does he become so filled with his own hot air that he explodes? Acclaimed American actor/director Tim Robbins blasted the US government's policy on terrorism -- and the US media's failure to examine it critically -- at a news conference in Athens promoting his stage version of George Orwell's "1984". "We have right now a media that is willfully ignoring the high crimes and misdemeanours of the president of the United States," the star of Hollywood hits including "Mystic River" and "The Player" told reporters. "Clinton lied about a blowjob, and got impeached by the media and Congress," Robbins said. "(Bush) got us into (the Iraq) war based on lies that he knew were lies. ... His war has recruited more Al-Qaeda members than Osama bin Laden could ever have dreamed for ... yet no one in the media is calling for impeachment," he said. Robbins pointed out similarities between current US policies on terrorism and the authoritarian society described by Orwell. "Unfortunately, the book and the play is more relevant now than it ever has been," he said. "(It) talks about continuous warfare as a means to control the Western economy, and as a way to control rebel elements within society through the use of fear, constant fear." "In my country we seem to be sanctioning renditioning of innocent people without trial ... put them in jail without telling anyone ... and torture them out of suspicion of what we think they might do," Robbins said. "This is exactly what Orwell was talking about when he spoke of thought crimes," he added. Orwell's bleak classic, published in 1949, is based on a futuristic society in which the government, known as "Big Brother", spies on its citizens' every move and tortures them on suspicion of dissent. The play, which Robbins produces and directs, opened in Athens for a five-day run on Tuesday. He is hoping to also direct a film version of the play in the fall.
Well... <t>As big a loon as Robbins is look at the nut case he lives with. Why should anyone be surprised?</t>
... <t>its the heavy handed approach from all sides which leads to the general public 'muting' themselves toward any investigation into 'reality.' in a profit driven media, they will report what sells. at this point in time, the general public seems to desire their news watered down. its understandable really, there appears to be no middle ground.<br/> <br/> on one side, we have the jesus wielding 'fair and balanced' approach which 'poo poos' anything that may possibly present itself in the form of a question while we are 'in a time of war.'<br/> <br/> on the other side, we have the molitov tossing long standing kings of hyperbole who have finally seen the end of their rope due to many years of yellow journalism.<br/> <br/> the end result? we desire something that sounds like news. something that is a little serious, a little entertaining mixed in with the occassional graphic brought to you by a well chested young maiden.<br/> <br/> dear mr robbins would like for us to all forget the countless times he's shouted fire in a crowded theater. you can only scare the crap out of people so many times before they just stop listening, even if you may be right.</t>