Oscars are about film and free speech
Tim Smith of Fresno in his letter, “Why then accept the Oscar?” (March 8), states that the Iranian filmmaker who boycotted the Oscars due to the travel ban should have refused his Oscar.
Asghar Farhadi was one of many who used the Oscars as a platform to take a political stance. In that case, should all actors, actresses, filmmakers and anyone in the film industry who took a political stance at the Oscars be expected to refuse their awards? Why single out Mr. Farhadi?
Filmmaking is an art form where you can freely express your views. To expect an artist not to use the Oscars to express his views is ludicrous.
Cristina Gonzalez, Fresno
This story was originally published March 13, 2017 at 5:55 PM with the headline "Oscars are about film and free speech."