Separating Real Life from Acting

The actors from that old TV series "The Dukes of Hazzard" were supposed to be performing in Cincinnati, but it had to be called off. Why?

The Dukes of Hazzard are getting driven out of town over the Confederate imagery in their good ol' TV show.

The stars of the series, John Schneider and Tom Wopat, have segued into musical careers since the show ended production in 1985. Schneider says the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra canceled a planned "Dukes"-themed appearance after contracts were signed because some in the community found the show racist and offensive."

Huh? Who objected?

Edith Thrower, president of the Cincinnati branch of the NAACP, said she was contacted a few weeks ago by Pops conductor Erich Kunzel, who wanted the NAACP's reaction to the planned July 14 show.

"I contacted our national office and was advised that it would be best if we didn't support an effort like this," said Thrower. "It's very clear how we feel about the Confederate flag and the long and arduous fight we have conducted to get rid of that symbol of a very unpleasant time in our history."

So let me see if I understand this correctly. Two actors who once, 2o+ years ago, played moonshiners in a TV show offended blacks everywhere because the characters they played drove a car with a Confederate flag painted on top of it. So, they aren't fit to perform in public in Cincinnati.

Meanwhile, in neighboring West Virginia, Robert Byrd, a United States senator, is a Democrat in good standing despite having organized and lead a chapter of the Ku Klux Klan as their "Exalted Cyclops" about 35 years before the aforementioned television program. I think he is allowed to appear in public.

What part of this story am I not understanding? In a few more years will it be OK for these guys to perform again? Are we having some difficulty distinguishing acting from reality? Telling real terroristic violence apart from pretend violation of traffic laws and payment of taxes on liquor?

And exactly which part of The Dukes of Hazzard, other than the car, was "racist and offensive?" The closest I can come was that the cast was all-white. My description of the show would be "stupid", but that's my evaluation of most TV.

Meanwhile, I suggest Cincinnati reevaluate their sorry weenie of a director. He had to go around asking if people would be offended by the performers? Will he be querying Republicans about Peter, Paul, and Mary, or Pete Seeger?