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PrintFebruary 21, 2010
Man of peace, Sean Penn, arrested for kicking photog
At last year's Academy Awards Robert DeNiro praised his friend and noted peace activist Sean Penn saying that.
Sean brings the same commitment to his off-screen life, you see it when he campaigns for human rights, respectfully advises world leaders, and gently, gently reasons with the paparazzi. Tonight it's important to be a great actor. In life, it's more important to be a great human being. That's my friend Sean Penn.
Sean has been involved in many great causes over the years. He has teamed up with fellow actor/activists like Jane Fonda, Susan Sarandon, Tim Robbins and Danny Glover to protest the War in Iraq. Who could forget the moving "rolling fast" (each of the brave fasters didn't eat for 24 hours) that was bravely launched on the 4th of July in 2006? Sean, Susan and their fellow travelers were mugging for the camera for a heart rending photo-op with Cindy Sheehan. By the way, the long forgotten and abandoned Sheehan is still protesting the war.
Sean has met with and advised many world leaders like his friend Hugo Chavez. He has traveled around the globe to promote peace earning the praise and respect of many leaders. Just an example of the world-wide love of Sean Penn comes from.
Ala Senakreh, West Bank chief of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades teror group, states that he feels "deep respect for Penn and people like him that prove America is not the only country that sponsors the Israeli terrorists and all evil forces in the world, but also a country of brave people who want a different policy based on justice and peace."
Sean has come by his unique world view and particular brand of patriotism honestly as his father the late Leo Penn has similar ideals. While actors like John Wayne, Gary Cooper, Ronald Reagan and others cooperated with the HUAC in their investigation into communist influence in the film industry, Leo Penn stood with his comrades in refusing to testify.
Just recently on Larry King Live, Sean went out of his way to praise the U.S. military and their noble mission in Haiti stating that "I have always been a supporter of the troops." It is gratifying to note that Sean has matured and outgrown his sometimes violent early days. Long forgotten are the violent attacks upon photographers in 1985 and again in 1987, this is the new Sean Penn who (to quote his friend and noted comedian Robert DeNiro) "gently, gently reasons with the paparazzi."
This just in from the New York Post.
Oscar winning actor Sean Penn was slapped with criminal charges on Friday after allegedly attacking a photographer in Los Angeles last year, city prosecutors said.
If convicted of the misdemeanor county, Penn faces a maximum of 18 months in jail, according to a spokesman for the attorney's office.
Entertainment website TMZ reported that a video of the incident shows Penn kicking a photographer on a residential LA street.
Let's hope that the court takes into account Mr. Penn's status as a world force for peace and human rights. In a side note, last years Oscar presentation by Robert DeNiro was his most inspired performance since he played Rupert Pupkin.
Phil Boehmke
