President Bartlet hit the picket line.
Sheen began his speech explaining that he’s been a member of SAG and AFTRA since 1961.
“That was the same year I got married,” the actor said.
Richard Schiff, Martin Sheen, Bradley Whitford, Dulé hill, and Allison Janney of ‘The West Wing’ at the SAG-AFTRA strike.David Livingston/Getty
“Clearly I have a fondness for unions.”
Sheen went on to pay tribute toThe West Wingand joke about his character’s cultural importance.
Sheen continued with a short parable.
Richard Schiff, Aaron Sorkin, Bradley Whitford, Dulé Hill, and other members of ‘The West Wing’ team at the SAG-AFTRA strike.Michael Buckner/Deadline via Getty
Just show us your scars,'" the actor said.
“The man says, ‘I have no scars.’
St. Peter says ‘What a pity.
The cast and crew of ‘The West Wing’ at the SAG-AFTRA strike.Michael Buckner/Deadline via Getty
Was there nothing worth fighting for?'”
“If this were not so, we would be left to question its value.
The studios are always seeing what is and asking why.
Let us continue to dream things that never were and say ‘why not?’
Sheen closed his remarks with a prayer from poet Rabindranath Tagore.
Where words come out from the depths of truth, and tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection.
Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way into the dreary desert sands of dead habit.
Let our country awake.”
