To read the letter to Variety that Mr. Wopler wrote go here.
The following is an open reply to this letter.
Dear David L. Wopler,
It’s hard for me to not take this one personal. My brother was one of the athletes’ who trained for years and wound up not going to the 1980 Summer Olympics because of the US boycott. It hurts for him to talk about it to this day. Even though he was part of what seemed to be the minority, he was with the group of athletes that supported the boycott. At the white house, he was one of the group that did not wear the famous t-shirts, but that still doesn’t mean it didn’t hurt.
He will always wonder what might have been.
We were not the only country that tried to make a stand against what the Soviets were doing. The following governments (a total of 61 teams) also joined us in the boycott:
Albanian government , Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belize, Bermuda, Bolivia, Canada, Cayman Islands, Chile, Egypt, Fiji, Gambia, West Germany, Ghana, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Japan, Kenya, Liechtenstein, Malawi, Malaysia, Mauritania, Mauritius, Monaco, Morocco, Norway, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, People’s Republic of China, Philippines, Chinese Taipei (Republic of China), Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Somalia, South Korea, Sudan, Swaziland, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, United States, Uruguay, Virgin Islands and Zaire.
Soviet tanks invaded Afghanistan. Based on today’s regime who knows if we would have done more than boycott. Either way, lives could have been at stake.
Last I looked nobody plans on threatening people with their lives at any of the upcoming awards ceremonies.
Also, how can the experience of not being able to receive an award be compared to not having the opportunity to compete for one?
These awards are being given out for people who have already performed, been paid and have part of many accolades, parties and media attention for the work they are in contention for.
They have all trained and been able to utilize their skills.
You want to make the bad analogy that what the WGA is doing is akin to President Carter’s decision to boycott the 1980 Summer Olympics…fine. Stupid…but fine. It’s your opinion.
Here’s mine,
How dare you compare what is happening to the members of the WGA and everyone else affected by this strike to what happened to the athletes from around the world that were not able to go to Moscow to compete. Unlike the nominated actors, producers writers etc.…they never even had the chance to use their talents. Let alone have an award shipped to their home.
I am not belittling that moment of exhilaration one would experience receiving a Golden Globe or an Oscar on live TV. I am also not downplaying how badly members of the WGA, IATSE, TEAMSTERS, LOS ANGELES, tv/film fans and everyone else that are being hardhipped by this strike…I’m just saying that there is absolutely no comparison.
You should be ashamed of yourself. And you and the AMPTP for supporting your letter, should be held morally accountable.
jsg
