Woody and Blacklists

In another Hollywood era, Woody Harrelson would have made it the Hollywood Eleven instead of the blacklisted Hollywood Ten. Today, he reminds us that mindless saber rattling can rip down the banner of free speech as readily as the witch hunts of the ‘50s almost did (“War-Torn Woody,” Aug. 4).

Thank God for the Costners and Dansons and Sheens and Newmans and Asners who use the power of their social status for the social good. Their capacity to make the media jump and to prove the legitimacy of often unpopular causes may just keep this country’s right wing from trashing the Bill of Rights.

ALLAN RABINOWITZ

Los Angeles