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Celebrities Denounce "Unjust" War on Terror
MediaReseachCenter ^ | Monday, September 23, 2002 10:28:34 AM | staff

Posted on 09/23/2002 8:45:31 AM PDT by fight_truth_decay

A bunch of left-wing celebrities, including Ed Asner, Ossie Davis, Jane Fonda, Danny Glover, Casey Kasum, Susan Sarandon, Oliver Stone and Marisa Tomei, helped pay for a full page ad in last Thursday's New York Times denouncing President Bush's war on terrorism.

Also adding their name to the ad: Time magazine contributor Barbara Ehrenreich and Steve Earle, singer of John Walker's Blues. Across the top of the page the ad screamed: "PRESIDENT BUSH has declared: 'you're either with us or against us.' Here is our answer:"

The ad, paid for by a group calling itself "Not in Our Name," screeched below: "We call on all Americans to RESIST the war and repression that has been loosed on the world by the Bush administration. It is unjust, immoral, and illegitimate."

The signers equated 9/11 with the terror inflicted by the U.S. military: "We too mourned the thousands of innocent dead and shook our heads at the terrible scenes of carnage -- even as we recalled similar scenes in Baghdad, Panama City, and, a generation ago, Vietnam."

The Bush administration "put out a simplistic script of 'good vs. evil,'" the signers complained, a formula "that was taken up by a pliant and intimidated media."

An excerpt of the low-lights:

Let it not be said that people in the United States did nothing when their government declared a war without limit and instituted stark new measures of repression.

The signers of this statement call on the people of the U.S. to resist the policies and overall political direction that have emerged since September 11, 2001, and which pose grave dangers to the people of the world....

We believe that people of conscience must take responsibility for what their own governments do -- we must first of all oppose the injustice that is done in our own name. Thus we call on all Americans to RESIST the war and repression that has been loosed on the world by the Bush administration. It is unjust, immoral, and illegitimate. We choose to make common cause with the people of the world.

We too watched with shock the horrific events of September 11, 2001. We too mourned the thousands of innocent dead and shook our heads at the terrible scenes of carnage -- even as we recalled similar scenes in Baghdad, Panama City, and, a generation ago, Vietnam. We too joined the anguished questioning of millions of Americans who asked why such a thing could happen.

But the mourning had barely begun, when the highest leaders of the land unleashed a spirit of revenge. They put out a simplistic script of "good vs. evil" that was taken up by a pliant and intimidated media. They told us that asking why these terrible events had happened verged on treason. There was to be no debate. There were by definition no valid political or moral questions. The only possible answer was to be war abroad and repression at home....

In our name, the government has brought down a pall of repression over society. The President's spokesperson warns people to "watch what they say." Dissident artists, intellectuals, and professors find their views distorted, attacked, and suppressed. The so-called Patriot Act -- along with a host of similar measures on the state level -- gives police sweeping new powers of search and seizure, supervised if at all by secret proceedings before secret courts.

In our name, the executive has steadily usurped the roles and functions of the other branches of government. Military tribunals with lax rules of evidence and no right to appeal to the regular courts are put in place by executive order. Groups are declared "terrorist" at the stroke of a presidential pen.

We must take the highest officers of the land seriously when they talk of a war that will last a generation and when they speak of a new domestic order. We are confronting a new openly imperial policy towards the world and a domestic policy that manufactures and manipulates fear to curtail rights....

President Bush has declared: "you're either with us or against us." Here is our answer: We refuse to allow you to speak for all the American people. We will not give up our right to question. We will not hand over our consciences in return for a hollow promise of safety. We say NOT IN OUR NAME. We refuse to be party to these wars and we repudiate any inference that they are being waged in our name or for our welfare. We extend a hand to those around the world suffering from these policies; we will show our solidarity in word and deed....

Let us not allow the watching world today to despair of our silence and our failure to act. Instead, let the world hear our pledge: we will resist the machinery of war and repression and rally others to do everything possible to stop it.

END of Excerpt


TOPICS: Activism/Chapters; Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Extended News; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: pacifist; radicalleft
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To: 1bigdictator
Allthough I understand and even agree with you outrage at these people (if you can call them that), I think your last sentence was out of line...
21 posted on 09/23/2002 9:01:29 AM PDT by babygene
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To: weikel
MARISA TOMEI

I was surprised to see her name listed among those @rseholes. I knew nothing about her politics, but figured that she probably didn't think too deeply about such things. Looks like I was correct.

BTW, there are a few glaring absences; such as Mike Farrell, Rob "Meathead" Reiner, Cher and B.S. - could it be that even some of those left-wing loonies know when to STFU?

Across the top of the page the ad screamed: "PRESIDENT BUSH has declared: 'you're either with us or against us.' Here is our answer:"

Very well... they're against us and have confirmed that fact in newsprint. We won't forget.

22 posted on 09/23/2002 9:01:49 AM PDT by Charles Martel
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To: babygene
Perhaps, but venting my rage helps me.
23 posted on 09/23/2002 9:05:08 AM PDT by 1bigdictator
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To: fight_truth_decay
If these hypocrits hate America so much, why stay and live the high life in our "corrupt and evil" society and earn a fortune while they're at it? They are mindless, incapable of coherent thought and sickening.
24 posted on 09/23/2002 9:07:35 AM PDT by austingirl
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To: All
How much would it cost...if we all chipped in...to buy one ad. With our names. And have it say up top, "YES...IN OUR NAME". We are not celebrities, nor entertainers, nor self-avowed "intellectuals"...we are Americans. Self-described Average Americans, who work day-to-day, salute our flag, pay our taxes and recognoze that America, as far from perfect as she may be, has always been Earth's shining light. That we, as a nation, have always been there, to defend freedom, to help feed the hungry, and yes, to protect the powerless. We've proven it, time and time again. Now the time has come for us to find out who are allies truly are. We are not the opinion-shapers, but we are the nation-makers. Yes Mr. President, do it...IN OUR NAME."
25 posted on 09/23/2002 9:07:40 AM PDT by TheBigB
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To: Charles Martel
Carl Reiner

So the meathead shutup huh? Must be eatting my food.

26 posted on 09/23/2002 9:07:57 AM PDT by weikel
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To: lavaroise
Should you take time to read the before mentioned list,,you will find many University Professors..not just the entertainment industry..
27 posted on 09/23/2002 9:09:06 AM PDT by fight_truth_decay
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To: TheBigB
Bump... Lets do it. However Liberal Rags like the Times have a history of censuring conservative adds.
28 posted on 09/23/2002 9:09:31 AM PDT by 1bigdictator
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To: fight_truth_decay
http://www.nion.us/CURRENTM.htm

Page is currently unavailable.

I wonder if they are sorry yet.
29 posted on 09/23/2002 9:09:46 AM PDT by js1138
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To: TheBigB
A good idea, if it takes off let me know.
30 posted on 09/23/2002 9:10:37 AM PDT by zlala
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To: 1bigdictator
Some,like ASSner are so-called Jews-I think their rabbi is Noam Chomsky.I'd like to see the reaction of survivors if a celebrity function was car-bombed.You'd be hearing cries for war loud and clear.I am completely in support of the war on terrorism.I'm not so hot on a war with Iraq because among other things it could hobble the war on terrorism by shutting down cooperation in places like Pakistan and Yemen where there are significant elements who are actually helping us a great deal.
31 posted on 09/23/2002 9:11:46 AM PDT by steamroller
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To: fight_truth_decay
What a bunch of losers!
32 posted on 09/23/2002 9:14:04 AM PDT by adam stevens
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To: Audit_Jesse
Radical Left Watch Ping!

I have begun a Ping list to keep track of the Radical Left. If you are interested in joining or have found a relevant story drop me a line.

33 posted on 09/23/2002 9:15:01 AM PDT by adam stevens
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To: fight_truth_decay
I must admit that, deep down, I would love to beat the hell out of every one of these traitors. However, I am sure that about 100 Million other Americans feel the same way. The actions by these "enemy celebs" should NEVER be forgiven.
34 posted on 09/23/2002 9:15:16 AM PDT by ohioman
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To: fight_truth_decay
Are there any actual celebrities in the list. I don't follow Hollywood much and don't recognise any of them.
35 posted on 09/23/2002 9:16:44 AM PDT by js1138
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To: TheBigB
The add must have been around a half million(seems high but know it is high)..someone might know the cost of a NYTimes ad full page..however with FREEP we could contribute thru donations (not to the Times ..why fill their pockets) and use just those words..good thought!!!!!now I know why they call you The BIGB..;)
36 posted on 09/23/2002 9:17:35 AM PDT by fight_truth_decay
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To: js1138
Its available still on my end from your url posting..thanks..
37 posted on 09/23/2002 9:19:54 AM PDT by fight_truth_decay
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To: fight_truth_decay
I got it. the link is good. Maybe we overwhelmed their server. LOL
38 posted on 09/23/2002 9:22:46 AM PDT by js1138
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Comment #39 Removed by Moderator

To: fight_truth_decay
Movie apes hide behind the screen and do not test in the flesh their preaching, same thing with accademic apes who hide behind rhetorical acrobaties. In any case, I have the right to remain silent and ignorant of what these people promote specificaly save that they do not practice what they preach.
40 posted on 09/23/2002 9:28:18 AM PDT by lavaroise
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