Stars reach out to victims

LOS ANGELES, SEPT. 22 Pop superstars Bruce Springsteen and Stevie Wonder joined actors Tom Hanks and George Clooney yesterday in opening an internationally televised pledge drive benefiting victims of last week's attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon.

The unprecedented commercial-free simulcast, dubbed ``America: A tribute to heroes,'' was carried on at least 31 U.S. broadcast and cable networks and beamed to 156 countries around the globe. Dozens of stars from the movie, television and music industries took part in the emotional event, providing entertainment and helping answer phones and take pledges from viewers. Springsteen opened the two-hour show playing acoustic guitar and harmonica and singing, ``My city's in ruin...come on, rise up.'' ``With these hands, I pray for the strength, lord, I pray for the faith, lord, pray for your love, lord. Pray for the loss, lord,'' the New Jersey-born troubadour sang. Hanks said he and his fellow entertainers were joining to ``raise spirits and hopefully a lot of money,'' then paid tribute to the doomed airline passengers who were believed to have rushed the hijackers on their flight, causing the plane to crash in rural Pennsylvania. They are credited with keeping the hijackers from crashing the plane into the nation's capital. ``They likely saved our world from an even darker day, and more unthinkable horror,'' Hanks said. He was followed by musical performances by Stevie Wonder, U2 and Faith Hill, Tom Petty and others. Actor George Clooney urged viewers to call the toll-free pledge line, 1-866-unite, which was staffed by such stars as Jack Nicholson, Cuba Gooding Jr., Whoopi Goldberg, and Adam Sandler.

Actor Will Smith appeared with former heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali, who introduced himself as a Muslim. ``I'M a Muslim. I'Ve been a Muslim for 20 years. I want the world to know the truth about Islam,'' he said in a halting voice. ``I wouldn't be here to represent Islam if it were the way the terrorists made it look...Islam is for peace.'' Smith portrays Ali, who has Parkinson's disease, in an upcoming movie. Other musical guests on the performance roster were Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, Neil Young, Wyclef Jean, the Dixie Chicks, Billy Joel, Willie Nelson, Sheryl Crow, Paul Simon, Enrique Iglesias, Limp Bizkit and Sting. Other actors who took part included Jim Carrey, Tom Cruise, Cameron Diaz, Robert De Niro, Clint Eastwood, Calista Flockhart, Julia Roberts and Robin Williams. The show was simulcast by all seven commercial U.S. broadcast networks - ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, WB, UPN and PAX - in an unprecedented collaborative effort among media outlets that typically compete for viewers.

- Reuters

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