Monday, October 28, 2002

Woody & Sean Make Opinions Known QUOTE OF THE DAY "War has always had an adversary who hardly ever comes forward as such but does his work in the stillness. This adversary is speech, fulfilled speech, the speech of genuine conversation in which men understand one another and come to a mutual understanding. Already in primitive warfare fighting begins where speech has ceased; that is, where men are no longer able to discuss with one another the subjects under dispute or submit them to mediation, but flee from speech with one another and in the speechlessness of slaughter seek what they suppose to be a decision, a judgment of God. War soon conquers speech and enslaves it in the service of its battle cries." - - Martin Buber RHINO HERE: I'm still reeling from the death of the only Senator who was up for re-election, yet, who voted against shrub's blank check for war; Senator Paul Wellstone. What will become of his campaign? So sad for his family and everyone who cares about truth being spoken inside the beltway. An ABC news interview with him the day before his death is located at: http://abcnews.go.com/sections/wnt/DailyNews/wellstone_interview021025.html Saturday, thousands of Americans protested in Washington, San Francisco and many other cities around the nation, while thousands of other concerned people around the world did too. New York Times Coverage is at: http://www.nytimes.com/2002/10/27/politics/27PROT.html?todaysheadlines Last week 2 left leaning actors let their opinions on shrub & company's war plans be known. A Reuters article describing an ad Sean Penn placed in the Washington Post is below, and an excerpt from a letter Woody Harrelson wrote to the UK Guardian is below that. Have a good week. 7:28:23 AM    comment

Sean Penn Lashes Bush Over Iraq War Drums Reuters News Service, 10/18/02 WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Actor Sean Penn has weighed in on the international debate over a possible war with Iraq, paying for a $56,000 (36,000 pounds) advertisement in the Washington Post accusing U.S. President George W. Bush of stifling debate and threatening civil liberties. In an open letter to Bush taking up most of a page in the main section of the daily newspaper, the Oscar-nominated star of "I Am Sam" and "Dead Man Walking," urged the president to stop a cycle where "bombing is answered by bombing, mutilation by mutilation, killing by killing." "I beg you, help save America before yours is a legacy of shame and horror," Penn wrote, echoing voices of caution from around the world that have called for a measured response to allegations Iraq is developing weapons of mass destruction. The letter was signed "Sincerely, Sean Penn, San Francisco, California." A spokesman for the Washington Post confirmed that it was placed by the Hollywood celebrity who has starred in more than 40 movies. Quoting Bush's declaration that the world was either "with us or against us" in the war on terrorism launched after the September 11, 2001, attacks, Penn, 42, said Bush was marginalizing critics, manipulating the media and promoting fear. Those actions and "your administration's deconstruction of civil liberties all contradict the very core of the patriotism you claim," wrote Penn, who is married to actress Robin Wright Penn, and was formerly married to pop star Madonna. "Sacrificing American soldiers or innocent civilians in an unprecedented preemptive attack on a separate sovereign nation may well prove itself a most temporary medicine," he said. THIS ARTICLE IS LOCATED AT: http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsArticle.jhtml?type=searchNews&storyID=1599121 7:19:56 AM    comment

I'm An American Tired of American Lies by Woody Harrelson, UK Guardian, 10/17/02 The man who drives me to and from work is named Woody too. A relief to me, as it minimizes the chance of my forgetting his name. I call him Woodman and he calls me Wood. He has become my best friend here, even though he's upset that I have quit drinking beer. He's smart, funny, and there's nothing he hasn't seen in 33 years behind the wheel of his black cab. He drove me for a while before I felt confident he liked me; he doesn't like people easily, especially if they have a rap for busting up black cabs. Woodman and I agree about a lot of things, but one thing we can never agree about is Iraq. He thinks the only language Saddam understands is brute force. I don't believe we should be bombing cities in our quest for one man. We've killed a million Iraqis since the start of the Gulf war - mostly by blocking humanitarian aid. Let's stop now. Thankfully, most of the Brits I talk to about the war are closer to me than to Woodman. Only your prime minister doesn't seem to have noticed. I have been here three months doing a play in the West End. I am having the time of my life. I love England, the people, the parks, the theatre. The play is great and the audiences have been a dream. Probably I should just relax, be happy and talk about the weather, but this war is under my skin - it affects my sleep... THE ENTIRE ARTICLE IS AT: http://www.guardian.co.uk/g2/story/0,3604,813189,00.html Reprinted under the Fair Use doctrine of international copyright law ( http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.html ). All copyrights belong to original publisher. "RHINO'S NEWS BLOG" is the responsibility of Gary Rhine. Feedback is encouraged and can be emailed to him at: rhino@kifaru.com RHINO'S WEB SITES: http://radio.weblogs.com/0103207 (RHINO'S NEWS WEBLOG - PRESENT & PAST) http://www.dreamcatchers.org (INDIGENOUS ASSISTANCE & INTERCULTURAL DIALOG) http://www.kifaru.com (NATIVE AMERICAN RELATIONS VIDEO DOCUMENTARIES) Tell a friend about this weblog, or if you know someone who'd like to join the Rhino's News Blog mailing list, drop a line to rhino@kifaru.com. 7:13:06 AM    comment

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