{"id":23571,"date":"2024-07-26T09:46:10","date_gmt":"2024-07-26T13:46:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/news\/?p=23571"},"modified":"2024-07-26T09:46:10","modified_gmt":"2024-07-26T13:46:10","slug":"dennis-quaid-shares-plea-to-america-amid-chaotic-political-scene-we-need-each-other","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/news\/2024\/07\/dennis-quaid-shares-plea-to-america-amid-chaotic-political-scene-we-need-each-other","title":{"rendered":"Dennis Quaid Shares Plea to America Amid Chaotic Political Scene: ‘We Need Each Other’"},"content":{"rendered":"

 <\/p>\n

\"dennis<\/a>
CBN News\/YouTube<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

When celebrated actor Dennis Quaid analyzes today\u2019s complex political landscape, he sees a situation reminiscent of America\u2019s troubles in the late 1970s and early 1980s. He told CBN News, \u201cThe times are very much like they were back in the late 70s, before [Ronald] Reagan came to office in 1980. [With] Iran, we had the hostages, the Soviet Union \u2026 to buy a house, interest rates were 20 percent.\u201d\u00a0 He continued, \u201cThere was this feeling of malaise in the country like we were a declining nation, that \u2026 we had a weak president.\u201d<\/p>\n

Quaid said he voted for former President Jimmy Carter and had \u201cgreat respect\u201d for his efforts to promote Middle East peace. Still, despite seeing him as a \u201creally good man,\u201d the actor said the appeasement that went on with the Soviet Union was unhelpful, inciting forces to take advantage of the U.S. According to Quaid, Reagan, who defeated Carter in 1980, projected strength. He believes that power was helpful in accomplishing a great deal. Quaid has a high level of insight into the matter, too, as he portrays the late President Reagan in the new feature film, \u201cReagan,\u201d releasing nationwide on Aug. 30, 2024.<\/p>\n

Quaid said, \u201cI was offered this movie six years ago \u2026 and I did not say, \u2018Yes,\u2019 at first because, to tell you the truth, it kind of scared me to death. Reagan is like Muhammad Ali, one of the most recognizable people in the world. He was my favorite president. I voted for him.\u201d The complexity of playing such a known individual \u2014 someone with whom the public has both memory and reverence \u2014 is tough. But Quaid eventually capitulated and took the role. \u201cThis fear went down my spine, and usually that fear is a sign that I should \u2026 get out of my comfort zone,\u201d he said. \u201cI had two years to really prepare for the role.\u201d<\/p>\n