Snapshots of Opinions
WHILE Benedict was filming series three of Sherlock last August, he did something a little out of the ordinary.
Clearly unhappy with press photographers lurking on set trying to get clues as to the plot direction of the series, and perhaps inspired somewhat by the filming and release of The Fifth Estate at the same time, Benedict held up messages about political issues.
His first message was direct and to the point :
“Go photograph Egypt and show the world something important.”
On a personal level I was absolutely delighted Benedict had focussed on the situation in Egypt. I have many friends in the country and the media’s portrayal of what is going on there is far different from everyday life in the likes of Port Said and Cairo. There are so many more terrifying tales to be told.
The response in the world media was very positive, some websites calling the message “awesome”. There was one site criticising it, saying many photographers were already documenting the situation and hardships in Egypt and that the comment was unnecessary. However, how many of us have seen their work?
Just a few days later, he had another message. This time a longer one, written on several pieces of paper, appearing to relate to the arrest of David Miranda, the partner of a Guardian journalist who had been covering the story on Edward Snowden.
He said: “Questions we have a right to ask in a democracy – [David] Cameron, Theresa May, GCHQ, teachers, parents, each other… Hard drives smashed, journalists detained at airports. Democracy? Schedule 7 Prior restraint – is this erosion of civil liberties winning the war on terror? What do they not want you to know? And how did they get to know it? Does the exposure of their techniques cause a threat to our security or does it just cause them embarrassment?”
Benedict clearly felt strongly enough about this to go to the effort of writing it out, for the press and waiting crowds to see. He confirmed this later in an interview with the New York Times:
“These are very complex questions and very difficult arguments to be very clear about, so to ask the questions is to stimulate the debate. I felt really strongly about it at the time.”
In my opinion, he is within his rights to speak his mind about issues which concern him. Just because he is in the public eye does not mean he should have to shy away from having a considered view on current affairs.
In addition, it is easy to discuss the day’s news over a few drinks at the pub, or over dinner at home, but it’s a braver move to put those thoughts on paper and broadcast them to the world, taking the risk that your audience may not share those views.
Yet another reason why I have profound respect for Benedict. And, for what it’s worth, I wholeheartedly agree with him.
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