Where's The Soundtrack?

Mark Steyn:

Flash forward 60 years: The old Allies are gathered at Normandy for the D-Day anniversary at a time when we're well into a new war. This time around, the only pop star in uniform is Madonna. On her current world tour, she wears a blue burqa and, when she disrobes, as she inevitably does, she's wearing a U.S. army uniform underneath. Geddit? The Taliban and the Bush administration are both equally oppressive, see?

Not so long ago, Madonna knew her place. It was hanging naked over a wall with her bottom in the air and a German wolfhound giving her the come-hither look while a gay dance troupe cavorted in the background. See Page 67, if memory serves, of her 1992 picture book Sex. If only Madonna went to as much trouble to take a novel position when it comes to war. But no, there's only the usual lazy vapid soul-deadening equivalism: Bush, Saddam, Ashcroft, Mullah Omar, what's the diff? The herd mentality of celebrity ''dissent.'' Would it kill 'em once in a while to dissent from their dissent and try something other than the stultifying orthodoxy of Hollywood cardboard courage?

There are very few celebrities who will take an honest stand on the War on Terror. Sean Penn is one. It's easy to say disparaging things about the war effort, as 90% of Hollywood is behind you. The problem I have is that these babbling idiots are not bringing any sensible arguments to the debate. Bush sucks, lick Bush, beat Bush, is that it? Snippy little soundbites with nothing to back up their point. Of course, look at any issue of Us magazine and you'll see that these people live in soundbite worlds.