As has been done in the past, people with star power are lending their fame to whatever causes tickle their fancy. A-list celebrities and their supermodel spouses set up foundation after foundation to raise money and awareness for various diseases, pleadings, and organizations helping the underprivileged.\n The latest cause to get a Hollywood face-lift is the anti-war movement. Big names like Martin Sheen and Janeane Garofalo are lending their name-drop status to the "Million Modem March," an appeal to the masses to use e-mail to flood Washington with anti-war messages today.\n Star power, when used well, can lead to wonderful things. \nCelebrities are citizens too; they have opinions and can be passionate. Some say their opinions can't be respected because of who they are or what they do. But to think this way is singling out a segment of the population, saying their opinions are invalid because of who they are.\nIn fact, that extra attention they get has been a huge help to numerous causes, such as the Kaiser Family foundation, a group that promotes safe sex and funds AIDS research. Stars and their media vehicles do good things when they advocate causes that otherwise would not get widespread attention.\nThat said, the real question in the anti-war movement is: Where are the anti-war politicians?\nThe populace looks for leaders; right now, celebrities are the most visible teammates of the anti-war cause. Stars might make an issue visible, but they don't make the policy. Our elected lawmakers do, and they have been silent. Where are the elected voices opposing conflict? If millions of people will take to the streets to protest, surely there must be a representative in Congress who shares their concern?\nHopefully, all the anti-war star power will flash bright enough to make our elected leaders listen to the rest of the citizenry that shares their sentiments.
- George Lyle IV for the Editorial Board
