I've been struggling with this one for a few days.
It's terrific when A-listers bring attention to a cause. Sometimes, it's the only way the "sheeple" of America even know that there's trouble in, say, Darfur or Myanmar. On the other hand, I'll never really understand how or why George Clooney gets invited to the G8 conference, but good for him!
My thought is that one word from a Clooney, Matt Damon or Brad Pitt about sexual assault would give it a voice that we don't have. That is NOT to say they have a responsibility to do so, but to whom much is given, much is expected. Many of these men have children. If you look at their organization's mission - they want to help stop "mass atrocities". While the tragedies in far flung places are indeed horrific and deserving of our help, our own backyard suffers from the mass atrocity of rape, incest and sexual assault in pandemic proportions.
What do you think? Is it just safer to support causes "over there" that involve "them"? Is it simply cooler to support victims of natural disasters or civil wars? Is it just one phone call to a publicist to show the "support" and there it is or do they get down and dirty? Is there a stigma for celebrities to support unpopular yet horrific causes? Because I cannot think of one good reason why it couldn't be so. Maybe one day, one day soon. Is it weird they were all People magazine's "Sexiest Man Alive"? My point is that the story was one of my top stories on Google and that's powerful.
5 comments:
liz,
you have brought up a very valid point, one that i hadn't thought of b4!
indeed, we have enough social problems here in america that need attention, and that could use celebrity support and publicity!
MARIO
Liz,
Very good point. It would be awesome of one of these big "cause" celebrities would speak out against sexual assault. Personally, I like George Clooney, not only because he's hot, but because he and Matt Damon and others have founded the group "Not On Our Watch". I think you should email them and propose working with your foundation. That's what needs to happen.
xo,
Erin
Exactly - I think the link and quote I used is from the "NOOW" organization. I think Clooney would be hotter if he highlighted some of this. Right now, we do have some celeb backing, but it's so quiet - Christina Ricci, Angie Harmon, Gabrielle Union, etc.
liz,
i came across a celeb who has taken a public stand against rape, albeit rape that is committed in south africa!
http://www.femalefirst.co.uk/celebrity/Charlize+Theron-6229.html
MARIO
M:
We get a lot of mail, sadly, from South Africa, requesting grants. Charlize also had a traumatic childhood where she witnessed her mom shoot her abusive dad in self-defense, so I'm totally behind her! South Africa still has a long way to go.
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