Just read this very nice piece over on Wonkblog, remembering Jack Klugman not just for his acting chops but for a little known piece of his life. He helped get the Orphan Drug Act of 1982 through an obstreperous congress. Sometimes we can feel a bit irreverent towards stars and their causes, but on the right issue, it's all to the good.You can read all about it HERE.
Raul Castro Squandered His Last Chance
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14ymedio, Generation Y, Yoani Sanchez, Havana, 22 March 2017 — A year ago
Cuba had a once in a lifetime opportunity. US President Barack Obama came
to the ...
7 years ago
Thanks for posting that piece. It was nice to read about a celebrity who got something done rather than just getting his picture taken with politicans. I'm talking to you, Bono.
ReplyDeleteStrange to say, but I don't think Bono checks in very regularly here.
ReplyDeleteI was looking through some of photos of Klugman, which I had hoped to put up here but my picture link is wonky. But I was struck by the range Klugman had even in pictures. He was not just a comedian.
What struck me about the Klugman story was how much the standards of celebrity activism have changed. In our time, Barack Obama and Al Gore have won Nobel Peace Prizes for public relations and consciousness-raising and Bono gets taken seriously in some circles because his hob-nobbing. Klugman's activism, on the other hand, got something tangible accomplished.
ReplyDeleteWell, we don't really know what they have or will accomplish. The difference seems to me that there is a more specific objective and not a self-aggrandizing one, that we can measure.
ReplyDeleteOn the whole though, I think celebrity consciousness raising is better than them just basking in their wealth on some currently chic island.
Right. We don't know what they will acocmplish, but that didn't stop them from getting prizes. I'm happy that celebrities who agitate tend to do so for what I consider good causes, but I'm not sure the world would be any worse off if, say, Bono kept his mouth shut while basking in his wealth on some currently chic island.
ReplyDeleteTo be fair to Obama, though, I don't think he lobbied for the Nobel Prize. In fact, I suspect he was a little embarrassed by it. Of course, I'm not a politician, so I don't know.
ReplyDeleteIt's not Obama, it's the combination of celebrity culture and medium as message that's alarming.
ReplyDeleteI don't disagree.
ReplyDeleteInteresting article, Seana, thanks for sharing. I always learn something when I read your blogs.- Janet
ReplyDeleteThanks, Janet. I pay more attention to things that catch my eye than I might otherwise.
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