Wednesday, March 26, 2003

Hollywood punditry: So, who are so smart, who are not such bright bulbs?

By DAVID EPPS
Pastor

Is it just me, or is anyone else growing weary of Hollywood actors pretending to be experts on foreign and domestic policy? The Hollywood "experts" are holding antiwar rallies, screaming about the Bush Administration, running ads in major newspapers, and trashing the President and his Cabinet every chance they get with names like "stupid," "morons," and "idiots." Jessica Lange went so far as to tell a crowd in Spain that she hates President Bush and is embarrassed to be an American.

So, just how ignorant are these people who are running the country? Someone sent to me the biographies of our "stupid," "ignorant," "moronic" leaders, and those of the celebrities who are castigating them. Compare the contrast:

President George W. Bush: Received a bachelor's degree from Yale University and an MBA from Harvard Business School. He served as an F-102 pilot for the Texas Air National Guard.

Vice President Dick Cheney: Earned a B. A. in 1965 and a M. A. in 1966, both in political science.

Secretary of State Colin Powell: Educated in the New York City public schools, graduating from the City College of New York (CCNY), where he earned a bachelor's degree in geology. His further academic achievements include a Master of Business Administration degree from George Washington University. Secretary Powell is the recipient of numerous U. S. and foreign military awards and decorations.

Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld: Attended Princeton University on scholarship (AB, 1954) and served in the U. S. Navy (1954-57) as a naval aviator.

Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge: Raised in a working class family in veterans' public housing in Erie, Penn., he earned a scholarship to Harvard, graduating with honors in 1967. After his first year at The Dickinson School of Law, he was drafted into the U. S. Army, where he served as an infantry staff sergeant in Vietnam, earning the Bronze Star for Valor.

National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice: Earned her bachelor's degree in political science, cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa, from the University of Denver in 1974; her master's from the University of Notre Dame in 1975; and her Ph.D. from the Graduate School of International Studies at the University of Denver in 1981. (Note: Rice enrolled at the University of Denver at the age of 15, graduating at 19 with a bachelor's degree in political science (cum laude).

So who are these celebrities? What is their education? What is their experience?

Barbara Streisand: Completed high school. Career: Singing and acting.

Cher: Dropped out of school in 9th grade. Career: Singing and acting.

Martin Sheen: Flunked exam to enter University of Dayton. Career: Acting.

Jessica Lange: Dropped out of college mid-freshman year. Career: Acting.

Alec Baldwin: Dropped out of George Washington. Career: Acting.

Julia Roberts: Completed high school. Career: Acting.

Sean Penn: Completed high school. Career: Acting.

Susan Sarandon: Degree in drama from Catholic University of America in Washington, D. C. Career: Acting.

Ed Asner: Completed high school. Career: Acting.

George Clooney: Dropped out of University of Kentucky. Career: Acting.

Michael Moore: Dropped out first year University of Michigan. Career: Movie director.

Sarah Jessica Parker: Completed high school. Career: Acting.

Jennifer Anniston: Completed high school. Career: Acting.

Mike Farrell: Completed high school. Career: Acting.

Janeane Garofalo: Dropped out of college. Career: Stand-up comedienne.

Larry Hagman: Attended Bard College for one year. Career: Acting.

The article I received said, "While comparing the education and experience of these two groups, we should also remember that President Bush and his cabinet are briefed daily, even hourly, on the war on terror and threats to our security.

They are privy to information gathered around the world concerning the Middle East, the threats to America, the intentions of terrorists and terrorist-supporting governments. They are in constant communication with the CIA, the FBI, Interpol, NATO, the United Nations, our own military, and that of our allies around the world. We cannot simply believe that we have full knowledge of the threats because we watch CNN. We cannot believe that we are in any way as informed as our leaders.

These celebrities have no intelligence-gathering agents, no fact-finding groups, no insight into the minds of those who would destroy our country."

So, who do you think are the experts?

[David Epps writes a weekly column for The Citizen, Contact him at FatherDavidEpps@aol.com.]