Muslim Public Affairs Council honours actor Alec Baldwin.

"I'M AFRAID FOR THE WORLD" I'm afraid these people (the Republicans) are going to pull this off again in November. I can't begin to tell you what will happen if they're re-elected. But after 1 January, wait 'til you see Patriot Act 2."

These chilling words were uttered by superstar Alec Baldwin as he accepted the Muslim Public Affairs Council's (MPAC) 2004 Media Award in Los Angeles' historic Biltmore Hotel on 21 August.

Past recipients of the annual MPAC Media Award include documentary filmmaker Michael Moore, anti-war protagonist Mike Farrell of M*A*S*H, author Karen Armstrong, musician Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens) and Spike Lee, director of Malcolm X.

Baldwin was selected for his political positions on social justice, environmentalism and the Bush Administration's failures to implement sound domestic and foreign policies. The MPAC programme notes particularly commended Baldwin for chairing and moderating the first national Grassroots America Defends the Bill of Rights conference in 2003. This event urged Congress to repeal more draconian aspects of the Patriot Act which was passed into law after 9/11.

The star of Hunt for Red October, The Cooler and Glengarry Glen Ross, was introduced by Dr. Maher Hathout, spokesperson for the Islamic Centre of Southern California.

"Why are we giving this award? And why are we giving it to Alec Baldwin?" Dr. Hathout asked rhetorically. "We honour Alec Baldwin because he doesn't need to speak out, he doesn't have a personal stake in these issues that affect us. He is already successful."

The audience burst into laughter as he continued: "Alec Baldwin is white, very white, he's nice looking and he hasn't been targeted ... up until now."

Rather, Hathout reasoned, the actor has chosen to speak out because "what matters to him is America the beautiful, not America the land of zombies".

Two giant screens showed the fearless actor on Bill Maher's now defunct Politically Incorrect TV show as he challenged Muslim-baiter Daniel Pipes and debated rightwing Fox News anchor Bill O'Reilly.

Addressing an audience of more than 500 rapt listeners, Baldwin recalled how O'Reilly had asked if his outspoken liberalism hurt his acting career.

"It was only later, as I was driving home, that I realised I should have told O'Reilly my political stance hasn't affected my career anymore than O'Reilly's polemics have hurt his professional image," Baldwin stated.

"O'Reilly has a quick mind and a keen sense of humour, but he's unlikely to win a Peabody Award or a Pulitzer Prize because of the political path he has chosen which, among other things, demonises dissidents."

Baldwin initially dreamed of studying law and attended George Washington University before matriculating to New York University where he received a degree in drama. His predilection for politics was evidenced in his observation that George W. Bush envisions the US as a white, right-wing Christian nation in which some Americans deserve fewer rights.

"Ronald Reagan wanted to push the clock back to the 1950s," Baldwin said, "but George Bush wants to push it back to 1750."

The film star commented that the people occupying the White House are by no means a self-critical group. "If you criticise them, they'll hit back and call you a terrorist or a terrorist sympathiser."

Baldwin explained his father was a high school civics teacher who had no money and six children to support. "If we wanted to connect with my father, we had to talk politics with him."

The elder Baldwin instilled in his children the philosophy of making the world a better place and eschewed the attitude, "I've got mine so screw you".

Baldwin warned the roomful of Muslims that until the next wave of immigrants comes ashore, "you are the newest arrivals".

"How will you respond in this post 9/11 world? Some would advise that to prove your Americanism, you keep your mouth shut about the wars in the Middle East. The most American thing you can do is to criticise your government if you believe it is behaving badly.

"The US is currently ruled by people who think the US is right no matter what it does. I believe the greatness of the US is in direct proportion to what it does."

Furthermore he opined that George W. Bush wasn't elected so much as selected by live Supreme Court judges who voted along party lines. He pledged to raise as much money as possible to ensure "this Bush winds up like the last Bush, a one-term president".

In closing, Baldwin confessed he is obsessed with the truth and it is the truth his organisation, People for the American Way, is seeking in Florida where it is demanding a paper trail for ballots cast in the forthcoming election.

Who knows? Maybe the name Alec Baldwin will be on the Democratic ticket one of these election years in the near future.