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Stars Earn Stripes reality show glorifies war, say Nobel peace laureates Stars Earn Stripes reality show glorifies war, say Nobel peace laureates
(40 minutes later)
Nine Nobel peace prize winners have written an open letter condemning a US reality TV series that they say treats military manouvres like athletic events. Nine Nobel peace prize-winners have written an open letter condemning a US reality TV series that they say treats military manoeuvres like athletic events.
Archbishop Desmond Tutu and the other Nobel laureates protest in the letter that the show, Stars Earn Stripes, glorifies war and armed violence.Archbishop Desmond Tutu and the other Nobel laureates protest in the letter that the show, Stars Earn Stripes, glorifies war and armed violence.
The series, which premiered on NBC on Monday night, pairs celebrities with US military personnel for simulated military challenges. Celebrity participants include boxing champion Laila Ali, Superman actor Dean Cain, Olympic skiing gold medallist Picabo Street and Todd Palin, the husband of former Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin.The series, which premiered on NBC on Monday night, pairs celebrities with US military personnel for simulated military challenges. Celebrity participants include boxing champion Laila Ali, Superman actor Dean Cain, Olympic skiing gold medallist Picabo Street and Todd Palin, the husband of former Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin.
The programme is hosted by retired Army General Wesley Clark. The programme is hosted by retired army general Wesley Clark.
"I'm doing this series for one reason," says Clark at the beginning of the show, "to introduce you, the American people, to the individuals that sacrifice so much for all of us." "I'm doing this series for one reason," says Clark at the beginning of the show, "to introduce you, the American people, to the individuals that sacrifice so much for all of us".
The series is billed on its website as a "fast-paced competition" whose contestants "will gather at a remote training facility where they will be challenged to execute complicated missions inspired by real military exercises".The series is billed on its website as a "fast-paced competition" whose contestants "will gather at a remote training facility where they will be challenged to execute complicated missions inspired by real military exercises".
Stars Earn Stripes says it "pays homage to the men and women who serve in the US armed forces and our first-responder services".Stars Earn Stripes says it "pays homage to the men and women who serve in the US armed forces and our first-responder services".
The letter, sent on Monday to Clark, NBC boss Robert Greenblatt, producer Mark Burnett and others connected with the show, argues "this programme pays homage to no one anywhere" and criticises it for "trying to somehow sanitise war by likening it to an athletic competition".The letter, sent on Monday to Clark, NBC boss Robert Greenblatt, producer Mark Burnett and others connected with the show, argues "this programme pays homage to no one anywhere" and criticises it for "trying to somehow sanitise war by likening it to an athletic competition".
The letter calls for NBC to stop airing the series. The letter calls on NBC to stop airing the series.
NBC defended the show, saying it wasn't "a glorification of war, but a glorification of service". The broadcaster defended the show, saying it wasn't "a glorification of war, but a glorification of service".
Besides Tutu, the Nobel Peace laureates who signed the letter include American anti-landmine campaigner Jody Williams, Mairead Maguire and Betty Williams of Northern Ireland, Iranian human rights lawyer Shirin Ebadi, the former East Timor president José Ramos-Horta, Adolfo Pérez Esquivel and Rigoberta Menchú of Argentina, and the former Costa Rican president Óscar Arias Sánchez.Besides Tutu, the Nobel Peace laureates who signed the letter include American anti-landmine campaigner Jody Williams, Mairead Maguire and Betty Williams of Northern Ireland, Iranian human rights lawyer Shirin Ebadi, the former East Timor president José Ramos-Horta, Adolfo Pérez Esquivel and Rigoberta Menchú of Argentina, and the former Costa Rican president Óscar Arias Sánchez.
The Nobel laureates declared their support for a protest against the show that took place on Monday afternoon outside NBC's Rockefeller Centre headquarters in Manhattan.The Nobel laureates declared their support for a protest against the show that took place on Monday afternoon outside NBC's Rockefeller Centre headquarters in Manhattan.