Syria War: 11 Anti-war Celebrities Who Have Been Mysteriously Silent

Impact

Back when Bush was president, times were glorious for anti-war protesters. They assembled regularly and had celebrities cheering at their rallies. Celebrities became an important part of that movement, even though their consistent and vehement criticism caused them to be seen as traitors by many.

With an attack on Syria seeming imminent, the anti-war crowd and celebrities have been quite silent. What happened? Has the IRS been all over them? Has the NSA leaked information on them so that another government agency could arrest or silence them? Have they been kidnapped? Or they are afraid to be labeled racist since, you know, no one can oppose a "minority" without being labeled as such?

There is no one answer, but here are 11 celebrities that were very vocal against wars when a Republican manned the Oval Office.

1. Samuel L. Jackson, Susan Sarandon, and many other actors

Last known anti-war protest: 2002

This group of Hollywood powerhouses wrote a letter to President Bush so he wouldn't go to war in Iraq. They must have run out of ink or paper in 2009 ...

2. Sheryl Crow, musician

Last known anti-war protest: American Music Awards, 2003

What she said: "I think war is based in greed and there are huge karmic retributions that will follow. I think war is never the answer to solving any problems. The best way to solve problems is to not have enemies." I suppose that interventions in Lybia and possibly Syria will make friends...

3. Natalie Maines, singer for The Dixie Chicks

Last known anti-war protest: April 2003

What she said: After apologizing for saying, "We are ashamed the president of the United States is from Texas," Maines said, "Am I sorry that I asked questions and that I don't just follow? No." 

Is she ashamed to be American with Obama in power, considering he's at least as bad as Bush?

4. Whoopi Goldberg, entertainer

What she did: She made very crude jokes about Bush's surname while talking about his war policies. And when she was fired as a spokeswoman for Slim Fast, she cried censorship.

She still hasn't mocked Obama in any way...

5. Elton John, musician

Last know anti-war protest: July 2004

What he said: "There was a moment about a year ago when you couldn't say a word about anything in this country for fear of your career being shot down by people saying you are un-American." It looks like it's still the case...

6. Martin Sheen, actor

Last know anti-war protest: Texas5 2005

What he did: He visited Cindy Sheenan, whose son died in Iraq and who protested about the war in front of George W. Bush's Crawford Ranch. I wonder if he supports the Marines opposing an intervention in Syria

7. Jane Fonda, actress

Last known anti-war protest: January" 2007

What she said: "Thank you so much for the courage to stand up to this mean-spirited and vengeful administration." So the current administration is peace-loving?

8. William Arkin, activist

Last known anti-war protest: January 2007

What he wrote: "So, we pay the soldiers a decent wage, take care of their families, provide them with housing and medical care and vast social support systems and ship obscene amenities into the war zone for them, we support them in every possible way, and their attitude is that we should in addition roll over and play dead, defer to the military and the generals and let them fight their war, and give up our rights and responsibilities to speak up because they are above society?" Luckily for him, some Marines disagree with Syria.

9. Sean Penn, actor

Last known anti-war protest: April 2007

What he said: "We cower as you point your fingers telling us to support our troops. You and the smarmy pundits in your pocket — those who bathe in the moisture of your soiled and blood-soaked underwear — can take that noise and shove it." Unless you voted for the president in power?

10. Susan Sarandon, actress

Last known anti-war protest: May 2007

What she wrote: "Let them then solemnly take counsel with each other as to the means whereby the great human family can live in peace, each bearing after their own time the sacred impress, not of Caesar, but of God." I wonder if she wrote Michelle Obama a letter...

11. Sandy Duncan, entertainer

Last known anti-way protest: September 2009

What she said: "I don't think we should ever be at war." Even when the president is a Democrat?