I have in the past commented on celebrities and the apparent criteria by which they select causes (see Mar. 12, 2011, blog post). If the political risks are low (animal rights, the environment) and/or the issue doesn't involve US foreign policy (Tibet, Darfur), then there seems to be no hesitation. There is, of course, nothing wrong with taking up these causes, but the pattern is hard to miss.
It's simply a fact that celebrities have the potential to influence opinion and shed light on different issues. To date, however, the list of Western actors, musicians, and artists willing to speak up about the crimes committed against the Palestinians has been quite thin.
That said, I was quite pleased to see that actors Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem, along with director Pedro Almodovar, had the courage to join the short list.
Without mentioning names, it's noteworthy how quiet the politically active celebrities who often take up international causes have been on this matter.
Admittedly, it's a sad picture—given the criminality being visited upon Gaza—that three people involved in filmmaking stating the obvious offers a bit of encouragement. As one quote commonly attributed to George Orwell goes: "In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act."
