NationStates Jolt Archive

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Hollywood actor Sean Penn, adopting the role of a journalist, scribbled in his notebook as Friday prayer worshippers in Tehran chanted "Death to America."

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Penn, 44, in Iran on a brief assignment for the San Francisco Chronicle ahead of presidential elections on June 17, may be one of the best known faces in film, but he went unrecognized by the 6,000 faithful at Tehran University.

Working with a translator, Penn took copious notes as hardline cleric Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati urged the congregation to vote en masse "to make America angry."

The actor, who visited Iraq before and after the U.S.-led invasion in 2003 and wrote an account of his second trip for the Chronicle, told Reuters he had decided to come to Iran because of growing tensions between Washington and Tehran.

The United States accuses Iran of developing nuclear weapons and sponsoring terrorism. Iran denies the charges.

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20050610/us_nm/odd_iran_penn_dc_3

Mebbe this thread isn't really about Sean Penn but more about the intorlerance of governments. I understand that America has done things that people in other countries dislike (downright hate), but c'mon, spreading hate via the words "Death to America" is not going to solve anything (and it's not like they just recently started to chant that, they've been doing it a while). Why is it that countries can't get along?

although I respect Sean Penn as an actor, there is non excuse for the hatred he seems to be inciting.

if sending sean penn is what it takes to get coverage of the iranian elections then im fine with it.

it will be interesting to see how it turns out. there is alot of pro american sentiment in iran these days.

Why the hell would you send an actor, a bad one at that, to report on elections in iran?

How about, I don't know, a REPORTER

Why the hell would you send an actor, a bad one at that, to report on elections in iran?

How about, I don't know, a REPORTER
The same reason you might send Jimmy Carter. Because you want someone there who will certify said elections without actually scrutinizing the fairness of them.

The same reason you might send Jimmy Carter. Because you want someone there who will certify said elections without actually scrutinizing the fairness of them.


But it's SEAN fucking PENN!

I'm not sure what this has to do with Fonda, or what the article was saying other than Penn is writing an article on the Iranian elections for the Chronicle. I don't think that that is going to be the Chronicles only coverage of the event, and if readers would stop clamoring over celebraties papers like the Chronicle would stop using them to get profile.

But, overall, this barely seemed newsworthy enough to print and not at all newsworthy enough to link.

I don't know what's being said here.

Why the hell would you send an actor, a bad one at that, to report on elections in iran?

How about, I don't know, a REPORTER

a.) I'd imagine reporters are a bit too smart for that considering the number that have been killed despite yelling, "We're on your side!"
b.) They don't have to pay for his health insurance or death benefit.
c.) He's stupid enough to pay his own airfare.
d.) He was the only guy in San Francisco that answered the ad.

8)