Is it just me, or is anyone

else growing weary of Hollywood actors pretending to be experts on foreign

and domestic policy? The Hollywood "experts" are holding antiwar

rallies, screaming about the Bush Administration, running ads in major

newspapers, and trashing the President and his Cabinet every chance they

get with names like "stupid," "morons," and "idiots."

Jessica Lange went so far as to tell a crowd in Spain that she hates President

Bush and is embarrassed to be an American.

So, just how ignorant are these

people who are running the country? Someone sent to me the biographies

of our "stupid," "ignorant," "moronic" leaders,

and those of the celebrities who are castigating them. Compare the contrast:

President George W. Bush:

Received a bachelor's degree from Yale University and an MBA from Harvard

Business School. He served as an F-102 pilot for the Texas Air National

Guard.

Vice President Dick Cheney:

Earned a B. A. in 1965 and a M. A. in 1966, both in political science.

Secretary of State Colin Powell:

Educated in the New York City public schools, graduating from the City

College of New York (CCNY), where he earned a bachelor's degree in geology.

His further academic achievements include a Master of Business Administration

degree from George Washington University. Secretary Powell is the recipient

of numerous U. S. and foreign military awards and decorations.

Secretary of Defense Donald

Rumsfeld: Attended Princeton University on scholarship (AB, 1954) and

served in the U. S. Navy (1954-57) as a naval aviator.

Secretary of Homeland Security

Tom Ridge: Raised in a working class family in veterans' public housing

in Erie, Penn., he earned a scholarship to Harvard, graduating with honors

in 1967. After his first year at The Dickinson School of Law, he was drafted

into the U. S. Army, where he served as an infantry staff sergeant in

Vietnam, earning the Bronze Star for Valor.

National Security Advisor

Condoleezza Rice: Earned her bachelor's degree in political science, cum

laude and Phi Beta Kappa, from the University of Denver in 1974; her master's

from the University of Notre Dame in 1975; and her Ph.D. from the Graduate

School of International Studies at the University of Denver in 1981. (Note:

Rice enrolled at the University of Denver at the age of 15, graduating

at 19 with a bachelor's degree in political science (cum laude).

So who are these celebrities?

What is their education? What is their experience?

Barbara Streisand: Completed

high school. Career: Singing and acting.

Cher: Dropped out of school

in 9th grade. Career: Singing and acting.

Martin Sheen: Flunked exam

to enter University of Dayton. Career: Acting.

Jessica Lange: Dropped out

of college mid-freshman year. Career: Acting.

Alec Baldwin: Dropped out

of George Washington. Career: Acting.

Julia Roberts: Completed high

school. Career: Acting.

Sean Penn: Completed high

school. Career: Acting.

Susan Sarandon: Degree in

drama from Catholic University of America in Washington, D. C. Career:

Acting.

Ed Asner: Completed high school.

Career: Acting.

George Clooney: Dropped out

of University of Kentucky. Career: Acting.

Michael Moore: Dropped out

first year University of Michigan. Career: Movie director.

Sarah Jessica Parker: Completed

high school. Career: Acting.

Jennifer Anniston: Completed

high school. Career: Acting.

Mike Farrell: Completed high

school. Career: Acting.

Janeane Garofalo: Dropped

out of college. Career: Stand-up comedienne.

Larry Hagman: Attended Bard

College for one year. Career: Acting.

The article I received said,

"While comparing the education and experience of these two groups,

we should also remember that President Bush and his cabinet are briefed

daily, even hourly, on the war on terror and threats to our security.

They are privy to information

gathered around the world concerning the Middle East, the threats to America,

the intentions of terrorists and terrorist-supporting governments. They

are in constant communication with the CIA, the FBI, Interpol, NATO, the

United Nations, our own military, and that of our allies around the world.

We cannot simply believe that we have full knowledge of the threats because

we watch CNN. We cannot believe that we are in any way as informed as

our leaders.

These celebrities have no intelligence-gathering

agents, no fact-finding groups, no insight into the minds of those who

would destroy our country."

So, who do you think are the

experts?

[David Epps writes a weekly

column for The Citizen, Contact him at [email protected].]