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pinkdisneyprincess:

maradreamsofdisney:

disneyland-data:

Every now and then I’ll post a fact about Walt Disney and someone (usually not a follower) with reblog with some snarky-ass comment about him being racist and/or anti-Semitic.  This really bothers me for two reasons.

• Google and you’d find out that he was not either of those things.
• You’re really going to reblog it just to add hate? Nice.

So I’d like to address both of those issues now. First, anti-Semitic. 

 Walt Disney hired many Jewish people, his head of merchandising Kay Kamen (who happened to be Jewish) once said that the Disney company “had more Jews in it then the Book of Leviticus”.  He regularly donated to a number of Jewish charities, like the Yeshiva College and the Jewish Home for the Aged. In 1955 he was named man of the year by the Beverly Hills Lodge of B’nai B’rith.  

  In early Disney short cartoons there are occasional things that may seem anti-Semitic, like in a deleted scene for The Three Little Pigs where the Big Bad Wolf disguises himself as a Jewish Peddler.

Many people use scenes like this as evidence of Walt being prejudice but fail to remember that it was a very different time. The Three Little Pigs was animated in 1933, back in a time where political-correctness was not the norm, and stereotypes were considered completely acceptable in most situations. It should also be noted that when approached by Jewish people who found it offensive he had the scene removed.

Another common example people use to argue against Walt is, what they often refer to as “the cartoon with Donald Duck where he’s a Nazi”.  This cartoon, entitled The Fuehrer’s Face, was made in 1942 as an ANTI-Nazi propaganda film.

The cartoon does in fact show Donald as a Nazi, but it’s actually a nightmare he’s having. When he wakes up, he hugs the statue of liberty and professes his gratitude for being an America. (and then Hitler is hit in the face with a tomato). I’d also like to point out that it won the Oscar for best animated Short Film, Donald Duck’s only Oscar.

The real reason people believe Walt was anti-Semitic is simple, in the 1940’s Walt became allies with The Motion Picture Alliance for the Preservation of American Ideals, which was an anti-Communist and anti-Semitic organization. Walt was very anti-Communist because he loved America very much, but allying himself with Anti-Semitic folks gave people with wrong idea of him. 

Also, here’s a quote about Walt from Robert Sherman (He and his brother wrote the songs for several Disney films, including Mary Poppins. Also, they were Jewish).

“Walt was sensitive to people’s feelings,” composer Robert Sherman told me. “He hated to see people mistreated or discriminated against. One time, Richard and I overheard a discussion between Walt and one of his lawyers. This attorney was a real bad guy, didn’t like minorities. He said something about Richard and me, and he called us ‘these Jew boys writing these songs.’ Well, Walt defended us, and he fired the lawyer. Walt was unbelievably great to us.”

As for the subject of racism, I believe the evidence that Walt was prejudice as extremely lacking. The only evidence people ever use is from his films, most of which he barely worked on. Walt was not an animator for very long, for a great deal of his career he was a business man, and the animating was left to others.  And I’d like to refer back to the fact that the large majority of Disney’s “racist” movies/characters, occured at a time when people were not politically correct. FOR EXAMPLE.

The Crows, from Dumbo.

When people think of racism in Disney films this is one of the first to come to mind.  This movie was made in 1941. Racial segregation in the United States wasn’t brought to an end until 1967, and being politically correct didn’t become important until the 1990’s.  It’s something to keep in mind when discussing racism in films, you have to keep the time period in mind.

If you read that whole thing I commend you. <3 You deserve love. (also, sorry for any typos/misspellings/grammar errors, I did not proof-read this).

It should be noted that any messages or reblogs I receive arguing this with be deleted and/or ignored, because I refuse to get into an argument over this and I highly doubt there is any evidence that will sway my current opinion.

BLESS THIS. PREACH TO THE MAX.

THIS IS PRACTICALLY PERFECT IN EVERY WAY

THIS

ALWAYS REBLOG

lovelydisney:

Fun Disney facts: #3. (In no particular order)

Alice & Wendy have the same voice ( They were both voiced by Kathryn Beaumont.) (She’s so cute.)

kingdomcomforts:

Just in case Donald Trump didn’t get the message regarding President Obama’s legal U.S. birth certificate, the commander-in-chief took matters into his own hands at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.

Offering to go “one step further,” President Obama announced that he would show the night’s attendees — including Mr. Trump — his official birth video. Despite claiming the footage had been unseen for 50 years, a familiar scene (and song) set in as the clipped rolled.

Watch for yourself!

Yes, you saw that right! Who knew President Obama was capable of creating some good humored fun with The Lion King! Snaps Mr. President!

P.S. Is it just me, or would anyone else be delighted if Imagineers added a scenario like this to the Hall of Presdients?

dailyclassicdisney:

disneylandphotosterpy:

Remain Seated Please on Flickr.

disneylandphotosterpy:

I always loved this movie as a kid. Better than some crap they market towards children today.

belleieve:

You all had better reblog this one!! Hahaha

I’ll be 23 in July, and you best believe I still watch Disney Channel!!  : )