Tired of hearing the same old messages from political candidates, Americans have turned to celebrities and models for refreshing views on policy and how to run a country.
Many Americans have tuned out the likes of presidential hopefuls Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and John McCain, and listen with rapt attention to the creepy-looking Sharon Stone for her take on world affairs. This week, Stone proclaimed that the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States should not have been used as a pretext for the Bush Administration to launch wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Stone's solution to the murderous attacks was for everyone to forgive and forget, find a same-sex lover, and move forward.
"We can't live in the past," said Stone, choosing her powerful words carefully.
Stone's comments were translated and published in Arabic. She also took the opportunity to plug her latest project and hopes Middle East countries will start buying her films on DVD, once electricity returns to the area and natives figure out who she is.
"This is a wonderful part of the world that appreciates the expanded role of women," she said. "I wonder if these folks have ever seen me without my underwear?"
Stone formed her thought-provoking world view during hard times spent on the fashion modeling runway, doing Burger King, Clairol and Maybelline TV commercials and through meaty movie roles, such as "Basic Instinct," in which she spread her legs for audiences, and by portraying a lesbian in "If These Walls Could Talk 2."
But people didn't really take her seriously until People magazine rated her one of the 50 most-beautiful people in the world.
Following that, she was given an honorary doctorate at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, did a 1930s-style fashion shoot and had multiple spouses and love interests, cementing her status a renown stateswoman, and expert on world affairs and the human condition.
Recently, Stone's looks have deteriorated and almost no paparazzi stalk her, except those working for Fangoria, the top horror magazine. Her eyes are dark and sunken while her lips are more grotesque than Jack Nicholson's Joker in the movie "Batman." Her once-luscious blonde hair is stringy and washed out. When news photographers point their cameras at her, they either make a clicking sound with their mouth, pretending it snapped the photo, or ask to shoot the back of her head, where a bald spot has developed.
Stone's success on the international political stage has inspired others to get on a soapbox and blather nonsense, such as self-loving daytime TV host Tyra Banks and America's Next Top Model contestant Kim Stolz. Other celebrities caught up by their movie fame and spreading grouchy, left-wing rhretoric include Richard Gere, Sean Penn and George Clooney.
Clooney was named a United Nations peace envoy this year and will fill that role by participating in ribbon-cutting ceremonies in Third World country shopping malls, and distributing the family's chicken glaze recipe.
