Like the Dixie Chicks, Tony-award winning actress Sandy Duncan is a native of Texas and has serious concerns about fellow Texan President Bush and his decision to go to war.

Duncan wishes America had someone "really, really smart" as president, and someone more "globally aware."

The Dixie Chicks' lead singer Natalie Maines brought the group nothing but trouble when she told a London audience this past week that the country music group was "ashamed the president of the United States is from Texas." Because of that statement, for which Maines later apologized, the "Chicks" are being boycotted by radio stations.

The South Carolina House of Representatives on Wednesday approved a resolution calling on the group to perform free for South Carolina troops as an apology.

It's Duncan, however, who will be in Columbia performing before South Carolinians.

A Broadway and television star since the '60s, Duncan will appear in "Sandy Duncan Celebrates Broadway" on April 1 at the Koger Center in Columbia.

In a telephone interview from New York about her appearance, Duncan didn't shy away from expressing opinion about war and world politics:

"I tend to be more of a liberal, and at this point in global history, war is just not a feasible option. I just wish men would quit thinking they could just duke it out with each other.

"I don't have all the facts, and who knows what's really the truth, but I don't really respect his (Bush's) way of dealing with this situation. It would have been great to have someone really, really smart in that office, and someone who is globally aware.

"Maybe there are some facts that we don't know -- or are we being manipulated by some factors other than those they have told us about?"

Duncan doesn't have a lot of trust in the media either.

"I don't think we're told the truth," she said. "There's so much rearranging of the words. They're not reporting anymore; they just rearrange the words of what was said before."

For example, Duncan said, when President Bush spoke Monday night, the newscasters who followed his speech merely repeated what he said in different words, to be followed by the radio and the newspapers repeating the same thing. Also, she feels, the news media are constantly putting a spin on a subject, stirring up controversy where there was none.

Born and raised in Texas, Duncan made her theatrical debut at age 12 in a Dallas production of "The King and I." She began her New York stage career with "Carousel" at the New York City Center and was nominated for three Tony awards for Broadway hits and two Emmy awards for television performances.

With fellow actors, she is very active in her work for Broadway Cares and The Phyllis Newman Women's Health Initiative, both of which are involved in seeking a cure for AIDS.

T&D Feature Editor Nancy Wooten can be reached at nwooten@timesanddemocrat.com and by calling 803-533-5540.

You must be logged in to comment.