Talk about going from one extreme…

Friday and Saturday I chaired G-CAPP’s annual board retreat. It was cold and raining in Atlanta so it was nice on many levels to be hunkered down with this wonderful group of committed friends and co-workers. We had a very productive meeting including making the decision to have a formal co-chair to work with me on board governance.

This has been challenging for me as I have been gone most of ‘09 and it will be the same in ‘10. The Broadway play last year, the surgeries in L.A., falling in love (also in L.A.), making the new exercise dvds, finishing my book, going to France for the film and on and on.

I winged back to L.A. Last night in time to attend Clive Davis’s pre-Grammy gala. This was my first such Grammy event and I was there cause of Richard and it was really fun. We sat at a table with Barbra Streisand, James, Brolin, Bob Daly, Carol Bayer Sager, Mo Ostin, his son and daughter-in-laws. Barbra was honored by Clive and towards the end of the evening, Jennifer Hudson honored her by singing “People” and “The Way We Were”, two of Barbra’s greatest hits. Listening to Clive recite all the many awards she has received—Oscars, Tony, Grammy, Emmys, and many others—and the fact that she is the only singer to have a #1 hit across 5 decades was more than impressive. I had a chance to say hello to Herbie Hancock, Sheryl Crow, Alice Cooper, Nathalie Cole, Smokey Robinson, Taylor Swift and Jamie Foxx. I couldn’t muster the courage to use my camera even though I had it with me. (I bought a new one cause last one was lost). Jamie Foxx gave a fabulous performance at the end. Two other outstanding performances, really gut wrenching, were Maxwell (like a new Marvin Gaye) and Mary J. Blige, who made me cry she was so deep and intense.

Richard Perry, Jane Fonda and Universal Music Group CEO Doug Morris arrives at the 52nd Annual GRAMMY Awards - Salute To Icons Honoring Doug Morris held at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 30, 2010 in Beverly Hills, California. Kevin Mazur/WireImage.com

Needless to say I was wiped when we got home and it’s real slow going today. Jet lag is more potent when you’re older. We’ll watch the Grammys at home tonight.

See you next time.

Associated Press

My friend, the great historian, Howard Zinn died in his Santa Monica hotel room on January 27th. I was going to have dinner with him next Sunday. His “A People’s History of the United States” was a classic. I am told Matt Damon is planning on making a documentary of it. Here’s a beautiful quote of Howard’s:

To be hopeful in bad times is not just foolishly romantic. It is based on the fact that human history is a history not only of cruelty but also of compassion, sacrifice, courage, kindness. What we choose to emphasize in this complex history will determine our lives. If we see only the worst, it destroys our capacity to do something.

If we remember those times and places–and there are so many–where people have behaved magnificently, this gives us the energy to act, and at least the possibility of sending this spinning top of a world in a different direction. And if we do act, in however small a way, we don’t have to wait for some grand utopian future. The future is an infinite succession of presents, and to live now as we think human beings should live, in defiance of all that is bad around us, is itself a marvelous victory.

(Howard Zinn, The Optimism of Uncertainty: The Nation, 9/20/2004)

• RT @womensmediacntr Tell @CBS and @NFL to scrap Focus on the Family's anti-choice #superbowl ad! #underthebus http://bit.ly/7Zs8jq #

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:

Rebekah Spicuglia, Media Director
Women’s Media Center
(office) 212-563-0680; (cell) 415-290-2970
rebekah@womensmediacenter.com

Coalition of Progressive Organizations Demand CBS Pull Divisive Anti-Choice Super Bowl Ad

January 26, 2010 (New York, NY) – The Women’s Media Center and united organizations dedicated to reproductive rights, tolerance, and social justice have launched a campaign calling CBS to immediately pull an anti-choice advertisement sponsored by Focus on the Family to air during Super Bowl XLIV.

CBS has a well-documented history of prohibiting advocacy ads it deems controversial, rejecting ads from organizations such as PETA, MoveOn.org, United Church of Christ, and even ones that carry only an “implicit” endorsement for a side in a public debate. Last year, NBC made the prudent decision to not air anti-choice messages during the Super Bowl. CBS executives have indicated in the past that they would not air Super Bowl ads where “substantial elements of the community (are) in opposition to one another.”

Focus on the Family is an organization well-known for opposing the equality of Americans based on gender, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, and reproductive freedom. This ad uses one story to subtly dictate morality to the American public, and encourages women to disregard medical advice, potentially putting their lives at risk. Abortion is a controversial issue and anti-abortion vitriol has resulted in escalated violence against reproductive health service providers and their patients.

“An ad that uses sports to divide rather than to unite has no place in the biggest national sports event of the year – an event designed to bring Americans together regardless of background, faith, ideology or political affiliation,” says Jehmu Greene, President of the Women’s Media Center.

The ad goes against the approximately 70 percent majority American view that reproductive decisions should be left up to a woman and her physician; against the decision by the U.S. Supreme Court that such decisions are protected by a constitutionally guaranteed right to privacy; and against the health needs of the 1 in 3 American women who will need an abortion at sometime in her life.

American values of privacy and freedom should be respected, not undermined during the Super Bowl. CBS must take action now, by canceling the airing of Focus on the Family’s anti-choice ad.

To speak with WMC President Jehmu Greene, or to book other experts on health reform, health care politics, or women’s reproductive rights, please contact Rebekah Spicuglia, (212) 563-0680, rebekah@womensmediacenter.com.

Coalition partners signed onto the letter to CBS include: Abortion Access Project, ACCESS/Women’s Health Rights Coalition, Women, Action & the Media, Advocates for Youth, Alternet, By Any Media Necessary, California Council of Churches IMPACT, CAMI project, Choice USA, Civil Liberties and Public Policy (CLPP)/Hampshire College, Equality Now, Feminist Majority Foundation (FMF), Feminist Press,

HollabackNYC, Ibis Reproductive Health, Law Students for Reproductive Justice, MAMAPALOOZA!, Media Equity Collaborative, Medical Students for Choice!, Ms. Foundation, New Prospect Family Praise and Worship Center, National Organization for Women (NOW), NOW-NYC, OpEd Project, Physicians for Reproductive Choice and Health, Religious Institute, RH Reality Check, Sisterhood is Global, Inc, The White House Project, Third Wave Foundation, Women, Action & the Media (WAM!), Women In Media & News, Women’s Information Network (WIN).

About the Women’s Media Center: The Women’s Media Center is a non-profit organization making women visible and powerful in the media. Its women’s health care campaign NotUnderTheBus.com is working to ensure that health care is fair, safe, and accessible to all.

Please visit WomensMediaCenter.com to learn more about our work.

###

CBS Corporation
51 West 52nd Street
New York, NY 10019

January 27, 2010

Dear Leslie Moonves:

This letter is in response to the reported CBS decision to air an anti-choice advertisement during Super Bowl XLIV, sponsored by the controversial organization Focus on the Family. As united organizations dedicated to reproductive rights, tolerance, and social justice, we urge you to immediately cancel this ad and refuse any other advertisement promoting Focus on the Family’s agenda.

CBS has a well-documented history of prohibiting advocacy ads it deems controversial, rejecting ads from organizations such as PETA, MoveOn.org, United Church of Christ, and even ones that carry only an “implicit” endorsement for a side in a public debate. Last year, NBC made the prudent decision to not air anti-choice messages during the Super Bowl. CBS executives have indicated in the past that they would not air Super Bowl ads where “substantial elements of the community (are) in opposition to one another.” Abortion is a controversial issue and anti-abortion vitriol has resulted in escalated violence against reproductive health service providers and their patients, including the murder of Dr. George Tiller during Sunday morning service at his church. We sincerely hope you do not want CBS associated with this brand of un-American hate.

Focus on the Family has waged war on non-traditional families, tried its hand at race baiting during the 2008 election, and is now attempting to use the Super Bowl to further ramp up the vitriolic rhetoric surrounding reproductive rights. By offering one of the most coveted advertising spots of the year to an anti-equality, anti-choice, homophobic organization, CBS is aligning itself with a political stance that will alienate viewers and discourage consumers from supporting its shows and advertisers. The decision to air this ad would be ethically, economically and politically disastrous for CBS. The content of this ad endangers women’s health, uses sports to divide rather than to unite, and promotes an organization that opposes the equality of Americans based on gender, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, and reproductive freedom. Focus on the Family’s ad is surrealistic in its argument that a woman who chooses not to have a child may be depriving the Super Bowl of a football player. It uses one family’s story to dictate morality to the American public, and encourages young women to disregard medical advice, putting their lives at risk.

The Super Bowl is an entertainment event that brings people together regardless of background, faith, ideology or political affiliation. Focus on the Family’s ad goes against the approximately 70% majority American view that reproductive decisions should be left up to a woman and her physician; against the decision by the U.S. Supreme Court that such decisions are protected by a constitutionally guaranteed right to privacy; and against the health needs of the 1 in 3 American women who will need an abortion at some time in her life.

Though women comprise only 9% of CBS’s board, they are a key constituency for the CBS network and 40% of Super Bowl viewers. If you contradict your policy and air this ad, you will be throwing these women under the bus. American values of privacy and freedom should be respected, not undermined during the Super Bowl. The last thing Americans need is CBS or its advertisers telling us how and when to have a family. CBS must take action now, by cancelling the airing of Focus on the Family’s ad.

Signed,

Abortion Access Project
ACCESS/Women’s Health Rights Coalition, Women, Action & the Media
Advocates for Youth
Alternet
By Any Media Necessary
California Council of Churches IMPACT
CAMI project
Choice USA
Civil Liberties and Public Policy (CLPP)/Hampshire College
Equality Now
Feminist Majority Foundation (FMF)
Feminist Press
HollabackNYC
Ibis Reproductive Health
Law Students for Reproductive Justice
MAMAPALOOZA!
Media Equity Collaborative
Medical Students for Choice!
Ms. Foundation
New Prospect Family Praise and Worship Center
National Organization for Women (NOW)
NOW-NYC
OpEd Project
Physicians for Reproductive Choice and Health
Religious Institute
RH Reality Check
Sisterhood is Global, Inc
The White House Project
Third Wave Foundation
Women, Action & the Media (WAM!)
Women In Media & News
Women’s Information Network (WIN)
Women’s Media Center

How come time seems to be going so much faster. Man oh man!
I had lunch with Billy Blanks today. I had never met him before. Billy is a former World Champ Karate, boxer, martial arts master. He made (and continues to make) workout videos called Tae Bo. We both felt we’d met kindred spirits. We are so alike! I asked him to be part of the First Annual World Fitness Day that I’m launching in the Georgia Dome May 1st. He signed on. It’s gonna be a fantastic event. More later. But Billy (who is currently living and teaching in Japan) really cares about young people. He funded a youth center at his church in downtown Los Angeles and spends a lot of his time talking to and motivating young people. He’s been to Iraq and Afghanistan on many occasions to talk to the soldiers. I am looking forward to getting to know him better but I left the lunch with tears in my eyes and a smile on my face.

I have two more days here (LA) before I go to Atlanta for a G-CAPP board retreat and to see my daughter and grandchildren. It’s been too long.

I got a number of blog comments asking the name of the fantastic cuban pianist I wrote about last time. It’s Alfredo Rodriguez and he is performing tonight in San Francisco. See the blog comments and you’ll find the name of where he’s performing.

See you next time.

I am utterly thrilled that Jeff Bridges is finally getting the kudos  he deserves. I had the great pleasure of working with Jeff in “The Morning After” and I know him socially because, like my brother, Peter, and my ex-husband, Ted Turner, Jeff as a home in Montana so we’ve seen each other in civilian life as well. He is really talented and truly a nice man. So glad this award winning role allowed him to showcase his musical talent as well as his acting. I love how he shows his emotions and surprise at being the winner…this was especially evident at the Golden Globes when he was stunned into silence at the prolonged standing ovation he received.

Yesterday, I took a break from writing my book when Carrie Fisher came over to Richard’s to see us. She and Richard have been friends since she was 17. She is just home from her 5 month triumphant Broadway run. I saw “Wishful Drinking” opening night with Richard, my son and daughter-in-law and other friends and was blown away by her performance and the way she has been able to weave the difficulties, challenges, weirdnesses, and pain of her life into an hilarious, jaw-dropping piece of theatre. She has clearly been enjoying herself. It was fun hearing how she kept her performances fresh (she would choose specific people, strangers, in the audience, talk directly to. Really talk to them. Ask them what they thought about something she’d said or done. She’d change things, emphasize some things over others on a given day. Nice when you can play around with your own creation—which you can’t do with someone else’s words. Like me, Carrie said she really was never able to do anything more than sleep and perform…no work on new projects, no visiting museums, no working out. She got a dog like my Tulea whom she named Dwight and I was sad she didn’t bring him but she promised she’d do that next time so the two of them can have a play date.  

Last night we went to Quincy Jones’ home for dinner and get together. What fun to visit with him, We’re cousins, after all. He got the Mormon group, Lineages, to do his genealogy (family tree) and, sure ‘nough, back on George Washington’s plantation our blood line crossed. Hmmm. After dinner, he invited all of us to listen to a young Cuban pianist whose talent blew everyone away. Richard said he had NEVER in his life heard such piano playing…cross styles…Cuban, symphonic, cool jazz, flamenco, you name it, he segued from style to style, weaving it all into unique composition of his own. Breathtaking!!
Now, back to writing.

See You Next Time.