Sean Penn speaks out at a rally in support of 1st Lt. Ehren Watada

[hadrons]

story on PerezHilton of all places:





Actor Sean Penn speaks out at a rally in support of 1st Lt. Ehren Watada near the gates of Fort Lewis Army Base, DuPont, Wash., Monday - the day Watada's court-martial began. Watada announced last June that he would refuse to go to Iraq with his unit, the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division. Now the 28-year-old Watada faces four years in prison if convicted on one count of missing movement and two counts of conduct unbecoming an officer.

http://perezhilton.com/topics/politik/speaking_out_20070206.php#comments

[In Truth We Trust]

1. K&R for Sean Penn. He is a good man and a brave man considering the dynamics. Thanks Sean!

[KansDem]

2. Mr. Penn has been very busy

I watched Spike Lee's "When the Levees Broke" and saw footage of Sean in New Orleans helping move disabled and senior citizens out of flooded residences onto dry ground.

He was essentially filling in for the absent Geo. W. Bush, doing what the boy king should have had done.

I must say I wasn't really a Sean Penn fan prior to seeing that documentary--I had seen "Dead Man Walking" and thought he did an excellent job--but seeing him waist-deep in muck and water while helping to carry a wheel-chair bound victim to safety has given me a deeper respect for him as a defender of humanity.

I think I'll make it a point to see more of this acting work...

[Morgana LaFey]

6. I was a little ahead of you

I'd thought of Penn as one of those Bad Boys (Brat Pack, wasn't it?) along with Brad Pitt (in his younger days) and a few others and had NO respect for Penn whatsoever.

But then I started seeing him on a few talk shows, and I began to see some depth and seriousness. I saw him on Actor's Studio where he was fairly impressive. And then after Katrina I saw some of his work in New Orleans on Oprah, which sealed the deal. But Actor's Studio was a significant and important step forward.

And now I adore him. One of my heroes, definitely.

[LibDemAlways]

3. Penn walks the walk. Back in 1985 he

played convicted spy Daulton Lee in the film version of the "Falcon and the Snowman," the true story of two young men caught spying for the Russians back in the mid 70's. In researching the role Penn visited Lee in prison where he was serving a life sentence. He got to know him and stayed in touch. Penn is a guy who believes in second chances. When Lee was parolled in the late 90's, Penn gave him a job as an assistant. To my knowledge Lee has stayed out of trouble since.

[onecent]

4. I love Sean Penn! K and R.

[Cha]

5. Kick for Ehren and Sean!

It's not easy figthin' against the tidal wave of evil, powerhungry fuckers.

Thanks, Sean Penn for standing up for what is the right thing to do. :patriot: :patriot:

[Disturbed]

7. two counts of conduct unbecoming an officer.

The Military has dropped those two charges. There is no doubt that he will be found guilty of refusing to deploy to Iraq. He will be sentenced to at least 3 years in a Fed. Prison. There is NO WAY that his defense that the Iraqi Invasion was an Illegal Act will stand with this Military Court.

[dflprincess]

8. Stephanie Miller said this morning that Watada won't even be allowed

to present evidence that the war is illegal. She also said that the judge said it was an officer's responsibility to obey ANY order they were given. Steph was wishing her dad was alive as he was not only Goldwater's running mate, but also an assistant prosecutor at Nuremburg, she said she would have loved to hear what he had to say about the judge's comment.

[windbreeze]

9. Especially IF he joined the military AFTER

we invaded Iraq...he gave up his right to have a conscience after voluntarily becoming a GI (gov't issue) I am afraid this is a losing proposition for him, and they will make an example of him for his actions...not saying it's right or wrong..but I believe it is what will happen...I would be surprised if it turned out any other way...
wb

[ClayZ]

10. Lt. Watada speaks Feb 3rd (You have to hear him!!!)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x15717