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| Fifth Column | |
| Screen Actors Guild Backs Protesters’ Rights | |
| 2003-03-04 | |
| Amid criticism of celebrities with antiwar views, leaders of the Screen Actors Guild have warned against possible blacklisting of thesps. Ohhhhhhhhhhh. The blacklist! Pretty soon...McCarthyism! The union's national executive committee delivered the warning Monday in a statement asserting that such a threat had emerged in debate over a possible U.S. invasion of Iraq. SAG's announcement was accompanied by a statement of support from the Intl. Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees. "A disturbing trend has arisen in the dialogue," SAG said. "Some have recently suggested that well-known individuals who express 'unacceptable' views should be punished by losing their right to work. This shocking development suggests that the lessons of history have, for some, fallen on deaf ears." Let 'em work. If nobody goes to see whatever they're working in, then who will they blame? SAG refused to ID organizations or individuals who have made such a threat but pro-war groupss, such as Citizens Against Celebrity Pundits, have generated boycott threats. "Even a hint of the blacklist must never again be tolerated in this nation," SAG said. So if I think they suck and don't go to see them, am I boycotting or blacklisting? Thesps who have been active on the antiwar front include Sean Penn, Mike Farrell, Martin Sheen, Susan Sarandon, Edward Norton, Tyne Daly, Danny Glover, Rob Reiner, Penelope Cruz, Alec Baldwin, Janeane Garofalo, Woody Harrelson and Rosario Dawson. Farrell is a member of SAG's national board. Hey, thanks for the handy list! SAG asserted that showbiz had failed to protect those persecuted during the late 1940s and 1950s. "During this shameful period, our own industry prostrated itself before smear campaigns and witch hunters rather than standing on the principles articulated in the nation's fundamental documents," the guild said. "Today, having come to grips with its past, having repudiated the insult of loyalty oaths and examined its own failings, our industry, perhaps more than any other, understands the necessity of guarding and cherishing those rights for which Americans have fought and died." Smear campaigns! Witch hunts! See my movie or be branded a facist!
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| Posted by:tu3031 |
| #9 Entertainers absolutly have the right to state thier opinion.Just as I have the right to call them delusional,publicity-seeking fools.If I decide I do not wish to support thier stance,or show my dissatifaction with them by boycotting thier product then that is also my right. BTW,has anybody noticed that most of these entertainers are has-beens! |
| Posted by: raptor 2003-03-05 07:59:10 |
| #8 Hollywood's America is not America's America. These are actors. Their reality is fantasy. They never put words in a sentence together without a script. They entertain us with dreams. Course they could look around and see what the Usama's of the world think of entertainment or the First Ammendment for that matter. |
| Posted by: john 2003-03-04 20:55:35 |
| #7 I'm pretty sure Mike Farrell has been blacklisted since MASH went off the air. I don't remember anything that he has acted at in the last decade, other than an intellectual. |
| Posted by: Joe 2003-03-04 15:19:59 |
| #6 The Hollywood Mouthies equate freedom of speech with license. One has the right to say what one wishes, but there are consequences when someone else does not like what one says. If you s--t in your messkit, you may be forced to eat s--t, in a metaphoric way, ah hmmm..... |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2003-03-04 12:24:50 |
| #5 Has anybody in Hollywood ever considered that years of making movies that decry America is an evil place, filled with evil big-shot generals and corrupt politicians might be one of the reasons why the world is filled with a new found hatred of Americans? Ever notice that movies that send positive American messages are met with derision by hollywood, while movies like "American Beauty"," American History X" and " Natural Born Killers" are lauded by Hollywood as true visions of the evil that is America? Its one thing for those of us in America to see these visions of vile putrid hate for our country, but what effect does these film have on the 'hearts and minds' of the third world video rental public? ( Is Hollywood accountable for this? naahhhhh. ) |
| Posted by: Frank Martin 2003-03-04 12:08:54 |
| #4 This fries me. Since when did Actor+Unfettered Media Access = Foreign Policy Expert? They spout their nonsense, and when the public spits it back in their face they cry McCarthy. And believe me they are feeling the pain. Some good sites out there that are coordinating the payback. Also, it shows what hypocrites they are. Talk about blacklisting...just ask Tom Selleck. He backed Reagan and Bush 1 and was made to pay for it. |
| Posted by: Rex Mundi 2003-03-04 11:55:04 |
| #3 SAG is all concerned about anti-war people being backlisted but the reverse is probably more true -that actors/actresses/other who support the war will be the ones shut out. Remember in 2000 when Sharon Lawrence was running around concerned for her acting jobs because she was photographed with Bush or some prominent Republicans? Another site yesterday noted a comedian who lambasted Dennis Miller and subtly noted that he was going to pay for his pro-war stance. |
| Posted by: AWW 2003-03-04 11:51:12 |
| #2 Of course those coming out in favor of war are the ones really putting their left coast careers at risk. |
| Posted by: someone 2003-03-04 11:47:27 |
| #1 Freedom of speech, SAG. It's called the First Amendment and it works for everybody. Why is it that if we disagree with you, it's a smear campaign? But you can call Bush Hitler anytime you want? Or mock Charlton Heston's disease? You people have a lot to learn about the responsibilities that come with your rights. |
| Posted by: Chuck 2003-03-04 11:30:08 |