrites history. Not surprising though, coming from Hollywood….

The real heroes of this drama (specifically Ken Taylor) did not even get so much of a thank you from Affleck for their roles in this crisis. Affleck, by the way, would not have even been old enough to remember what happened during this era. Heck, he was not even old enough to sail around on the Mimi yet!

Another ATSer puts it very well in their post, so I paraphrase their message here…….www.abovetopsecret.com...

Originally posted by Elderlight

What Really Happened During the Iran Hostage Crisis

Ken Taylor was the Canadian Ambassador to Iran from 1977 to 1980, during a bloody Iranian revolution. Taylor actually helped the United States, by conducting spy missions which benefited their incursion.

In effect, he became the “GO TO” man for the CIA, in Tehran, and when the US Embassy was seized on Nov. 4, 1979 a total of 63 Americans were taken hostage including four members of the CIA. Six Americans managed to escape capture and were taken in by Canadian diplomats in Iran.

Ken Taylor became a hero in both countries and in Canada he was a hero that symbolized Canada’s history. It was not Tony Mendez who was praised in 1980 for the rescue mission engineered by Ken Taylor.


There were six Americans in the homes of the Canadian Diplomats, that were hidden from the Iranians. The plan Ken Taylor executed was not an American plan, it was designed, planned and executed by a Canadian Ambassador and to suggest otherwise is a disgrace to the nation of Canada.

The Canadian staff were always in danger due to the fact that they were hiding US diplomats, Tony Mendez did not take on this enormous risk.........


The postscript at the end of the movie is also a big mistake and adds further injury to the already insulting film to a Canadian hero.

The film is a revised story to what really happened, and explains the falsehoods in American history.

There is no part of this movie that is accurate, compelling or worth the bother of the price of one ticket.
Predictably, the movie will flop because there are many Canadians who still remember that Ken Taylor saved six American lives not the CIA agent.

You’d think Americans won the war of 1812, or how they single handedly won D Day, which is a complete farce of the true facts.


Read more: www.politicolnews.com...'s movie Argo is a fictitious lie.

edit on 23-9-2012 by Elderlight because: added headline

This just gets me steamed! But should I care? After all....That's Hollywood!


There is more true history news about this event for those who were not around to witness it....
Argo - Macleans
Argo - CBC

You are mistaken. I am an American and I did none of these things. I was too busy working two minimum wage jobs and struggling to pay my bills. Maybe you shouldn't blame over 200 million people for what a handful of politicians in Washington are up to. Can you just march into your countries capitol and start making demands? No? Well neither can we, so perhaps you shouldn't blame us for every little thing that our leaders do.

Originally posted by krazykanuk

The real heroes of this drama (specifically Ken Taylor) did not even get so much of a thank you from Affleck for their roles in this crisis.

Ken Taylor was the Canadian Ambassador to Iran from 1977 to 1980, during a bloody Iranian revolution.

Did the film makers not do a similar thing with the British embassy in Iran during the hostage crisis?

In the movie they portray the British Embassy as being cold and unwilling to help the Americans. In reality the British Embassy did help the Americans extensively, as one would expect, at great personal risk.

Why do American film makers feel the need to rewrite history to vilify their allies?

reply to post by krazykanuk

The average American had nothing to do with it. So I really don't appreciate being lumped in with the tiny handful in our country that write propaganda, or rewrite history to their liking for the masses. Including Hollyweird.

But if you want to be arrogant about it, and blast all Americans for it, be my guest. It will only accomplish the opposite of your point.

reply to post by ollncasino


Possibly because our media is pretty much government propaganda and it's sole purpose is to make us think and feel a certain way. They aren't concerned with historical accuracy. They are concerned with the emotional impression that the films leave us with and with the ideas that these films plant in our minds.But I get it, it is cool to hate America. Your media told you to feel that way I imagine, the BBC isn't much better than CNN guys.

Originally posted by ollncasino
Why do American film makers feel the need to rewrite history to vilify their allies?

edit on 24-2-2013 by ollncasino because: (no reason given)

Because a) Hollywood is full of idiots, b) reality tends to be far too inconvenient to fit preconceived values that America is the best place ever and c) a lot of Americans are ignorant of non-US history.

reply to post by krazykanuk


I am not defending America or Hollywood here, but just wanted to point out that with much of the American populace, you could show a real-time, fact-based movie on the Vietnam War and many would think it's fiction.

It's not just Hollywood. We all do this... stereotype millions of complete strangers under a preferred header earned by one or a few.

I see both points here. I am an American and was very much alive and active in the world during the hostage crisis. I remember singing a rework of the old 'Barbara-Ann' song with 'Bomb, bomb, bomb... bomb-bomb Iran!' I also recall the subject of those Americans being saved by the Canadians. At the time, there was a lot of honest gratitude.

I also know that those in high offices, along with Hollywood, regularly rewrite history to create a designer public opinion for a specific purpose in time. The history of every major event and every single war we've ever been engaged in is always in some degree of rewrite. The US Civil War has been rewritten a million times and they haven't yet offered up the truth of all the whys, hows and wherefores.

So, it's basically up to us to go out and learn this stuff first hand. We have to forget what we read in the media and what PBS, National Geofunky or the Smithsonian cranks out. This means going to a good library and pouring over the records that survive, to this day, from all those many events that did change history.

It's either that... or finding comfort in fairy tales.

Spoiler alert, don't read if you want to see Argo.

OK, are you gone? Stop reading if you want to see Argo.

Waiting. OK.


What a historically inaccurate film this is, and Ben Affleck should be ashamed to have made it rather than actually giving acceptence speeches. In the film there is a huge Iranian military/police force rushing to the airport, shooting up the doors, trying to stop the hidden Americans from leaving. None lof that occurred, they just drove to the airport, got through security without any hassle at all, and took off. No back room intrique, no "movie personnel", not gunfire, just wave bye-bye and they were gone. They could have probably gone the same way the first night, or the first week. I don't think anyone from the Iranian government even knew that some people had escaped, let alone were looking for them.

Everytime this wins an award it's another win for historical inaccuracy. I hope "Lincoln" rallies and wins the Best Picture at the Oscars (trademark symbol hidden around here somewhere). It was at least historically accurate as far as Speilberg could make it without making a documentary. Affleck has no respect for history, and even less for his viewing public, imnho.

I'll wager there is no mention of the US propping up the Shah, arming and training his secret police in ways to "disappear" anyone questioning his rule, or that they backed the armed coup that toppled the democratic government.

It's just another Hollywood pile of poo. A feelgood movie for dumbed down Americans who think "the ayrabs" want to rob them of their freedoms, and of course to portray the US as an innocent victim of it's benevolent aid programme at the hands of crazed wild eyed mullahs!

All very Israeli of course, and run of the mill in the push for war against Iran.

Ever since America decided to take the credit for defeating the Japanese during World War II, I kinda take American "history" with a pinch of salt to be perfectly honest.

The general preconceived conception of america is derived from the actions of their leaders, if the people complaining don't like the notion then take action, create & define the image you desire.

Originally posted by Tuttle
Ever since America decided to take the credit for defeating the Japanese during World War II, I kinda take American "history" with a pinch of salt to be perfectly honest.

Yeah, I had family killed in the Pacific theater. How silly to think we fought or won that war.

Wonder what happened to all those Marines that supposedly took Iwo?

Oh well.

You could always watch U-571 which is about as accurate as Apples mapping software which makes out that the Americans captured a German sub with its enigma machine intact when in fact it was the British on HMS Bulldog stopping U-110 who actually did the job...but when has the truth ever stopped Hollywood from just making a complete dogs dinner of the facts

Linky

Waits for Hollywood to make a Nazi Roman empire based war movie in the 3rd century ad that has Abraham Lincoln using Nukes and riding bear cavalry and its considered fact

Originally posted by toolshed

But I get it, it is cool to hate America. Your media told you to feel that way I imagine, the BBC isn't much better than CNN guys.

I don't hate America. Quite the opposite in fact.

It is a legitimate concern though that the movie, which will be watched by millions, portrays the UK in a historically inaccurate and negative light.

That isn't doing anyone any favors.

reply to post by redoubt

Yeah, I had family killed in the Pacific theater. How silly to think we fought or won that war. Wonder what happened to all those Marines that supposedly took Iwo? Oh well.

Russia ended that theatre of war, learn to read a book.

reply to post by redoubt


It's not that the rest of the world wants to diminish the US's role in WWII but rather Hollywood consistently try's to eliminate the not too insignificant role that the rest of the world played in WWII - it blatantly lies and rewrites history to further the myth of the US being the world's saviour.

And judging by the responses here on ATS it would seem that a high percentage of Americans, possibly even the majority, buy into this propoganda.

Are the American's who post here on ATS a fair representation of the US as a whole?
I honestly don't know - but where this is concerned I'd like to think not.

And this is just another example of how Hollywood is continuing this policy with recent history - I dread to think how the Iraq War will be portrayed in a few years time.

It may be an exciting and well produced and acted film, but it's marketed as a factual representation and that is a blatant, downright lie - little wonder people from Canada are just a tadge pissed off - it's an insult to the efforts of those actually involved and does the US as a whole no favours whatsoever.

For the record, there are some American's on here who, even though I don't agree with them on everything, I still have an enormous amount of respect for and I am by no means anti-US per se.

Originally posted by redoubt

Originally posted by Tuttle
Ever since America decided to take the credit for defeating the Japanese during World War II, I kinda take American "history" with a pinch of salt to be perfectly honest.

Yeah, I had family killed in the Pacific theater. How silly to think we fought or won that war.

Wonder what happened to all those Marines that supposedly took Iwo?

Oh well.

I think your reply is an example to what the OP was hi lighting. It wasn't only Americans at Iwo Jima do you know?

en.wikipedia.org...

reply to post by Tuttle

Russia ended that theatre of war, learn to read a book.

Thank you for the insult. (How did you know that I never learned to read... or write?)

- Ahem -

Any other... um, history (cough) you might like to educate us with?

Originally posted by alldaylong

Originally posted by redoubt

Originally posted by Tuttle
Ever since America decided to take the credit for defeating the Japanese during World War II, I kinda take American "history" with a pinch of salt to be perfectly honest.

Yeah, I had family killed in the Pacific theater. How silly to think we fought or won that war.

Wonder what happened to all those Marines that supposedly took Iwo?

Oh well.

I think your reply is an example to what the OP was hi lighting. It wasn't only Americans at Iwo Jima do you know?

en.wikipedia.org...

The point was the notion that the US did not lead the war in the Pacific. It was largely US soldiers/marines along with thousands of ships, tens of thousands of aircraft... along with various supplies of various nomenclature, that won that war. There were indeed, however, soldiers from Australia, the UK and other nations that were also then represented on board the USS Missouri at the signing of the surrender.

Operation Coronet, which was the planned invasion of the Japanese Islands, would have seen soldiers from every allied nation except Russia. They (Russia) had taken the job of clearing out the Japanese army on the Chinese mainland. They later invaded some of the northern most Japanese islands just before the surrender. They have since refused to repatriate them.