An Open Letter to Kevin Bacon

The Moderate Separatist ^ | January 5, 2011 | Leigh Patrick Sullivan

[Leigh Patrick Sullivan]

I was part of the Footloose generation. I used to shake my ass to the theme song countless times at junior high school dances, and have followed your career with some interest through the years (full disclosure: Tremors is still my favorite Bacon flick).

How disappointing it was then to read this morning of your recent slide into the cult of EnviroCelebs regarding the protesting of Alberta’s oil sands and their associated proposed Keystone XL and Northern Gateway pipelines.

We as Albertans are used to seeing certain celebrities getting face time in front of the camera protesting against our energy sector, but have long written them off as entertainers on the downward slide of their careers hoping to grab a bit of the spotlight. We have come to see them as self-serving liars and hypocrites – Robert Redford claiming the environmental high ground while thousands each year attend his Sundance event (certainly not travelling to their destination via bicycle), Leo DiCaprio condemning the use of oil then boarding his own personal jet, etc.

It is common knowledge that these and many other L.A. celebs would not recognize the real world if they were smacked with it.

But for a fan such as myself learning that you would so easily exchange your integrity for a spot on the bandwagon is disappointing, to say the least.

I will refrain from throwing statistics and figures at you, as I abhor the idea of doing someone else’s homework for them. I will also break with current tradition and not invite you to tour the northern section of our province as we did with James Cameron. Come with a bias and you leave with the same bias no matter what you witness.

The facts of the oil sands are easy to find, the truth is public. I will say what you already know, however: at this point in time, the world must use oil. Society cannot function without it, and there is no mass-produced ‘clean’ alternative available.

Therefore, the choice that everyone from the average person to the largest corporation is faced with is this: what source of oil will you use? Oil from such totalitarian and oppressive regimes like Iran and Saudi Arabia, where the terms ‘environmental standards’ and ‘human rights’ do not exist, or from Canada which has strict environmental regulations and oversight?

Would you choose to endanger real jobs for real people in a free and open society in favor of enriching a few world leaders who kill their own people with no more thought than they give to killing a housefly?

To condemn Alberta’s oil sands and the means of transporting our product is to empower and encourage higher oil production from nations where the well-being – the very lives – of many of your friends and colleagues in Hollywood would be endangered if they were to live there.

As you use your celebrity to attempt to sway the general public to your way of thinking, I use my knowledge and experience as an Albertan in the attempt to sway yours. Do some research. Learn the facts about Canada’s energy sector.

Perhaps then your own personal ‘degree of separation’, that between your opinion and the facts of the oil sands, may not be so large.

[EveningStar]

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

The length of this letter is inversely proportional to how much I give a crap about what Bacon says or does. He is irrelevant.

[Argus]

Most actors should be placed under special supervision for their own protection along with drunks, small children, and the feeble-minded.

[MamaDearest]

Public Records: Kevin Bacon Federal Campaign Contribution Report

[dfwgator]

[Lazlo in PA]

I second that.

[youngidiot]

If you look to actors, musicians, poets, painters, etc as to how you should feel about ANY issue, you're a dumbass.

[And2TheRepublic]

I’ve played ‘Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon’ many times with my Army buddies.

[youngidiot]

If you look to actors, musicians, poets, painters, etc as to how you should feel about ANY issue, you're a dumbass.

[Graewoulf]

HEY KEVIN! YEAH YOU! Since you are the standard for “Degrees of Separation,” let us chat about the fun things that you like to do without being separated from them.

Higher prices for Crude Oil means increased cost to refine and split the refinery runs into diesel, ( trucks, trains, ships, electricity, etc.), plastics, gasoline, jet fuel - - - . Oops sorry, a first degree of separation from jet travel for you would put a crimp on the movie industry. Sorry, in no way did I intend to imply, - - . That is, well, since the entire culture of the World is dependent upon cheap Crude Oil, I thought that it was obvious - - - . Yeah, sorry, I thought that you knew about the LAW OF SUPPLY AND DEMAND. Enjoy your Oil-Free Life.

[Leigh Patrick Sullivan]

Very true. The reality is there are alot of dumbass sheep who do listen to the opinions of celebs, esp. on enviro issues. As an Albertan who relies on the oil sands, these attacks on our energy sector - on our economy - must be countered.

[Cyman]

If Tremors was made today, the monster would be an SUV.

[DPMD]

Will this out of touch elitist follow his stated principles and foreswear all connections to petroleum?

Fat chance.

[TheOldLady]

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[youngidiot]

There really is a communist type flair with this Hollywood group. Reagan and co didn't wipe them out, not by a long shot. This type of idiotic and destructive activism is unique to them. You never hear a NASCAR champion hold up his trophy and say, “This win is for the rainforrest.” And a football champion will never hold up a Superbowl trophy and say, “This is all meaningless unless we address global warming.” People wouldn't put up with that kind of sh*t. They key is to finding out why people accept such things from actors and attack that.