Screen Actors Guild Releases Statement Regarding Free Speech

The Screen Actors Guild ^ | 3 March 2003 | SAG Press Release

[MoscowMike]

March 3, 2003

Screen Actors Guild Releases Statement Regarding Free Speech

Los Angeles–Screen Actors Guild released the following statement today:

As our country again considers the possibility of war, it is the fundamental right of citizens to express their support or their fears and concerns. While passionate disagreement is to be expected in such a debate, a disturbing trend has arisen in the dialogue. 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.

Over 50 years ago, this nation was faced with a monumental challenge: whether the world's greatest democracy was strong enough to truly allow its citizens the exercise of their rights of free speech and assembly during a time of international tension known as the "Cold War." Most of America failed that test, averting its eyes as the House Committee on Un-American Activities persecuted citizens, destroyed careers, ruined lives and gave rise to the notorious "blacklist".

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.

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.

In that spirit, the Screen Actors Guild Board of Directors, appreciating the value of full and open debate and devoted to the belief that the free flow of information, opinions and ideas contributes to the health of our nation, supports the right of all citizens, celebrated and unknown, to speak their minds freely, on any side of any issue, as is their Constitutional right. In the same vein - and with a painfully clear appreciation of history - we deplore the idea that those in the public eye should suffer professionally for having the courage to give voice to their views. Even a hint of the blacklist must never again be tolerated in this nation.

# # # # #

[alloysteel]

Free speech is one thing. Denying somebody else the opportunity to express their point of view, while simultaneously asserting your right to speak any way you wish, is something else entirely. So often the Hollywood crowd loses sight of this concept. They have powerful images at their disposal, and it is not unheard of that their messages will be incorporated in the theme of the stories they spin. But there is no balance to the tale they may choose to relate, and what they produce is essentially propaganda. The propaganda has not always reflected the unique values that created the magnificent work in progress that is America.

[RAY]

SAG's elitist stupid attitude is disgusting. Free speech with respect to government prosecution does not guarantee one freedom from the civil and commercial consequences.

[Petronski]

Dear SAGsters:

You are free to say whatever you want. I am free to vote with my dollars.

Freedom of speech is not a guarantee that your opinions will be respected or even accepted.

Signed,
One American

P.S. Have a cookie:

[mystery-ak]

The backlash must be tremendous or they wouldn't be issuing these statements....hehehe.

[JoJo Gunn]

What chance would a man like me have in Hollyweird if I wanted to be, say, a sound man, or a prop master, or a lowly grip? Not much.

As the old saying goes, the cries of McCarthyism is the first defense of traitors and collaborators.

[maxwellp]

I'm with you!

[RoseofTexas]

Here is SAG phone numbers!! Let the freeping begining!


SAG Hollywood
5757 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90036-3600

Main Switchboard (323) 954-1600
Fax (323) 549-6603
Hearing Impaired Only (323) 549-6648

[Paleo Conservative]

What about my freedom of my wallet. If Hollywood casts these anti-American leftists in their movies, I'll just spend my money elswhere. I go to about 2 movies a month, so it's not an idle threat.

[Free_at_last_-2001]

"If we were in other countries, we would ... all of us together would go down to Washington, and we would stone Henry Hyde to death! We would stone him to death!... No, shut up! I'm not finished! We would stone (him) to death, and we would go to their homes, and we'd kill their wives and their children. We would kill their families." --

Actor/Thinker/Judge/Hangman/Wife Beater, Alec Balwin 12/98

"Who the hell wants to hear actors talk ?"
Harry M. Warner, Warner Brothers, 1927

[Khepera]

Hey but you will deprive them of their jobs if you do that. LOL Thats BaaaaaaaaD!

[jagrmeister]

Every time someone criticizes the opinion of some Hollywood airhead, they cry "McCarthyism". The Hollywood set can say whatever they like but as soon as someone points out that their anti-Americanism has real consequences, they silence their critics by screaming "McCarthyism". God forbid we have an open discussion on how Hollywood's misrepresentation of American acts and motives have promoted anti-americanism abroad. And shouldn't we talk honestly about how that anti-americanism motivates terrorists and weakens our alliances? Try any of this, and you will be silenced with the cry of "McCarthyism". Hollywood is smart. They have a fawning press, they have the attention of the masses, they have the biggest blowhorn. But the moment a few patriotic individuals question the responsibility of making statements that portray America as a nation worthy of being attacked, they use the symbolism of Joe McCarthy to silence them.

[Conspiracy Guy]

Dialed Option 8 for media inquiries and got another voice message. It would be terrible if someone hacked into the auto attendant and changed the greetings. They have a credit union.

[Jhoffa_]

Oh, BS.

They market themselves and since they have made themselves the commodity they had better damn well be ready to pay the price for it in the free market.

Look at wash boards, no one is buying them because they don't want them. Same thing with lard, if sales are down it's because no one wants to buy lard.

And the same principle holds true for these jokers, if no one wants to buy the products they advertise, watch the movies they star in or tune in to their television shows then who's fault is it when they are dropped?

Is it my fault, for not wanting to watch someone I hate? Is it the network or producers fault because they don't want to lose money by hiring someone unpopular or who can't deliver ratings?

I say it's their own fault for driving down their own demand right into the ground.

Was "Pee Wee" Herman denied his "right to work" when through his actions he ceased to be a popular figure?

[SquirrelKing]

I agree. Let 'em speak out, helps me at Blockbuster. It helps to see them in their true light.

Ewww...

[spodefly]

Hollywood is free to say what it wants, and I am free not to spend another dime to keep them in the coddled, insular, elitist lifestyles to which they have become accustomed.

In a few years, when the anti-American loudmouths have vanished from the screens, it will not be a 'blacklist' that caused it ... it will be the free market choices of those of us out here in the hinterlands that are no longer willing to pay to see their bullshit.

[BossLady]

Exactly! Hey, they can work all they want...I just won't pay to see it....eventually, no one will hire them because they will be box office poison....plain and simple. No blacklist needed there!!!

[maxwellp]

Two of my favorites are on the Righties list - Clint Eastwood and Bruce Willis. As I went through the list I was thinking that if either Clint or Bruce was on Lefties list I would be greatly saddened. However, it's no sacrifice at all not to pay to see the Lefties bunch - they simply are not that good anyway. This leads to another thought - perhaps they have to be anti-American activists in order to stay in the limelight because they know, as I do, that they are not the greatest entertainers.

[xm177e2]

If the SAG would acknowledge the anti-conservative bias in Hollywood, maybe this statement would have more meaning. As it stands, conservative actors who are not yet famous have to keep their mouths shut or risk losing work.

[Cookie123]

Only in America....beautiful, gorgeous, billionaires, living in society's rarefied upper crust by virtue of their earnings, actually believe that no one else is qualified to pontificate on these matters. If anyone dares do so, they are immediately shouted down and labelled McCarthyites.

[onedoug]

BOYCOTT OIL!

EXPEL THE US FROM THE UN!