Anti-war activist Tim Robbins says his freedom violated by baseball snub

AFP ^ | Apr 11, 2003 | AFP

[jern]

Anti-war activist Tim Robbins says his freedom violated by baseball snub Fri Apr 11, 8:40 PM ET Add Entertainment - AFP to My Yahoo!

LOS ANGELES (AFP) - US actor Tim Robbins (news) said that Baseball's Hall of Fame had violated his freedom of expression by scrapping a screening of one of his movies because he publicly criticized the US-led war in Iraq (news - web sites).

The actor and his Oscar-winning partner Susan Sarandon (news) had been invited to attend the 15th anniversary screening of their 1988 baseball movie "Bull Durham" at the New York-based Hall of Fame later this month.

"I was dismayed that the Baseball Hall of Fame decided to use this event to make a political statement," Robbins, 44, said in a statement in which was supported by his pal and "Bull Durham" co-star Kevin Costner (news).

"It is using what power it has to infringe upon my rights of free speech with the hope to intimidate millions of others who disagree with our president," Robbins said in a stinging riposte.

The Hall of Fame's move "dishonors the words 'patriotism' and 'freedom' and disrespects the men and women who have fought wars to keep this nation a place where one can freely express their opinion without fear of reprisal or punishment," he said.

Robbins and Sarandon are among the most visible Hollywood stars to vocally oppose US President George W. Bush (news - web sites)'s attack on Iraq at a time when media speculation is rife over whether high-profile anti-war activists will be punished by Hollywood for views that some Americans feel are unpatriotic.

The pair have led a clutch of US anti-war demonstrations and at last month's Oscar, both war peace badges and flashed peace signs when arriving at the war-muted ceremony.

Robbins received a letter from the Hall of Fame's president, Dale Petroskey, who was on the White House staff during the presidency of Ronald Reagan (news), stating that his public views on the war represented a danger.

"Public figures have platforms much larger than the average American's, which provides you an extraordinary opportunity to have your views heard -- and an equally large obligation to speak and act responsibly," he wrote.

"We believe your very public criticism of President Bush at this important -- and sensitive -- time in our nation's history helps undermine the US position, which could put our troops in even more danger."

Kevin Costner came to the couple's defence saying that freedom of speech was one of the key democratic rights that America battled to ensure.

"I think Tim and Susan's courage is the type of courage that makes our democracy work," he said. "Pulling back this invite is against the whole principle about what we fight for and profess to be about."

The Baseball Hall of Fame tribute to "Bull Durham" had been scheduled for April 26 and 27 in Cooperstown, New York, and Robbins, Sarandon and the movie's director Ron Shelton (news) were scheduled to speak at the event.

Shelton rallied to support arch-liberal Robbins, branding the Hall of Fame's move "ridiculous."

"Baseball is the great American game of language and dissent -- and 'Bull

Durham' is merely a story that tries to connect us," he said in a statement.

[mdittmar]

Must be a bitch being an agent trying to babysit these bozo's and watching them throwing money down the toilet.lol, I love it.

[cinFLA]

Can someone explain to me how a populist rebuke of someone by exercising our right to expression and association (by individuals and/or private organizations) is against the principles that makes our democracy work?

It's just the leftist ploy that has worked for decades because we should feel "guilty" for McCarthy and blacklisting. Just a way to get us to shut up. Work once but not now.

[drjack]

"Bull Durham" is make-believe. How about we make-believe that they were never invited and call it a day?

The past-time of America is baseball. It's not bad-mouthing the President and the nation's war and then standing behind the 1st Ammendment and crying that you were not allowed to voice your opinion at an athletic function.

If TR & SS want others to hear it, then stand on the corner, cry a river, carry a sign, give the peace sign at the Oscar's - but don't bring the Hollywood agenda to the Hall of Fame that was created to honor baseball players, not actors.

[Windcatcher]

Yup, they're playing the victim, playing for sympathy.

Fool me once...

[Fraulein]

As I wrote on another thread:

Robbins speaks openly on television before the National Press Club to complain about his loss of free speech.

The irony!!!

[doug from upland]

"I think Tim and Susan's courage is the type of courage that makes our democracy work," he said

=========================================

Pay attention, Kevin --- "and to the Republic for which it stands."

[cinFLA]

Can someone please explain to the Op/Ed idiots that "actors" for whom fame and popularity are economic factors in their careers stand up on stage to express protected "unpopular" political speech, their fame and popularity is not protected and they act (or should) with full knowledge of the risk they take.

Waste of time - most op-ed idiots agree with the ultra-left.

(I know these were rhetorical but my way of bumping ..)

[fat city]

Hey Tim--RELAX-- that "Tapeheads" anniversary ought to be coming up pretty soon!

[TheGrimReaper]

I recommend highly that Timmy, Susan, and all their fellow-travelers take their little act on the road.... starting with China, then maybe N. Korea, Syria, Iran, Libya, Somalia, etc. Let them exercise their "rights" in those places, then come back and tell us all about it.
Tell us how horribly repressive it is here in the U.S., Timmy....you whimpering, simpering, whining bag of festering goat turds.

Many brave men and women have made the ultimate sacrifice so you can have your pathetic public tantrums, Timmy. Tell us how bad you've got it here.

[timydnuc]

Tim Robbin's right to speak freely was washed in the blood of millions of brave Americans and it will be forever defended by the brave men and women that love this country. His arrogance will be the byproduct of the freedom given to him by the Constitution, that he hides behind, and the brave soul of some boy from Alabama that died defending his right to exist in this great land.

They will bury that boy, in Alabama, and they will mourn while this arrogant bastard is trying to be more relivant than that boy, in that grave, in Alabama. While that boy's family shakes and shutters at every round fired in a "gun salute" to this fallen hero. Timmy will stand a bitch about how he is being treated. When they hand the flag to that boy's parents and say, "from a greatful nation", Timmy and Susie will be having cocktails and spewing shame and filth against all that that boy in Alabama stood for.

Then the family of that boy will go to their home, with their friends and family and they will mourn the loss of a good and honerable man. Timmy and Susie will get drunk at a Hollwood party and proclaim their heroic causes to save the country from the evil of patriotism. While the blood of the real patriots isn't even dried on the sands of a land, half way around the world. Blood spent for them to spew the ilk that they kneel and prey to.

God will sort this out. Note to Timmy and Susie: don't expect to meet that boy from Alabama in the "Here After" he got a better place than you'll ever dream of. Your "Prince" has a very special place for y'all, it's very warm, so bring your sun screen.

[oyez]

Robbins is deep into the idea of a kind of government that would respect ony one point of view, and conservatives with means can be disenfranchised and reeducated.

[Free ThinkerNY]

[DaGman]

The unintended consequence of the BHOF snub has been to make martyrs of Sarandon and Robbins and to give them more publicity on the matter of the war than any they would have received without the snub. quieting people never has played well in America.

[lsee]

This is NOT the face of sanity.

[F.J. Mitchell]

I see no indication of sarcasm in your post, so I am inclined to believe you are as serious as a massive heart attack. Fine, my friend, but just when the hell do us common folks get our opportunity for unlimited rebuttal of those filthy rich and stupid Hollywood Horsesasses condemnation of our Country, our Presidend and our right to survive?

[F.J. Mitchell]

"This is the face of sanity."

THat is a face?

[linn37]

If he has no freedom of speech what is all this whining about? HUH? I think he's a punk. He certainly is not fond of Fox,Clear Channel and that silly ol Lloyd Grove having free speech is he now. He wants them to shut up and we want him to shut up. I'm going to shut him up by not watching him anymore and theres not a damn thing he can do about it.

[F16Fighter]

Hey Timbo, you wuss -- Put some ice on it.

If they replay Robbins' hilarious whine-fest on C-Span, you all should try and catch it...

[Delta 21]

Quieting how??!!??

Their incessant whining is evedince that their freedom of speech is firmly in place.

If they were made martyrs they would be dead and buried and I wouldnt have to listen to their drivvel anymore. Give me a break!

This snubbing only accelerated their career quagmire and hopefully they will now sink into the quicksand of oblivion.

[Delta 21]

Looks like he needs a better hair peace. (piece)