[Cerek the Barbaric]

Good counterpoints to my post, Davros. I don't mind the Hollywood stars expressing their opinions in an appropriate venue. The fact is they DO have a much greater potential to affect public opinion than the average American...and this can be used for any cause they support or oppose.

However, they also have the potential to "force their views" on others with the excessive amount of media coverage and attention they get. ANYTHING done by a "star" is considered news and will recieve the appropriate coverage. So they have an unfair advantage in presenting their side of the case. That isn't so bad by itself...but then they take the arrogant attitude that it should be obvious they are right and anyone who disagrees is wrong. They also don't like having their views challenged. Bill O'Reilly never criticized the money that George Clooney helped raised...he just asked Clooney if he shouldn't have taken more responsibility to make sure the money went to the intended victims. But Clooney acted as if O'Reilly had branded him a traitor.

I think a lot of the American sentiment towards the political views of Hollywood goes back to the Vietnam War and Jane Fonda. Her public tour of the enemy forces is still considered "an act of treason" by the vast majority of American soldiers that served in the war. I have two uncles that served in Vietnam and Jane Fonda is one name you do NOT want to mention around them.

That was a "slap in thier face" that will never be forgiven.

Yet Hollywood actors and actresses seem to feel even more emboldened to publicly speak out against the U.S. policies. You ask why it's considered "un-American" for them to have an opposing view. On the surface, it isn't. They have just as much right to thier opinion (and to have their opinion heard) as I do mine. But thier "opinions" often are NOT based on factual knowledge, NOR does it offer any suitable alternatives. Basically, they just keep saying they disagree with the policies of the President. Many of them don't endorse the U.N. Inspector's efforts either. They just arbitrarily criticize or condemn the policies and decisions of the current American Gov't. That is what makes people feel their opinions are "un-American" - because all they do is speak out against policy without offering a different solution.