Photo credit: Janet Donovan
The preamble to the Constitution of 1789 states that: “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”
The Atlantic’s “We The People” series, underwritten by the American Federation of Teachers, hosted actress, activist Kathleen Turner at their Watergate office building in time to remind us that November 8th is the people’s day. The discussion was moderated by Steve Clemons, editor-at-large of The Atlantic and editor-in-chief of AtlanticLIVE, the magazine’s live events series.
“Are you an activist that just happens to act or are you an actress that found activism?” Clemons asked Turner as the opening question. “Certainly the activism preceded the celebrity. My father was a foreign service officer and I grew up in a tradition that basically we do serve.”
Steve Clemons and Kathleen Turner
From George Clooney to Bono to Angelina Jolie; from “Ronald Reagan using his acting career to jump into politics to Leonardo DiCaprio’s appointment as a UN Messenger of Peace on Climate Change, celebrities and our political system have a long relationship. They can draw crucial attention and funds toward key issues, and act as highly effective surrogates for candidates. With this election season highlighting just how invaluable a celebrity’s media savvy can be, Turner discussed her own activism and her thoughts on the role of celebrities in our political system.” Introduction
The Atlantic entertained the notion of “Civitas.” By way of explanation, the definition of civitas in ancient Rome was the social contract that bound citizens together.
Steve Clemons and Kathleen Turner on “We the People”
