With a war in Iraq becoming a distinct possibility, the debate within America has taken on a 1960s feel. Anti-war zealots are taking to the streets in an attempt to influence public opinion against the war. And pro-war forces too are rallying behind the administration. Into this fray comes Hollywood.
Members of the "artistic" community have long held leftist positions and the war in Iraq is no exceptions. But with that public opposition to the war sometimes comes a price. For Hollywood stars, a position of prominence against the war can sometimes damage reputations and careers.
So here's a new twist for you. The ever-popular Screen Actors Guild (SAG) has warned the movie and television industry not to punish actors who hold anti-war positions. The SAG folk bring up the issue of black-listing that struck Hollywood in the 1950s.
Come on SAG - get real. If Martin Sheen and Sean Penn and Mike Farrell want to voice their opinions on the war effort, who really cares. The American public will tell them how they feel when they fail to go to the box office when their latest film debuts. That's right, just like the right to vote, the American public has the ultimate voice when it comes time to patronize their movies or not.
SAG is the liberal union that has backed every Democratic candidate since who knows when. And that's their right. If their members want to spend their dues fighting against the war, so be it. I can equally choose to spend my money viewing some other entertainment than that which features these actors and actresses.
Sheen and Penn are both crying today that their anti-war stance is threatening their careers. Well for starters, they don't have much of a career remaining. But aside from that, their careers will be harmed when they ask the American public to watch their works on film and screen. Then perhaps they'll get the message.
The Screen Actors Guild is simply throwing a smoke screen into the air to diffuse and inflame the public. Public opinion is clearly running against those like Penn who travels to the Mideast for a photo-op against the war. Jane Fonda tried the same thing during Vietnam and in many ways her career never surfaced again unless you count fitness videos.
If Hollywood wants to oppose the war that's their freedom in this great nation. And if you and I choose not to pay money to see these actors that too is our freedom. In this contest the American public wins every time.