January 23, 2009

Tom Hanks Apologizes for Calling Mormon Supporters of Proposition 8 "Un-American"

FoxNews reports that actor, Tom Hanks, has apologized for his insulting remark about members of the Mormon church in relation to the Proposition 8 issue. The report states,

"Last week, I labeled members of the Mormon church who supported California's Proposition 8 as 'un-American,'" the actor said in a statement through his publicist. "I believe Proposition 8 is counter to the promise of our Constitution; it is codified discrimination."

"But everyone has a right to vote their conscience; nothing could be more American," the statement continues. "To say members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints who contributed to Proposition 8 are 'un-American' creates more division when the time calls for respectful disagreement. No one should use 'un- American' lightly or in haste. I did. I should not have."

Amazingly, actors assume that the public cares about their political views. Perhaps these spiteful public outbursts from Hollywood are more for attention and dramatics than for making meaningful statements.

And often times members of the audience do not readily separate the actor’s public comments and worldview from his performance on the big screen. The bottom line is that the public expects to be entertained by actors not lectured to, condescended to and insulted.

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