by LYS ANZIA
Sending a strong message in support of ‘peace among nations,’ ten Nobel Peace Prize Laureates have spoken out against a new U.S. reality television show produced by NBC that premiered on Monday night in front of 5.1 million viewers. The show called “Stars Earn Stripes” hosted by retired U.S. Army General Wesley Clark, brings celebrities like Olympic gold medalist Picabo Street, as well as the husband of former U.S. presidential candidate Sarah Palin, Todd Palin, among others, to a remote NBC simulation of a military training location to reenact what anti-war activists say ‘glorifies’ the machinations and violence of war.
Many who know the real outcome of military conflict worldwide are not happy to see this kind of entertainment venue. In addition to an organized protest in front of NBC studio headquarters in Rockefeller Center in New York City supported by the Nobel Peace Prize Laureates as well military veterans and international peace advocates have raised a public outcry for the show to immediately cease the production of “Stars Earn Stripes” televised ‘military inspired missions.’
In an open letter to Robert Greenblatt Chairman of NBC Entertainment, along with Ret. General Wesley Clark, NBC Producer Mark Burnett and others involved in “Stars Earn Stripes,” the Nobel Laureates have called for those involved with the show to step away now.
“War isn’t entertainment,” says the Peace Prize Laureates which include South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu, anti-landmine Campaign Ambassador Jody Williams, first female judge in Iran and human rights defender Dr. Shirin Ebadi, Costa Rican humanitarian and current President Oscar Arias Sanchez, and Burmese pro-democracy leader and newly elected Myanmar parliamentarian Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, as well as Mairead Maguire, Rigoberta Menchu Tum, President Jose Ramos-Horta, Muhammad Yunus and Betty Williams.
Women News Network for more