George more than just an actor…

Hollywood is taking on more than just movie roles
Karen Manuelian

Since the infamous day of September 11, 2001, members of the show-business community have put entertainment on the back burner and have taken on diverse roles to create awareness on situations relevant to our society at the moment. Celebrities being the spokespeople for particular charities are nothing new to us, but for the past five years it seems that Hollywood heavyweights have used their podium to raise questions on such issues as gay marriage and relations in the Middle East.

In today’s media driven world, we listen more to what George Clooney or Brad Pitt have to say about controversial issues than our own President. Hollywood understands the power that they hold and have used this opportunity to make others aware of the severity of some of the world’s harshest truths. Just take this year’s Academy Awards, for example. Top nominated films that portrayed political positions included Brokeback Mountain, Syriana, Good Night and Good Luck, as well as Capote. To quickly recap, Brokeback Mountain and Capote discussed the relationship between two gay cowboys and also the other life of one of America’s finest writers. Syriana showed the relationship with the Middle East concerning oil, a topic sparking much controversial debate. The last, a movie the George Clooney wrote, directed, produced, and starred in was a behind the scenes look at a hard news broadcast during the time of McCarthyism where Edward Murrow and Fred Friendly spoke against McCarthy. This put them in a position of being accused as fraternizing with the enemy, which at that time was communism.

As you can see, all of these issues can be applied to many of today’s most controversial topics, and as we roll into 2007 this marks the beginning of another year of debatable issues. In the past few weeks, headlines have buzzed with new statements made by Ocean’s 11 and 12 pals George Clooney and Brad Pitt. Tabloid after tabloid have pondered whether Brad Pitt will soon marry his “baby’s mama,” Angelina Jolie, after about a year of “partnership.” The do-gooder couple recently showed their position on gay marriage when they released a statement saying that they will not commit to marriage until it is legalized that anyone is allowed to marry to whom ever they please. And of course the couple is known for their good work in Africa, helping fight AIDS and poverty.

In an event to urge the Bush administration to help with the bloodshed in Sudan, George Clooney spent some time in the country with his father studying the genocide and this past week made a public statement to the UN saying “There are no Democrat or Republican sides to this, there is only right and wrong.” Showing his support on the subject, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed legislation Monday to end state investment in Sudan in an effort to pressure the nation to halt genocidal violence in its Darfur region.

Some people may say that actors should stick to what they know best, but in a world where people seem to want to go to the movies rather than read the newspaper, films need to raise questions and propose solutions to this country’s most arguable merely for us to form our own opinions on the issues because it is our right. When hard news broadcasters waste their time reporting on where Paris Hilton was this past weekend then Hollywood actors, directors, and producers needs to pull double duty and use their films as a way to educate the next generation with this country’s history in the making.

If you would like to learn more about George Clooney and Brad Pitt’s work with the continuous problems in Africa concerning AIDS and extreme poverty please visit the website www.ONE.org.

Source: The Vanguard

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