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CNN Live Event/Special
Stars Vs. War
Aired December 10, 2002 - 13:15 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: Now live to Hollywood, California, the story we've been talking about throughout the day. We're going to listen to actor Mike Farrell as he talks about a letter, signed by many celebrities out there in Hollywood, urging President Bush not to go to war.
(JOINED IN PROGRESS)
MIKE FARRELL, ACTOR: ... being made up of people from all religious, political, ethnic and economic backgrounds, and contributes to the American tapestry. One difference between our community and others is that for reasons unique to our society, the media tends to pay us closer attention.
In a society so saturated with media, it is of concern to us that so much of it seems devoted to parroting official announcements, thus simply being an echo chamber from self-serving political rhetoric from the White House.
Therefore, our responsibility as citizens meets the opportunity provided by media attention with the release of a statement of concern signed by over 100 of our colleagues and friends. And it is in the hope of encouraging communities in other professions in labor, and religious, lay and consumer organizations and individuals, and with the desire to generate a national dialogue on a crucial issue that we make the following declaration:
War talk in Washington is alarming and unnecessary. We are patriotic Americans that share the belief that Saddam Hussein cannot be allowed to possess weapons of mass destruction. We support rigorous U.N. weapons inspections to assure Iraq's effective disarmament. However, a presumptive military invasion of Iraq will harm American national interests. Such a war will increase human suffering, arouse animosity toward our country, increase the likelihood of terrorist attacks, damage the economy, and undermine our moral standing in the world. It will make us less, not more, secure.
We reject the doctrine, a reversal of long-held American tradition, that our country alone has the right to launch first-strike attacks. The valid U.S. and U.N. objective of disarming Saddam Hussein can be achieved through legal, diplomatic means. There is no need for war.
Let us instead devote our resources to improving the security and well being of people here at home and around the world. That's a statement available to those of you who want to... PHILLIPS: Live from Hollywood, California, that's Make Farrell. You will remember him probably from "M.A.S.H." a number of years ago. He's coming forward, a number of other celebrities, talking about a war against Iraq, not in support of a war against Iraq; celebrities signing a letter, a declaration, that he's talking about -- Kim Basinger, Matt Damon, Ethan Hawke, Samuel L. Jackson, Jessica Lange -- coming forward and hoping that President Saddam Hussein (sic) will not use military force against Saddam Hussein, but agreeing that weapons of mass destruction must be destroyed.
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 - 13:15 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Now live to Hollywood, California, the story we've been talking about throughout the day. We're going to listen to actor Mike Farrell as he talks about a letter, signed by many celebrities out there in Hollywood, urging President Bush not to go to war.
(JOINED IN PROGRESS)
MIKE FARRELL, ACTOR: ... being made up of people from all religious, political, ethnic and economic backgrounds, and contributes to the American tapestry. One difference between our community and others is that for reasons unique to our society, the media tends to pay us closer attention.
In a society so saturated with media, it is of concern to us that so much of it seems devoted to parroting official announcements, thus simply being an echo chamber from self-serving political rhetoric from the White House.
Therefore, our responsibility as citizens meets the opportunity provided by media attention with the release of a statement of concern signed by over 100 of our colleagues and friends. And it is in the hope of encouraging communities in other professions in labor, and religious, lay and consumer organizations and individuals, and with the desire to generate a national dialogue on a crucial issue that we make the following declaration:
War talk in Washington is alarming and unnecessary. We are patriotic Americans that share the belief that Saddam Hussein cannot be allowed to possess weapons of mass destruction. We support rigorous U.N. weapons inspections to assure Iraq's effective disarmament. However, a presumptive military invasion of Iraq will harm American national interests. Such a war will increase human suffering, arouse animosity toward our country, increase the likelihood of terrorist attacks, damage the economy, and undermine our moral standing in the world. It will make us less, not more, secure.
We reject the doctrine, a reversal of long-held American tradition, that our country alone has the right to launch first-strike attacks. The valid U.S. and U.N. objective of disarming Saddam Hussein can be achieved through legal, diplomatic means. There is no need for war.
Let us instead devote our resources to improving the security and well being of people here at home and around the world. That's a statement available to those of you who want to... PHILLIPS: Live from Hollywood, California, that's Make Farrell. You will remember him probably from "M.A.S.H." a number of years ago. He's coming forward, a number of other celebrities, talking about a war against Iraq, not in support of a war against Iraq; celebrities signing a letter, a declaration, that he's talking about -- Kim Basinger, Matt Damon, Ethan Hawke, Samuel L. Jackson, Jessica Lange -- coming forward and hoping that President Saddam Hussein (sic) will not use military force against Saddam Hussein, but agreeing that weapons of mass destruction must be destroyed.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
