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Interview with Martin Sheen
Aired December 10, 2002 - 13:51 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: We're going to go back live to Hollywood, California. We've been talking about this gathering of many celebrities in Hollywood, talking about the war -- possible war against Iraq, many of them against it, signing a letter to say so. Our Charles Feldman is there in Hollywood. I understand Martin Sheen, a political activist, now once again involved in another effort involving politics -- Charles.
CHARLES FELDMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. Hi, Kyra. Martin Sheen, let me ask you something. Let me pretend -- with all deference, that I'm president of the United States right now.
MARTIN SHEEN, ACTOR: Please.
FELDMAN: Why would I care -- why would I care about what a group of artists have to say about U.S. foreign policy, vis-a-vis Iraq? Why should I care?
SHEEN: I think that the president should care about all its citizens' opinions, and particularly about matters of war and peace. There's so much at stake. You can't put the bullet back in the gun once it's been fired.
That's mainly why we're here today, is we're trying to get the attention of the people who feel that this is a fate complete, a speak out, to say no to war, and yes to life.
FELDMAN: But if you think, as you've said a number of times here, that this is already a done deal, that we're going to go marching into Iraq...
SHEEN: Yes, with the administration.
FELDMAN: Then, what's the good of all of this?
SHEEN: Well, how would we feel if we did not speak up before the fact? We are assuming it's a done deal, in the way they're talking and presenting their plans, it's a done deal. If we wait until after the fact, then I think we're -- we're missing the point.
FELDMAN: Has this been a divisive issue for Hollywood? Is this something that you find difficult selling to fellow actors?
SHEEN: No, no. We're not trying to sell anything. We're just trying to arouse a true patriotism, not just in our industry, but your industry as well as all the others, and that is that we love our country enough to risk its wrath by calling attention to its dark spots, the areas that it's blind to, that will eventually cause a great sickness in our culture.
FELDMAN: Let me ask you something. One of my colleagues during the news conference asked you a question. Let me re-ask it. What happens, Martin Sheen, what happens if you're wrong?
SHEEN: About what?
FELDMAN: About a preemptive strike against Iraq. Suppose you are wrong. Suppose that is what's needed?
SHEEN: I don't understand how I would be wrong. Would there not be countless innocent civilians killed in Iraq with a preemptive strike? Do you discount that? Is that not right enough to speak at now? I was just at the funeral -- I announced earlier, of Phillip Baragin (ph), who passed away this past week, and this was the quote that they used on his prayer card, and I want to share it with you.
"Peace keeping is not only a central characteristic of the gospel. Peace making is the greatest need of the world today. We are the daughters and sons of God, and that means we are called to be peacemakers, whether we like it or not. It's a responsibility of all of us to pursue peace for its own sake, for the sake of the future for our children."
FELDMAN: Martin Sheen, thank you very much.
SHEEN: For the media.
FELDMAN: For the media. OK. Thank you very much. Kyra, and so that's what has been happening here in Hollywood, over 100 performers endorsing this anti-preemptive action against Iraq. I understand that the letter itself, the declaration will be published in at least one major newspaper tomorrow -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: All right. Charles Feldman, thank you. It will be interesting to watch "West Wing" now and see what role the president Martin Sheen will take. All right, Charles, thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired December 10, 2002 - 13:51 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: We're going to go back live to Hollywood, California. We've been talking about this gathering of many celebrities in Hollywood, talking about the war -- possible war against Iraq, many of them against it, signing a letter to say so. Our Charles Feldman is there in Hollywood. I understand Martin Sheen, a political activist, now once again involved in another effort involving politics -- Charles.
CHARLES FELDMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. Hi, Kyra. Martin Sheen, let me ask you something. Let me pretend -- with all deference, that I'm president of the United States right now.
MARTIN SHEEN, ACTOR: Please.
FELDMAN: Why would I care -- why would I care about what a group of artists have to say about U.S. foreign policy, vis-a-vis Iraq? Why should I care?
SHEEN: I think that the president should care about all its citizens' opinions, and particularly about matters of war and peace. There's so much at stake. You can't put the bullet back in the gun once it's been fired.
That's mainly why we're here today, is we're trying to get the attention of the people who feel that this is a fate complete, a speak out, to say no to war, and yes to life.
FELDMAN: But if you think, as you've said a number of times here, that this is already a done deal, that we're going to go marching into Iraq...
SHEEN: Yes, with the administration.
FELDMAN: Then, what's the good of all of this?
SHEEN: Well, how would we feel if we did not speak up before the fact? We are assuming it's a done deal, in the way they're talking and presenting their plans, it's a done deal. If we wait until after the fact, then I think we're -- we're missing the point.
FELDMAN: Has this been a divisive issue for Hollywood? Is this something that you find difficult selling to fellow actors?
SHEEN: No, no. We're not trying to sell anything. We're just trying to arouse a true patriotism, not just in our industry, but your industry as well as all the others, and that is that we love our country enough to risk its wrath by calling attention to its dark spots, the areas that it's blind to, that will eventually cause a great sickness in our culture.
FELDMAN: Let me ask you something. One of my colleagues during the news conference asked you a question. Let me re-ask it. What happens, Martin Sheen, what happens if you're wrong?
SHEEN: About what?
FELDMAN: About a preemptive strike against Iraq. Suppose you are wrong. Suppose that is what's needed?
SHEEN: I don't understand how I would be wrong. Would there not be countless innocent civilians killed in Iraq with a preemptive strike? Do you discount that? Is that not right enough to speak at now? I was just at the funeral -- I announced earlier, of Phillip Baragin (ph), who passed away this past week, and this was the quote that they used on his prayer card, and I want to share it with you.
"Peace keeping is not only a central characteristic of the gospel. Peace making is the greatest need of the world today. We are the daughters and sons of God, and that means we are called to be peacemakers, whether we like it or not. It's a responsibility of all of us to pursue peace for its own sake, for the sake of the future for our children."
FELDMAN: Martin Sheen, thank you very much.
SHEEN: For the media.
FELDMAN: For the media. OK. Thank you very much. Kyra, and so that's what has been happening here in Hollywood, over 100 performers endorsing this anti-preemptive action against Iraq. I understand that the letter itself, the declaration will be published in at least one major newspaper tomorrow -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: All right. Charles Feldman, thank you. It will be interesting to watch "West Wing" now and see what role the president Martin Sheen will take. All right, Charles, thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
