Today it was announced that actor Martin Sheen would voice opposition for a war in Iraq in a television commercial to be aired on CNN, MSNBC and CNN Headline News. The commercial is sponsored by Win Without War and MoveOn.org.

This will be the boldest attempt to date to reach “regular” Americans with the antiwar message. The commercial advertises a "virtual march on Washington," set for Wednesday. Would-be virtual march participants are asked to “use e-mail, fax machines and telephones to get their antiwar messages to legislators” on that day.

But to call it a virtual march? We are talking about utilizing a television commercial to broadcast a message to television viewers. There’s something missing here that prevents this from being considered a virtual anything.

If the celebrity supporters of the Virtual March honestly believe in the antiwar message, then they should make a personal commitment to reach-out to internet users, and ask them to participate on Wednesday.

Many “regular” Americans today are internet users; At home or on the job, they are networked. In one way or another, these people spend part of their day in front of a computer. But it’s not all work and web surfing is it? They are also involved in - or sometimes they just read - conversations online. They interact with their peers in virtual communities via e-mail, weblogs, and discussion boards.

A very large, very vocal audience ready to discuss the prospects of a Virtual March exists online. Furthermore it’s possible that some members of that audience - who know nothing about or care little for the antiwar cause - can be informed by others.

Members of these communities have opinions, and they are willing to share, discuss, and sometimes change them. They are prepared to engage in conversations with total strangers. They are also willing to communicate with celebrities.

Are the celebrities who support a Virtual March so readily on television also willing to help spread the word online? I sincerely hope they are.

And when I say “spread the word,” I don’t mean by having an assistant build a website with an antiwar banner ad and a couple of glossy photos to field fan mail. I’m taking about celebrities participating in frank, honest discussions online by joining existing community weblogs, or by establishing weblogs of their own.

It is my sincere hope that if celebrities are willing to communicate with a camera for this cause, they will also be willing to communicate with a keyboard and a modem. No pseudonyms or aliases – just as themselves.

Some celebrities already have successful weblogs; They are role models for others who are willing to speak for a Virtual March and for the antiwar cause in general. These web logs are already a powerful means of speaking to people from all walks of life about celebrities’ careers and hobbies, why not also their politics?

I wish Win Without War and MoveOn.org the greatest success in informing as many Americans as possible about the Virtual March. Furthermore, I hope that the many who do hear about the march can be prompted to participate on Wednesday.

Labels: activism, iraq