While I applaud KPU for bringing the lead actor of the school's favorite TV show to campus, I am disappointed in the choice of topic for Mr. Sheen. KPU has asked Mr. Sheen "how his role on 'The West Wing' reflects real life politics and how he can use his fame to bring awareness to social issues." My mind is brought back to Bradley Whitford's notable visit, where he explained his disdain for actors who assume that, because they entertain our imaginations in a fantasy world, they are somehow empowered to tell us how to live in the real world. "Just entertain me, meat puppet," as Mr. Whitford said so eloquently.
Actors lose their appeal as fictional inspirations when their points of view are shown to be shortsighted and inconsistent in real life. In the case of Sheen, a self-professed devout Catholic who has shown moral indignation at everything Hollywood calls a "social injustice," he is surprisingly indifferent about abortion. He says he can't make that kind of choice for a woman, while at the same time lecturing America about our horrible war crimes and economic injustices because every life is precious. To paraphrase President Bartlett, I'd respect his moral indignation if it weren't so covered in crap.
As a fan of Mr. Sheen's professional career and personal story, I believe we're missing out on a chance to hear real inspiration. I would love to hear him talk about his immigrant past, his path of overcoming addiction and how he found his faith. We are cheapening our dialogue with him by focusing it around the same talking points of our president being a moron, the Iraq war being a crime against humanity and America being the root of everything terrible. Besides, don't we have our professors to remind us of that?
Will Haun President, American University College Republicans
