These are the impressions, some of our readers got, after her op-ed article in Washington post, in which the Hollywood actress and wife of Hollywood star Brad Pitt was heard discussing the troop surge and mentioning how, she feels it has worked. Some feel, that it offers some insight into the political choices of Angelina who has had an illustrious movie career and is one of the hottest beauties according to many polls and magazines.
McCain, the Republican candidate, has been the one advocating increasing the troop concentration in Iraq and arguing that pulling back troops will destabilise the area. As opposed to Democratic Candidate Obama’s softer stance advocating a pullback.
A Reader who called himself a die-hard McCain supporter noted in his email, “If Angelina would support McCain or his agenda, his chances will increase dramatically”. “Angelina has such pull and fame. Everything she does is news. Remember how much the media was after photo’s of her and brad’s [Brad Pitt] child.”
“It shows that Angelina is very much politically aware and aware of what’s going on around the world and what’s going on in middle-east”. “ People often think that celebrities are dumb and don’t care about much else than money and luxuries”.” This shows that they are wrong “says the e-mail of Jessica from Minneapolis.
Celebrities are getting more and more embroiled in politics and humanitarian issues, and making their feelings on major political issues clear. We have no shortage of examples, and Angelina is one of them.
Jolie in Baghdad: Iraq Affects the Future of the Middle East
Hollywood Actress and humanitarian activist Angelina Jolie said in an op-ed that appeared in the Washington Post, with the title “A Reason to Stay in Iraq”, that the troop surge in Iraq has created a window of opportunity for humanitarian programs to increase assistance for Iraqi refugees. The actress explained the plight of refugees in Iraq and mentioned that their conditions haven’t improved since her visit to the country last year. Angelina Jolie has been working as a United Nations goodwill ambassador from 2001 onwards, on behalf of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees.
She was in Baghdad to call attention to the refugee problem in Iraq. Jolie talked with General David Petraeus, the US military commander in Iraq and recounts how he assured her of his maximum possible support for new efforts to address various humanitarian issues. She says that this gave her more hope of progress in humanitarian activities.
Angelina emphasized to Iraqi officials, the need of good plans for helping Iraqis, who are using the decreased level of violence to come back to their abandoned homes. She also stressed the need for creative solutions to accommodate the around 4 million refugees and displaced people back in Iraq and took the opportunity to urge the U.S presidential candidates and leaders of congress, to increase financing for aid to Iraqi refugees and displaced people.
As for the troop surge, she talks of her enquiries to the troops about their thoughts on returning home. And not surprisingly, the trooper’s replied of their commitment to Iraq and how they want to be part of the humanitarian progress, made possible now due to the troop surge. At least one can take heart in the fact, that Hollywood is concerned of matters in Iraq and be proud of the dedication, commitment and bravery of U.S troops in Iraq.
Jessica Biel starred in Irwin Winkler’s 2006 movie “Home of the Brave”, which is about three soldiers, who struggle to readjust to life at home after returning from their duty in Iraq. Her role in the movie was that of a single mother, a young soldier - who returns from the war in Iraq having lost a hand, who learns to deal with the loss of one of her hands. The movie co-stars Samuel L Jackson and Curtis Jackson and how she handles the challenge of getting on with life after this traumatic experience is one of the stories told in the movie. Talking about the movie in an interview, Jessica Biel also recounts how she gained great respect and understanding of the troops in Iraq while working in the movie and how it made her more aware of the plight of the troops deployed abroad.
Jessica Biel describes the movie as an excitement and a thrilling experience, and spoke of how she didn’t have much of an idea about the experiences of the troops and how they come home, until she started speaking with some female amputees and sergeants with families, who went through these harrowing experiences. Jessica Biel mentions speaking with female amputees, who were open to speaking with her about their injuries and sharing with her the intimate details of their recovery and emotional state, which helped her do the role in the movie better and more truthfully.
After understanding the torment, pain and judgement, many of the troops go through, Jessica Biel has a different perspective on them and their plight and feels that all of this has given her a much greater appreciation for the soldiers. She took the opportunity to show her appreciation for the troops at the Oscars, where she hoped for the troops to be back home soon.
Jessica Biel is one of the latest Hollywood actresses to raise her voice in support of the beleaguered people of Darfur. Apart from her wonderful Television and Movie career, Jessica Biel’s social awareness and Humanitarian concerns are well known. Jessica Biel is well known for working with many charities and she once auctioned off a date with herself to pay the medical expenses of a teen, who was an accident victim. This beauty and talented actress joined many other movie stars and celebrities as she participated in a “Darfur Now” appeal calling for immediate action by the international community which will lead to the resolution of the conflict in Darfur.
The conflict in Darfur has been going on from 2003 and has been one of the most severe cases of human rights abuses in the recent past. Over 200,000 people have been killed and over 2.5 million have been displaced from their homes. Jessica Biel and all the other celebrities have lend their support to the Darfur Now campaign, in the interest of letting the international community know that the conflict in Darfur needs to be ended ASAP. Let’s hope that the awareness raised by them will be heard and echoed by all and we can end this horrendous conflict in Darfur once and for all.