What do you think of the open letter sent to Sean Penn by Cuban born actress María Conchita Alonso regarding Hugo Chávez?

Fantastic, Sean Penn is a terrific actor, but he falls into the same trap that a lot of celebrity blow-hards fall into - he thinks that his acting skill applies to all of the things that he does; a kind of naive, narcissistic overreaching. Consider the claims about money raised by Bob Geldof's Band Aid and Live Aid as a good example. S concerts aimed to raise money help starving Ethiopian people and likely went to funding arms purchases.

While the claims are being vigorously contested, it doesn't take much stretching of one's imagination to see that such an event is not only possible, but likely. I spent the best part of two decades in a third-world country and confidently tell you that such occurrences are the rule, not the exception. The trouble with Sean Penn is that he has met a bunch of people and probably read a lot of books, but he does not have a formal education in the topics that he is interested in and he doesn't have the real world experience.

María Conchita Alonso was born in Cuba and has the real world experience that gives a person depth of understanding in these issues. Presumably her family members with come from opposite ends of Sean Penn's political spectrum, but their experiences are also very real. She seems well-versed on the massive social issues facing Latin America: put her in a debate against Mr. Penn and she would not only defeat him, she would utterly destroy him.

I don't know what her educational background is, but her position is the educated one - presumably she has devoted a good amount of her 52 years on the planet to learning. Alonso's writing style is also very compelling. It is not only interesting to read her letter, but it is easy to follow her argument.

She says what needs to be said and nothing more; and what she does say, she says well. It is easy to stand from the outside and admire the works of strongmen like Chavez and Castro, but the view from within is often a lot more bleak. Alonso captures that beautifully in her letter and makes Sean Penn appear not just misguided, but ignorant as well.

But remember that she does have a political alignment and that her views, however well-expressed, have a political agenda. In her own words: ---quote--- As a Latina and a new American citizen, I believe in this country and its people, and I believe that we need more than just "change. " We need a leader who can bring about the right kind of change, and John McCain has the experience and judgment necessary to lead us in these uncertain times.

I grew up in Cuba and Venezuela, and I am appalled that Barack Obama apparently wants to emulate the "spread the wealth" economic policies of those countries and negotiate with their leaders. ---end quote--- Pictured below, Ms. Alonso and some of the television pundits that have hosted her.

I thought it was terrific! I also think Jason should consider getting her for spokesperson for Mahalo answers.It's how we normally answer non-opinion questions right here on the island. Well done, Maria.

Well done. Cheers!

She sounds pretty articulate, well spoken, this is a very well thought out response. Sean Penn sounds like a radical, nut job in his BLIND support of the dictator Chavez. Maybe we should round up people of like convictions, Penn, Chavez, Castro, the guy from Iran Ackmadinjhad, and put them on their own island somewhere in the middle of nowhere, and see how many "loyal" followers, join them.

I bet, not too many would make the trip. Funny that his comments said that anyone who didn't believe should be put in jail! How ironic!

Chavez and him sound like birds of a feather. Stick to acting Sean, love your movies, in spite of your jaded political views.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.