Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Stars attack war at 'subdued' Oscars ceremony
The Daily Telegraph ^ | March 24, 2003

Posted on 03/24/2003 12:54:10 AM PST by MadIvan

Catherine Zeta Jones won her first Oscar at this year's Academy Awards which were used by the stars to plead for peace with Iraq.


Catherine Zeta Jones with her first Oscar
One after another, the winners took to the stage and appealed for an end to the conflict. Best actress Nicole Kidman expressed sympathy for families who have lost loved ones in the war, while Bowling For Columbine director Michael Moore launched a scathing attack on US President George W Bush.

He ended by saying: "We are against this war Mr Bush. Shame on you Mr Bush, shame on you."

Adrien Brody, winner of the best actor award for The Pianist, received a standing ovation when he said: "Whether you believe in God or Allah, may He watch over you and let's pray for a peaceful and swift resolution."

Spanish director Pedro Almodovar, winner of the best original screenplay Oscar for Talk To Her, dedicated his award "to all the people raising their voices in favour of peace, human rights, democracy and international legality".

As predicted, the night belonged to Chicago, which took home six Oscars including best picture and best supporting actress for Catherine Zeta Jones. The Welsh star, due to give birth in just two weeks, dedicated her award to husband Michael Douglas, son Dylan and her home town of Swansea.

In other news, what sounded like a very loud explosion plus a scream of rage was heard from Maureen Dowd's flat - Ivan

The Pianist was the surprise winner with awards for best actor, best adapted screenplay and - the biggest surprise of all - best director for Roman Polanski.

The Hours had only one win, best actress for Nicole Kidman, and Gangs Of New York was the night's big loser, failing to pick up a single Oscar.

But the 75th Academy Awards were a subdued affair as war was at the forefront of everybody's minds. Organisers had scaled back the event, believing the usual glitz and glamour would be inappropriate.

The traditional walk down the red carpet was scrapped and instead the stars were ferried straight to the door of Hollywood's Kodak Theatre. Security for the event was unprecedented with the National Guard drafted in and police marksmen on stand-by.

Thousands of anti-war protesters had gathered outside the theatre along with several hundred pro-war demonstrators.

A handful of celebrities, including Will Smith, Cate Blanchett and Jim Carrey, chose to stay away. Others wore peace pins to register their protest against the war. Daniel Day-Lewis, Susan Sarandon, Adrien Brody and Spanish director Pedro Almodovar all wore the dove-shaped symbols.

Several actresses including Nicole Kidman, Julia Roberts, Cameron Diaz and Jennifer Connelly opted to wear simple black dresses.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events; US: California; US: District of Columbia; United Kingdom; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: catherinazetajones; chicago; hollywood; idiots; iraq; saddam; war
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-86 next last
I posted this for the entertainment value in thinking about how Maureen Dowd must have reacted. As for Michael Moore, I understand he wrote a book called "Stupid White Men". An autobiography, I should imagine.

Regards, Ivan


1 posted on 03/24/2003 12:54:10 AM PST by MadIvan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: maui_hawaii; JenB; SJackson; TigerLikesRooster; AZLadyhawke; Southflanknorthpawsis; meema; ...
Bump!
2 posted on 03/24/2003 12:54:43 AM PST by MadIvan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MadIvan
Several actresses including Nicole Kidman, Julia Roberts, Cameron Diaz and Jennifer Connelly opted to wear simple black dresses.

I get it... black for mourning? I hate how they have their little subtle attacks, like "MR. Bush", the peace signs, etc. How ridiculous!

Of course... they could just be dresses. :)

3 posted on 03/24/2003 1:01:27 AM PST by sakka (America: love it or move to France)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MadIvan
The article failed to mention that Michael Moore was booed and heckled while he stood on the stage sprewing garage about President Bush and the war.
4 posted on 03/24/2003 1:01:39 AM PST by ResistorSister (God Bless America and our troops)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MadIvan
Moore was booed off the stage. It did my heart some good!
5 posted on 03/24/2003 1:03:30 AM PST by tuckrdout
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: sakka
Speaking of the peace sign...

When Susan S. stood in a dramatic pose and gave the peace sign...she was trying to prove what a rebel she was. But her entire - overly dramatic "performance" at the podium - ended up being a poor imitation of Sunset Blvd.'s - Norma Desmond.

More than a rebel...she came off as a has-been.

6 posted on 03/24/2003 1:06:53 AM PST by ResistorSister (God Bless America and our troops)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: MadIvan
For once, I enthusiastically await Maureen's next column.
7 posted on 03/24/2003 1:14:18 AM PST by RichInOC ("And the Oscar goes to...Catherine."--Sir Sean Connery, March 23, 2003)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MadIvan
I received this as an email yesterday AM. It's long but right on.

Who's Smarter?
by Cindy Osborne

The Hollywood group is at it again. Holding anti-war rallies, screaming about the Bush Administration, running ads in major newspapers, defaming the President and his Cabinet every chance they get, to anyone and everyone who will listen. They publicly defile them and call them names like "stupid," "morons," and "idiots." Jessica Lange went so far as to tell a crowd in Spain that she hates President Bush and is embarrassed to be an American.

So, just how ignorant are these people who are running the country? Let's look at the biographies of these "stupid," "ignorant," "moronic" leaders, and then at the celebrities who are castigating them:

President George W. Bush: Received a Bachelors Degree from Yale University and an MBA from Harvard Business School. He served as an F-102 pilot for the Texas Air National Guard. He began his career in the oil and gas business in Midland in 1975 and worked in the energy industry until 1986. He was elected Governor on November 8, 1994, with 53.5 percent of the vote. In a historic re-election victory, he became the first Texas Governor to be elected to consecutive four-year terms on November 3, 1998 winning 68.6 percent of the vote. In 1998 Governor Bush won 49 percent of the Hispanic vote, 27 percent of the African-American vote, 27 percent of Democrats and 65 percent of women. He won more Texas counties, 240 of 254, than any modern Republican other than Richard Nixon in 1972 and is the first Republican gubernatorial candidate to win the heavily Hispanic and Democratic border counties of El Paso, Cameron and Hidalgo. (Someone began circulating a false story about his I.Q. being lower than any other President. If you believed it, you might want to go to URBANLEGENDS.COM and see the truth.)

Vice President Dick Cheney: Earned a B.A. in 1965 and a M.A. in 1966, both in political science. Two years later, he won an American Political Science Association congressional fellowship. One of Vice President Cheney's primary duties is to share with individuals, members of Congress and foreign leaders, President Bush's vision to strengthen our economy, secure our homeland and win the War on Terrorism. In his official role as President of the Senate, Vice President Cheney regularly goes to Capital Hill to meet with Senators and members of the House of Representatives to work on the Administration's legislative goals. In his travels as Vice President, he has seen first hand the great demands the war on terrorism is placing on the men and women of our military, and he is proud of the tremendous job they are doing for the United States of America.

Secretary of State Colin Powell: Educated in the New York City public schools, graduating from the City College of New York (CCNY), where he earned a Bachelor's Degree in geology. He also participated in ROTC at CCNY and received a commission as an Army second lieutenant upon graduation in June 1958. His further academic achievements include a Master of Business Administration Degree from George Washington University. Secretary Powell is the recipient of numerous U.S. and foreign military awards and decorations. Secretary Powell's civilian awards include two Presidential Medals of Freedom, the President's Citizens Medal, the Congressional Gold Medal, the Secretary of State Distinguished Service Medal, and the Secretary of Energy Distinguished Service Medal. Several schools and other institutions have been named in his honor and he holds honorary degrees from universities and colleges across the country. (Note: He retired as Four Star General in the United States Army)

Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld: Attended Princeton University on Scholarship (AB, 1954) and served in the U.S. Navy (1954-57) as a Naval aviator; Congressional Assistant to Rep. Robert Griffin (R-MI), 1957-59; U.S. Representative, Illinois, 1962-69; Assistant to the President, Director of the Office of Economic Opportunity, Director of the Cost of Living Council, 1969-74; U.S. Ambassador to NATO, 1973-74; head of Presidential Transition Team, 1974; Assistant to the President, Director of White House Office of Operations, White House Chief of Staff, 1974-77; Secretary of Defense, 1975-77.

Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge: Raised in a working class family in veterans' public housing in Erie. He earned a scholarship to Harvard, graduating with honors in 1967. After his first year at The Dickinson School of Law, he was drafted into the U.S. Army, where he served as an infantry staff sergeant in Vietnam, earning the Bronze Star for Valor. After returning to Pennsylvania, he earned his Law Degree and was in private practice before becoming Assistant District Attorney in Erie County. He was elected to Congress in 1982. He was the first enlisted Vietnam combat veteran elected to the U.S. House, and was overwhelmingly re-elected six times.

National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice: Earned her Bachelor's Degree in Political Science, Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa, from the University of Denver in 1974; her Master's from the University of Notre Dame in 1975; and her Ph.D. from the Graduate School of International Studies at the University of Denver in 1981. (Note: Rice enrolled at the University of Denver at the age of 15, graduating at 19 with a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science (Cum Laude). She earned a Master's Degree at the University of Notre Dame and a Doctorate from the University of Denver's Graduate School of International Studies. Both of her advanced degrees are also in Political Science.) She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and has been awarded Honorary Doctorates from Morehouse College in 1991, the University of Alabama in 1994, and the University of Notre Dame in 1995. At Stanford, she has been a member of the Center for International Security and Arms Control, a Senior Fellow of the Institute for International Studies, and a Fellow (by courtesy) of the Hoover Institution. Her books include Germany Unified and Europe Transformed (1995) with Philip Zelikow, The Gorbachev Era (1986) with Alexander Dallin, and Uncertain Allegiance: The Soviet Union and the Czechoslovak Army (1984). She also has written numerous articles on Soviet and East European foreign and defense policy, and has addressed audiences in settings ranging from the U.S. Ambassador's Residence in Moscow to the Commonwealth Club to the 1992 and 2000 Republican National Conventions. From 1989 through March 1991, the period of German reunification and the final days of the Soviet Union, she served in the Bush Administration as Director, and then Senior Director, of Soviet and East European Affairs in the National Security Council, and a Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs. In 1986, while an international affairs fellow of the Council on Foreign Relations, she served as Special Assistant to the Director of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. In 1997, she served on the Federal Advisory Committee on Gender - Integrated Training in the Military. She was a member of the boards of directors for the Chevron Corporation, the Charles Schwab Corporation, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, the University of Notre Dame, the International Advisory Council of J.P. Morgan and the San Francisco Symphony Board of Governors. She was a Founding Board member of the Center for a New Generation, an educational support fund for schools in East Palo Alto and East Menlo Park, California and was Vice President of the Boys and Girls Club of the Peninsula. In addition, her past board service has encompassed such organizations as Transamerica Corporation, Hewlett Packard, the Carnegie Corporation, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, The Rand Corporation, the National Council for Soviet and East European Studies, the Mid-Peninsula Urban Coalition and KQED, public broadcasting for San Francisco. Born November 14, 1954 in Birmingham, Alabama, she resides in Washington, D.C.

So who are these celebrities? What is their education? What is their experience in affairs of State or in National Security? While I will defend to the death their right to express their opinions, I think that if they are going to call into question the intelligence of our leaders, we should also have all the facts on their educations and background:

Barbra Streisand : Completed high school Career: Singing and acting

Cher: Dropped out of school in 9th grade. Career: Singing and acting

Martin Sheen: Flunked exam to enter University of Dayton. Career: Acting

Jessica Lange: Dropped out college mid-freshman year. Career: Acting

Alec Baldwin: Dropped out of George Washington U. after scandal. Career: Acting

Julia Roberts: Completed high school. Career: Acting

Sean Penn: Completed High school. Career: Acting

Susan Sarandon: Degree in Drama from Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. Career: Acting

Ed Asner; Completed High school. Career: Acting

George Clooney: Dropped out of University of Kentucky. Career: Acting

Michael Moore: Dropped out first year University of Michigan. Career: Movie Director

Sarah Jessica Parker: Completed High School. Career: Acting

Jennifer Anniston: Completed High School. Career: Acting

Mike Farrell: Completed High school. Career: Acting

Janeane Garofelo: Dropped out of College. Career: Stand up comedienne

Larry Hagman: Attended Bard College for one year. Career: Acting

While comparing the education and experience of these two groups, we should also remember that President Bush and his cabinet are briefed daily, even hourly, on the War on Terror and threats to our security. They are privy to information gathered around the world concerning the Middle East, the threats to America, the intentions of terrorists and terrorist-supporting governments. They are in constant communication with the CIA, the FBI, Interpol, NATO, The United Nations, our own military, and that of our allies around the world. We cannot simply believe that we have full knowledge of the threats because we watch CNN!! We cannot believe that we are in any way as informed as our leaders.

These celebrities have no intelligence-gathering agents, no fact-finding groups, no insight into the minds of those who would destroy our country. They only have a deep seated hatred for all things Republican. By nature, and no one knows quite why, the Hollywood elitists detest Conservative views and anything that supports or uplifts the United States of America.

The silence was deafening from the Left when Bill Clinton bombed a pharmaceutical factory outside of Khartoum, or when he attacked the Bosnian Serbs in 1995 and 1999. He bombed Serbia itself to get Slobodan Milosevic out of Kosovo, and not a single peace rally was held. When our Rangers were ambushed in Somalia and 18 young American lives were lost, not a peep was heard from Hollywood. Yet now, after our nation has been attacked on its own soil, after 3,000 Americans were killed, by freedom-hating terrorists, while going about their routine lives, they want to hold rallies against the war.

Why the change? Because an honest, God-fearing Republican sits in the White House.

Another irony is that in 1987, when Ronald Reagan was in office, the Hollywood group aligned themselves with disarmament groups like SANE, FREEZE and PEACE ACTION, urging our own government to disarm and freeze the manufacturing of any further nuclear weapons, in order to promote world peace. It is curious that now, even after we have heard all the evidence that Saddam Hussein has chemical, biological and is very close to obtaining nuclear weapons, their is no cry from this group for HIM to disarm. They believe we should leave him alone in his quest for these weapons of mass destruction, even though it is certain that these deadly weapons will eventually be used against us in our own cities.

So why the hype out of Hollywood? Could these celebrities believe that since they draw such astronomical salaries, they are entitled to also determine the course of our Nation? That they can make viable decisions concerning war and peace? Did Michael Moore have the backing of the Nation when he recently thanked France, on our behalf, for being a "good enough friend to tell us we were wrong?" I know for certain he was not speaking for me. Does Sean Penn fancy himself a Diplomat, in going to Iraq when we are just weeks away from war? Does he believe that his High School Diploma gives him the knowledge (and the right) to go to a country that is controlled by a maniacal dictator, and speak on behalf of the American people? Or is it the fact that he pulls in more money per year than the average American worker will see in a lifetime? Does his bank account give him clout?

The ultimate irony is that many of these celebrities have made a shambles of their own lives, with drug abuse, alcoholism, numerous marriages and divorces, scrapes with the law, publicized temper tantrums, etc. How dare they pretend to know what is best for an entire nation! What is even more bizarre is how many people in this country will listen and accept their views, simply because they liked them in a certain movie, or have fond memories of an old television sitcom!

It is time for us, as citizens of the United States, to educate ourselves about the world around us. If future generations are going to enjoy the freedoms that our forefathers bequeathed us, if they are ever to know peace in their own country and their world, to live without fear of terrorism striking in their own cities, we must assure that this nation remains strong. We must make certain that those who would destroy us are made aware of the severe consequences that will befall them.

Yes, it is a wonderful dream to sit down with dictators and terrorists and join hands, singing Cumbaya and talking of world peace. But it is not real. We did not stop Adolf Hitler from taking over the entire continent of Europe by simply talking to him. We sent our best and brightest, with the strength and determination that this Country is known for, and defeated the Nazi regime. President John F. Kennedy did not stop the Soviet ships from unloading their nuclear missiles in Cuba in 1962 with mere words. He stopped them with action, and threat of immediate war if the ships did not turn around. We did not end the Cold War with conferences. It ended with the strong belief of President Ronald Reagan... PEACE through STRENGTH

8 posted on 03/24/2003 1:24:31 AM PST by Oreo Kookey
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: tuckrdout
Moore was booed off the stage. It did my heart some good!

Moore was the only one to be truly vocal, and yep, I saw it, he got thoroughly booed, cat-calls, heckeled, and then Steve Martin roundly trounced him with a joke about teamsters stuffing him into the trunk of a limo (good luck fitting his fat arse in there :p).

Perhaps there IS honor amongst Hollywood thieves. ;-)

9 posted on 03/24/2003 1:37:51 AM PST by Kip Lange (The Khaki Pants of Freedom)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: MadIvan


10 posted on 03/24/2003 3:14:19 AM PST by Knuckle Sandwich Combo
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ResistorSister; Miss Marple; MadIvan
Miss Marple we need your Dowd theory...
11 posted on 03/24/2003 4:05:39 AM PST by Dog
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Dog
Happy to oblige, Dog. Pokey78 posts it on every Dowd thread. Ha!

--------------------------------------

Explanation of the Dowd/Douglas connection: by Miss Marple- 2/11/03

Ms. Dowd was escorted around New York and DC for many months by one Michael Douglas of Hollywood fame and fortune. She got to go to all the best parties, was photographed for the tabloids, and was picking out a gown to wear at the Oscars. Of course, Michael had become interested in her during Clinton's impeachment, when she had written some very anti-Clinton columns. After a few weeks of the Michael treatment, she began to write anti-Starr, ant-Newt columns, ignoring Clinton.

Then Clinton was acquitted by the Senate. In an amazing coincidence, Michael Douglas dropped Ms. Dowd like a hot potato, and instead picked up a hot tomato, Catherin Zeta-Jones, who subsequently bore him a son and they were married.

Ms. Dowd cannot get over her tragic loss. Her columns are increasingly anti-Bush, in the hope of impressing her lost love, Michael.

In addition, we think she has a secret crush on the President and is trying to get him to pay attention to her. Ha!

12 posted on 03/24/2003 4:17:49 AM PST by Miss Marple
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: MadIvan
Micahel Moore is a big fat idiot.
13 posted on 03/24/2003 4:19:59 AM PST by Rocko
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Miss Marple
Jeepers, now I actually feel sorry for Dowd. What a maroon.
14 posted on 03/24/2003 4:21:28 AM PST by mewzilla
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: Dog
disgusted bump!
15 posted on 03/24/2003 4:22:58 AM PST by Guenevere (...Taglines are our friend :))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Miss Marple
Oh, I forgot about this bit of speculation for a bit. One of my favorites. Let's see how it plays. Muhahah. :-)
16 posted on 03/24/2003 4:23:48 AM PST by Kip Lange (The Khaki Pants of Freedom)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: Rocko
Micahel Moore is a big fat idiot.

...with a lot of money and industry backing/clout, so it's up to us to keep pointing out how truly idiotic this...well, vile fat man...is.

(note to self: begin work on "Bowling for Vile Fat Men" script treatment)

P.S. I often like to think of Michael Moore "relaxing at home" looks something like this:


17 posted on 03/24/2003 4:31:25 AM PST by Kip Lange (The Khaki Pants of Freedom)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

(correction: "*looking* something like this" -- blasted typos)
18 posted on 03/24/2003 4:32:43 AM PST by Kip Lange (The Khaki Pants of Freedom)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: MadIvan
The whole thing was worth watching just to see Michael Moore booed. :)

Steve Martin was funny, and I was very happy to see "The Pianist" win so many awards, especially Adrian Brody's win as Best Actor.

It was amusing to see the stars squirm as they tried to be pro the troops yet against the war. They think "peace" at all costs is true peace. Dumbasses.

Peter O'Toole's thanking the US for his success was classy. Gotta love the Brit actors. :)

19 posted on 03/24/2003 4:37:33 AM PST by veronica ("If you have to ask....it's not shock and awe"....DOD)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kip Lange
Michael Moore lacks the evil manipulative genius of the Baron Harkonnen. ;)

Regards, Ivan

20 posted on 03/24/2003 4:45:11 AM PST by MadIvan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-86 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson