No cessation of hostilities against Ken Burns' 'War'

ray perez Mon, Oct 1, 2007 at 03:36 AM EST

Hey Ken Burns..Si Se Puede!
1.4% of the population, people! That was the hispanic population of the US in 1940 according to the US census. It was only 6% in CALIFORNIA! So if other groups served in larger numbers and weren't specifically singled out in the documentary, then why single out latinos? I demand that Ken Burns revise "The Civil War" to also include latino contributions! While we are at it, all text books and documentaries must make extensive inclusion of the Latino experience with respect to the Revolutionary War! OK, everyone's contribution to preserving liberty should be honored but who is doing the white-washing now? Might over-representing one group's historical contributions be in order to promote today's political agenda of that group? As that group is by far the fastest growing major etchnic/racial group, it looks like we will see more of this flexing of the muscle in the future. Si Se Puede!
www.census.gov/population/www/documentation/twps0056.html

gas_nebula Mon, Sep 24, 2007 at 01:36 AM EST

Lets see if I've got this right .... 18,000,000 Americans suited up for the War. Of those 18M, approximately 500,000 were of Latino origin ... or approximately 3% of all Americans. Yet, with only 3%, there is a demand to have their efforts represented in a film that states, from its initial episode, that it's intent is to take a snapshot of American life from 4 cities/towns.

3% of the armed forces population. 4 cities/towns. All of this uproar ! What a waste of time. Funny, I don't see any German Americans complaining that they weren't in the film ... and there were certainly more than 500,000 of them in the armed forces during WWII.

Michelle Thu, Sep 6, 2007 at 04:36 PM EST

What kind of message does this send to the Mexican-American soldiers fighting and dying in Iraq?

In 50 years they'll say they weren't even there.

Sir Rodney Stiffington Fri, May 25, 2007 at 09:41 AM EST

The latino's are angry? "Tough Taco's" my friend. Then don't watch the film.

Mel Wed, May 9, 2007 at 03:57 PM EST

To amend what has ocurred, and it may be egregious to some, why not have Burns do a documentary based solely upon the contributions of the Latino community in all of the U.S.'s major battles? While this might not be the best answer for everyone, surely a piece such as this could be shown in Hispanic history, politics and culture classes in college and universities across the U.S. Rather than showing a piece that deals with all races, something like this could easily become a cornerstone of many syllabi. While I regret that my culture's many contributions to the winning of the war were not covered adequately, I don't believe that this was intentionally done on the part of Burns. There were just so many parts that contributed Allies victory that it is hard to cover them all to everyone's satisfaction.

Hainc Tue, May 1, 2007 at 04:11 PM EST

What about the roll played by left-handed, transgender Serbo-Croatian-Americans? We cannot overlook their contribution.

Hainc Tue, May 1, 2007 at 04:08 PM EST

I'm very happy to hear that Congress now believes they may need to edit PBS scripts. This would seem to be in keeping with their micromanaging of the war in Iraq. I can only hope they will look to synchronize the traffic lights on my way to and from work.

eric sanchez Sun, Apr 29, 2007 at 10:55 PM EST

OK, before we start limiting the comments to what is strictly finger pointing and accusations--I do agree with the writer of this article. But as far as the whole thing about other ethnic or religious groups--there was a real ability to miss the forest for the trees. My father saw some very heavy action in Europe during WWII as an infantryman with the 83rd infantry division, 328th rifle company. His unit and our country fought and defeated fascism in Europe. His unit liberated some of the camps in Central Europe. One of the most horrible things he said was that he saw lampshades with tattoos and "stickmen not quite alive and not quite dead yet," all persecuted and scapegoated for nothing more than being Jewish. At the end of the war, he and two other vets were headed back to NM. They stopped at a small diner in Texas. He was wearing his uniform with the blue piping of infantry on his cap, and they refused to serve him. So call it a footnote, but it still happened.

Anglo Chick From Texas Thu, Apr 19, 2007 at 01:08 AM EST

Oh, and by the way. One major reason the Latino experience is super pertinent, is because in WWII, there was a major California murder trial, Sleepy Lagoon, with a nasty dragnet that pulled in dozens of innocent Latinos... and which led to zoot suit riots and fighting throughout California, especially LA. Sailors and servicemen beat anyone who looked like a "pachucho".

This had a major effect on California cities like Sacramento (you know, where Burns set part of the film), and on WWII, up there with the Tuskegee Airmen and the Chicago naval stockyard explosion, as far as racial tensions becoming inflamed by the war. You know why most people have never heard of it? Because they see something like "The War" and think they're sudden paragons of knowledge, that they "know" the war.

It's arrogance. I can understand people disagreeing with the activists on this, but to claim that someone is a whiner, after dismissing and ignoring the great heroism (& numerous medals) of Latinos - SHAME!

Anglo Chick From Texas Thu, Apr 19, 2007 at 01:05 AM EST

Political correctness is one thing, but let's not delude ourselves. The real problem is that someone like Ken Burns is arrogant enough to think he can compile a nation's relationship with a complex war into 14 hours. He can't possibly include everything and everyone, of course -- so why does he keep posturing that his documentaries are the end all be all on various historical topics?

Burns is claiming that this is a representative documentary about the American experience, but says he didn't want to follow anyone from a major city (huh?! major cities aren't part of the American experience?)

Then, he picks the city of Sacramento as one of these four places. Sacramento. You know, in that state California, which has historically had one of the highest numbers of Latinos, and oh, wow, used to be part of Mexico? And he couldn't find one Latino person to include?

Alfredo Tue, Apr 17, 2007 at 07:22 PM EST

Armando does make a good point. Hispanics did win the most metal of honors out of any ethnic group and if one were to look at the make-up of the current US army one would see that there is a LARGE hispanic constituency, some in high positions, due largely to the history of hispanics serving proudly in the Army. For those of you who just hate any group trying to stick up for their rights or respect dont bother posting on this topic, grown-ups are having a serious talk.

bill Tue, Apr 17, 2007 at 02:53 PM EST

I'm a Mormon!
WHAT ABOUT THE MORMONS IN WW2?
I'm also Irish/Dutch!
WHAT ABOUT US???
If we're not included, I'm gonna
hold my breath, kick my feet, etc. etc.

MikeknaJ Tue, Apr 17, 2007 at 01:32 PM EST

This whole controversy is ridiculous. A filmmaker and a storyteller has the right to tell the story that they choose to tell. Not every film or documentary has to be all-inclusive and tell the entire scope of things. I'm a Korean-American. Am I going to get up in arms because Burns' film may have left out the contributions of Koreans in the war? No! Who cares! I do not have the right to demand that someone else alters their desired story and caves to my demands and "rights" as a minority. No malice was intended on Burns' part. If I don't like it I'll vote with my pocketbook. And if I really want to see my desired perspective told I'll support a filmmaker who also shares that desire. These ridiculous boycotts are out of control and the politically correct mindset that is behind them all is sickening. Burns shouldn't have had to change anything, and if the Latino activists didn't like it no one was forcing them to watch it and no one is keeping them from filming their own documentary.

Emperor Joshua Norton Tue, Apr 17, 2007 at 01:13 PM EST

I gotta say as a writer, one of the primary skills you have to have is the ability to edit and rework.

I've done a lot of massive pieces that required a bigfat change when I received more information, or found a particularly valuable but previously unknown research direction - usually from someone I spoke to about the piece.

It's a very skilled dance between enforcing your structure on the material, and allowing the material to enforce its structure on you. Some writers and documentary filmmakers can't do both things.

But the best ones can, and do.

I posted this before, when I was still myself and before some other random Karla started posting, but at a time when our gov is wasting cash on an idiotic border fence to keep us safe from job-steelin' mescuns, it's important that we get this stuff right. Xenophobia much?

So what if it took six years? My editors wouldn't accept that as an excuse, and neither should we. If it ain't right, ya gotta fix it.

Armando Rendon Tue, Apr 17, 2007 at 12:43 PM EST

Ken Burns himself made a conscious decision at some point to ignore the role of Latino service men and women in WWII, else he is the most bogus documentarian of such high renown. He made the issue of ethnicity and race a central issue in this matter when he decided to highlight the contributions of African American and Japanese American peoples to the cause and somehow overlooked the presence of as many as 500,000 Latinos in WWII service, a figure totally disproportionate to the Latino population in the U.S. at that time. Just a little research would show that Latinos (Mexican Americans, Puerto Ricans and persons of other Latino origin) earned the most Medals of Honor as a group during that epic conflict. A Chicano friend of mine visited Normandy some time ago and was overwhelmed by the numerous Hispanic surnames that graced the markers at the cemetery grounds there. My grandmother had four gold stars in her front window for her sons: and Burns just forgot to tell their story?

Tue, Apr 17, 2007 at 12:41 PM EST

Ken Burns himself made a conscious decision at some point to ignore the role of Latino service men and women in WWII, else he is the most bogus documentarian of such high renown. He made the issue of ethnicity and race a central issue in this matter when he decided to highlight the contributions of African American and Japanese American peoples to the cause and somehow overlooked the presence of as many as 500,000 Latinos in WWII service, a figure totally disproportionate to the Latino population in the U.S. at that time. Just a little research would show that Latinos (Mexican Americans, Puerto Ricans and persons of other Latino origin) earned the most Medals of Honor as a group during that epic conflict. A Chicano friend of mine visited Normandy some time ago and was overwhelmed by the numerous Hispanic surnames that graced the markers at the cemetery grounds there. My grandmother had four gold stars in her front window for her sons: and Burns just forgot to tell their story?

Nat X Tue, Apr 17, 2007 at 11:22 AM EST

It would be impossible for Ken Burns to cover every possible facet of Americans' experiences in World War II, no matter how long he made his documentary. Good for him for adding supplemental material, but it's out of the kindness of his heart and his critics need to realize that. LGBT groups could very easily criticize a lack of stories about gay soldiers during WWII. You know there were probably plenty. That would be more interesting anyway.

Heather Tue, Apr 17, 2007 at 09:59 AM EST

I think he's really trying to fix a mistake, a simple, honest mistake. We all agree that he's not a racist and this wasn't intentional, but the guy worked on this for 6 yrs. and he's doing his best to correct something. I don't believe that any ethnicity's contributions is simply a sidenote to WWII, but I really think he's doing the best he can to fix it. He could have been a jerk about it and just said that he didn't care, but Ken Burns really does care about getting it right. I really think asking him to go back into the actual film and rework it is asking too much.

Laurie Tue, Apr 17, 2007 at 09:43 AM EST

Augh... once again art by committee. I have no problem with people expressing their views, but if this was made by anyone else and not for PBS airing do you think it would have recieved this much attention? I heart my hispanic brothers and sisters here in TX, but what gives??

Whine whine Tue, Apr 17, 2007 at 09:13 AM EST

If my (insert whatever group is whining today here) can't be in it, then no one can!!

ep Sato Tue, Apr 17, 2007 at 06:07 AM EST

NHLA is largely made up of groups that don't do very much for the Hispanic community. If they did, we'd hear more about this group's members than just when something happens on tv. Last time NHLA got press was when member org "the National Puerto Rican Coalition" hated on Seinfeld for the "Puerto Rican day parade" episode.

I am satisfied with Burns. He made changes that allow Latinos and Native Americans in this piece. I would have rather we'd a been thought about in the first place, but sometimes compromise is the best option.

Bananas, we disagree, but I am sorry for having gone "personal" on the last blog comments section about Ken Burns.

To the anon who was hating, I proved right. Apparently, there WERE indeed Latinos to be interviewed in these towns and Latinos DID live outside of LA and NYC then. So ANON, my ignorant race baiter from the south (refer to the last Ken Burns Post comments section for details), the azz kissing begins with you.

Banana Tue, Apr 17, 2007 at 03:00 AM EST

There's no way the new interviews could've been included without ruining the structure of the film. As Burns has had it planned and approached it, it will feature the soldiers and community members from four specific American communities, rather than just try to encompass the whole damn war. There was no way he could've just added in extra interviews from people who weren't in those communities without damaging the integrity of the documentary. A fully, racially-balanced, totally-pc, all-minority-inclusive World War II film will have to be someone else's project.

petesbananas.blogspot.com

This is Not About Ken Burns Mon, Apr 16, 2007 at 11:27 PM EST

I don't know where else to post this comment, but do you really think your front picture of angry men firing guns is an appropriate shot on this particular bloody day? The imagery is a bit jarring juxtaposed with what is on CNN right now.

whol Mon, Apr 16, 2007 at 11:13 PM EST

it's his movie....and he's proven that he is VERY skilled at what he does. I'm sick of militant groups getting up in arms about everything

mike Mon, Apr 16, 2007 at 09:39 PM EST

How can Burns just willfully ignore the valiant contributions of left-handed people? I am outraged!

Alfredo Mon, Apr 16, 2007 at 06:36 PM EST

Before any of the anti-hispanic spew begins filling this comments section I have to agree with the NHLA leader saying that adding hispanics as a side note leaves them as marginal players in the war. i dont think ken burns is a racist and i understand him not wanting to change his documentary simply in response to complaints, but personally as a hispanic, I would rather his doc go out as is with no extra mini-docs. Maybe someone else will tell the story and let it stand on its own

sa Mon, Apr 16, 2007 at 06:20 PM EST

LOVED KEN BURNS JAZZ!

sa Mon, Apr 16, 2007 at 06:16 PM EST

He should not go back & add-on if he doesnt feel like it. As you stated, he has already invested 6 years. Leave him alone. And before you prepare to throw stones at me, I AM hispanic.