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One small voice in the proud tradition of FreeBlogging*
Tuesday, March 04, 2003
posted by gbarto at 1:07 AM:
Sheen: NBC Execs Don't Like Anti-War StanceActor Martin Sheen said NBC executives fear his opposition to a U.S.-led war against Iraq will hurt his popular television show The West Wing.But... but... the protest marches... the polls... the angry European views... Doesn't everyone oppose this war? That's what I keep hearing...
We've got two stories going here:
1) Everyone in the world who isn't a member of the Bush cabinet opposes this war.
or
2) The people who oppose are bravely taking a stand that flies in the face of authority.
Let's flip this around:
1) Those who oppose this war are chickensh-- conformists marching in lockstep with public opinion.
or
2) There is broad popular support for military action and those who oppose are out of touch.
I know, there's the big adrenaline rush. The thrilling of running in the door and telling your husband, "Guess what, honey? I took a stand against George W. Bush!" We are, needless to say, terribly impressed that people could summon the courage to do such a thing. Maybe next week they'll rip off their mattress tags. But in the meantime, a little perspective is in order. Living in the United States, the real risks to Martin Sheen - and to me for holding the opposite view - are almost (not quite) squat. Martin Sheen isn't getting shot. Isn't going to jail. Isn't having his show yanked by the government. He is in, horror of horrors, the marketplace of ideas. But given his demographics, I don't really see any risk there either. If the sanctimonious liberal claptrap hasn't driven you away in the last few seasons, it's highly unlikely that Marty's Iraq stance is going to make you hit the clicker.
Bottom line: Martin Sheen is about as likely to lose his job over his anti-war stance as I am to have a French department call and offer me a job because someone there likes what I write on the TurkeyBlog.
Martin Sheen isn't a brave, principled hero standing alone against the forces of darkness. He just plays one on television.
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