Tom Pollock’s Message Was Pro-Hope, Not Anti-Press

I was dismayed by Jack Mathews’ Oct. 18 article “Issues? Hollywood? Let’s Get Serious.” Had Mathews attended the dinner honoring Tom Pollock with the Humanitarian Award, he would have realized that the award was given by the National Conference of Christians and Jews, not the entertainment industries. It was our dinner, even though the column did not mention our name. If Mathews had been there, he would have realized that the main purpose of the event was to raise funds for a major part of our annual budget.

Tom Pollock insisted that the evening emphasize the programs of the National Conference of Christians and Jews to reduce prejudice, particularly our work with high school youth.

It is very unfortunate that Mathews’ feature took one sentence out of context from a 10-minute response during a two-hour evening to focus on an industry-wide situation. Tom Pollock’s response in receiving the award was one of the most thoughtful and responsible I have heard in many years.

The National Conference of Christians and Jews does appreciate films such as “Do the Right Thing,” “Born on the Fourth of July” and “Cry Freedom” which do assist in the dialogue of important social issues. We hope that their profitability will encourage more films with controversial themes to be made by the film industry.

The real themes of Pollock’s talk were the fragmentation of our country and problems relating to the “staggering proliferation of information.” He thoughtfully examined the positive and negative sides of the information phenomenon which confuses and even frightens people. In their fear, some look for the simplest answers and “simple answers are often short-sighted and bigoted.”

Pollock stated “in the midst of conflict and confusion, the National Conference of Christians and Jews never loses sight of our shared humanity. Where our society seems hopelessly fragmented, the National Conference of Christians and Jews has refused to give up hope.” That was the message I heard, not an attack on the media.

Tom Pollock accepted the Humanitarian Award from the National Conference of Christians and Jews because he believes in our goals and he knew that the dinner would help us communicate our valuable programs. He had no purpose of self-aggrandizement or promotion of MCA. In an industry that is very generous to the National Conference of Christians and Jews and other civic and charitable causes, MCA is recognized as one of the most charitable and supportive. MCA Chairman Lew Wasserman has been a fine role model for the corporate executives who give of their time and money.

It is distressing to me that our Humanitarian Award dinner, so beneficial to the National Conference of Christians and Jews, has been the vehicle for Jack Mathews’ disagreement with the motion picture industry. It was inappropriate.