Actors Mike Farrell, Matt Damon and Martin Sheen ...
Please, don't insult the Three Stooges that way.
Be Seeing You,
Chris
Posted on 12/11/2002 5:05:43 AM PST by SJackson
Actors Mike Farrell, Matt Damon and Martin Sheen do not want the United States to go to war with Iraq.
Therefore, along with 97 other celebrities, they have formed a group called Artists United to Win Without War.
What the public didn't see at their Tuesday press conference is far more significant than the formation of yet another peace coalition by a bunch of left-leaning celebrities like Jessica Lange, Anjelica Huston and Elliott Gould.
What that significant development is, is the healthy dose of skepticism displayed by the mainstream press at Tuesday’s well-covered Hollywood event.
But first, the group’s statement, scheduled to appear soon in select newspapers:
"War talk in Washington is alarming and unnecessary.
"We are patriotic Americans who share the belief that Saddam Hussein cannot be allowed to possess weapons of mass destruction. We support rigorous United Nations weapons inspections to assure Iraq’s effective disarmament.
"However, a preemptive military invasion of Iraq will harm American national interests. Such a war will increase human suffering, arouse animosity toward our country, increase the likelihood of terrorist attacks, damage the economy, and undermine our moral standing in the world. It will make us less, not more, secure.
"We reject the doctrine – a reversal of long-held American tradition – that our country, alone, has the right to launch first-strike attacks.
"The valid U.S. and U.N. objective of disarming Saddam Hussein can be achieved through legal diplomatic means. There is no need for war. Let us instead devote our resources to improving the security and well-being of people here at home and around the world."
Now for the significance.
An NBC reporter immediately set a skeptical tone for the spirited question and answer session, asking group co-chair Farrell if Artists United to Win Without War isn’t made up of celebrities who were also against the Gulf War a decade ago. Wouldn’t the world be an even more dangerous place if Hussein was not ousted from Kuwait and U.N inspectors weren’t brought in to Iraq back then?
The deft former star of M*A*S*H* said he would have preferred it had the elder President Bush explored "options short of war" before expelling Hussein from Kuwait.
Then Sheen was asked by a couple of reporters why it is that President Bush would threaten war against Iraq if Hussein presented little or no threat to the U.S.
"I don’t know if we’ll ever get the whole truth from this administration – about anything," he answered.
Pressed again as to the president’s motives, Sheen attributed them to mere family pride. "I think he’d like to hand his father Saddam Hussein’s head," Sheen said.
Then there was this exchange between a reporter and Sheen:
"Would you like to see Saddam Hussein overthrown?" the reporter asked.
"I don’t know what you mean," Sheen answered.
"Removed from power," said the reporter.
"I don’t even know what that means," Sheen said.
The undaunted reporter pressed on. "Regime change," he explained.
"I’d like to see that come from the Iraqis, not the Americans," Sheen finally conceded.
Not wanting the other reporters to have all the fun, I asked if, assuming our military were to overthrow Hussein quickly and with few casualties, and then Iraqi citizens were shown dancing in the streets and praising America for liberating them from a torturous dictator, would the Artists United to Win Without War rethink their position? Would they consider they might be wrong, and say so publicly?
Sheen offered, "I’m always open to the possibility that I’m wrong."
The bulk of the answer, though, came from Farrell, who made the point that, just because some Iraqis might applaud such a removal of Hussein, doesn’t make it the right thing to do.
"The idea that somehow the end justifies the means, as you’re suggesting, is exactly contrary to the principles on which this country was founded," Farrell said.
"The idea you suggest, forgive me, is an inappropriate one," he scolded.
The best bit of levity came at the close of the hour-long event. It had been suggested by some of the dozen celebrities in attendance that Artists United to Win Without War was nonpartisan.
Asked to name a Republican among the group, Farrell claimed there were some, but quipped, "I don’t want to out them."
In a room full of skeptical reporters who clearly were not there to rubber-stamp Hollywood’s latest political effort, the very revealing joke went over quite well.
Would it be un-PC to suggest that we refer to them as 'Target-Rich Environment'? How about 'Big Bundle O'Traitors', available at Sam's Club?
Sorry if that sounds over the top. I don't have a problem with anti-war protests per se, but in this case I believe regime change is unquestionably necessary, and I believe that these wacko celebrities are using their fame to act like they know more about national security than our own leadership. Maybe if Clinton were in power they would be justified, but they seem to have forgotten that President Bush (with help from other countries, granted) liberated Afghanistan.
I'm too mad to type any more coherently, so I'll leave it at that.
Ask yourself the following question: What profession can a 10 year old master and receive critical acclaim for on a national stage?
Any 10 year old doctors at the top of their profession? Any 10 year old rocket scientist? Engineers? Journalist? Writers? Teachers? Garbage collectors? Fast food store managers? Waitresses? Nope. All those professions require skill.
Ten year old actors? Yes, when the only skill involved is the ability to lie convincingly is it any wonder these people looked up to Bill Clinton, democrats and other well known liars? How credible should actors be off the stage? Do their thought on war matter more than other citizens of their skill level?
Actors carry no more weight when it comes to their "feelings" about war than any other citizen. And a case can be made that excellent liars opinions should carry less weight.
Right. The Banfield look. What every happened to her?
"I don’t know what you mean," Sheen answered.
"Removed from power," said the reporter.
"I don’t even know what that means," Sheen said.
The undaunted reporter pressed on. "Regime change," he explained.
________________________
Brilliant! Sign this guy up for a cabinet position. Geeze, and they claim Bush is dumb!
Ask yourself the following question: What profession can a 10 year old master and receive critical acclaim for on a national stage?
Any 10 year old doctors at the top of their profession? Any 10 year old rocket scientist? Engineers? Journalist? Writers? Teachers? Garbage collectors? Fast food store managers? Waitresses? Nope. All those professions require skill.
Ten year old actors? Yes, when the only skill involved is the ability to lie convincingly is it any wonder these people looked up to Bill Clinton, democrats and other well known liars? How credible should actors be off the stage? Do their thought on war matter more than other citizens of their skill level?
Actors carry no more weight when it comes to their "feelings" about war than any other citizen. And a case can be made that excellent liars opinions should carry less weight.
Actors Mike Farrell, Matt Damon and Martin Sheen ...
Please, don't insult the Three Stooges that way.
Be Seeing You,
Chris
How many plan on boycotting the next two Matrix movies?
Don't these people read or listen to true experts? Why doesn't Sheen pick up a copy of Laurie Mylroie's book The War Against America: Saddam Hussein and the World Trade Center Attacks: A Study of Revenge?
She makes the case quite convincingly that Saddam is tied to the first WTC bombing as well as other terrorist attacks against us over the past few years.
Sheesh, Sheen, get a clue!
And yet we have such exemplary characters there today who wouldn't lift a finger to help out the country that has been so good to them.
People were smarter in the past, I think. Once upon a time, actors were considered mad, and were shunned by decent folk. Those days sadly are behind us.
"It depends on what your definition of 'regime change' is..."
I'll never forget that he did that. And funny, but I think Sheen is actually the white-knuckled drunk.
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