ACTORS AS ACTIVISTS

by Jennifer Newell

There has been much talk lately about the role of Hollywood in the political arena. Do their opinions have a place in politics? Are they abusing their fame to gain platforms from which to express personal opinions? Are their views about foreign policy, the military, and the inner workings of our government relevant?

Actors, producers, directors, writers, and musicians have been attacked by the mainstream media and supporters of George W. Bush because of their recent public statements. Criticisms range from accusations that the stars’ claims are unfounded to conclusions that they are unpatriotic.

In most cases, when an actor or musician takes a stand on an issue of importance to him or her, the story is aired at the end of a newscast or covered in the entertainment section of a publication. This is the case when the issue is abortion, affirmative action, education, or health care.

Famous people will speak publicly about an issue for one reason: they care about the issue. Whether the issue directly affects their own lives, the lives of friends or family, or is simply one about which they feel strongly or passionately, they have chosen to give their time and efforts to further their cause.

It is true that they are aware that their image attached to an issue will likely gain publicity and a greater awareness of the subject matter. Is that so wrong? Is it so different from politicians furthering their own agendas when they support domestic or foreign policies?

When the media wants celebrities to appear on a news program or grant an interview for a magazine, they are expected to oblige or be labeled recluses or snobs. When the media wants to know what the celebrities are wearing, who they’re dating, what drugs they’re taking, or what they weigh, the media is intrusive and relentless. And the general public not only approves of these intrusions into the personal lives of celebrities, but they clamor for the information.

When asked if famous people shouldn’t be allowed some privacy and not be expected to share every aspect of their lives with the public, the response is that celebrities exchange fame for privacy. The popular theory is that if you appear on television or in film, your life is automatically placed on a stage for all to see and judge.

Consider, for a moment, that celebrities are real people with real ideas and real opinions. They care about issues that affect their children, their finances, their health, and their world. Now, suddenly, it’s wrong for them to speak? They are free to speak about who they are dating, but they aren’t allowed to speak about a pending war?

Take Mike Farrell, for example. Most people remember him from the long-running television series, M*A*S*H, or his most recent acting endeavor in Providence. Those who know him better, however, recognize Mr. Farrell as a human rights activist. He was involved in a great number of issues long before he became a recognizable face on television, and it is the accomplishments in the human rights arena that he is most proud.

As a concerned citizen, Mr. Farrell has been an advocate for civil liberties, farm workers, environmental causes, animal protection, illiteracy, women’s rights, and the abolition of the death penalty. His attention ranges from domestic issues to problems that affect people around the world; his travels as an activist have taken him across America and to countries such as Bosnia and Somalia. He has also been consistently recognized by many organizations in which he has participated with awards and honors dating back to 1976.

Martin Sheen is another example of a person misrepresented by the media. Including his current role on television’s The West Wing, he has had a successful career in the entertainment industry, but Mr. Sheen speaks most fondly of the causes for which he has been an activist.

For more than twenty years, he has rarely missed an opportunity to participate in demonstrations or donate money to causes that touch his heart and the lives of those around him. From his associations with Cesar Chavez to his protestations at the School of the Americas and vocal criticisms of the nuclear arms race, Mr. Sheen stays ever-faithful to causes that call on his activism.

Though Mr. Farrell and Mr. Sheen are not the specific targets of most media attacks, they are part of the broad category of actors who are referred to as “airheads” and chastised for stating their opinions about world events. Not only does the majority of the media ignore the prerogative of anyone to exercise their free speech rights, the media does a poor job of researching the history of many actors and musicians who have long been activists.

The mainstream media should be ashamed of the way it treats activists in America. It is pure hypocrisy.