Last Sunday, February 22nd, I watched the 87th Academy Awards with millions of other viewers across the world. It was nearly over with only one award left to be given, the Oscar for Best Picture. Actor Sean Penn was brought out as the Presenter and he quickly opened the envelope! He then stated, “Who gave this son of a bitch his green card?” as he presented Mexican Director Alejandro Gonzalez Iñarritu the Oscar for Best Picture for “Birdman.”
Iñarritu got the last word by dedicating the Oscar to his fellow Mexicans! In the last line of his acceptance speech he stated, “I just pray they (immigrants) can be treated with the same dignity and respect of the ones that came before and built this incredible, immigrant nation.”
The “Birdman” director later told reporters about Penn’s joke, “I found it hilarious. Sean and I have that kind of brutal relationship where only true friendship can survive.” I will say one thing about Penn’s off color joke; at least it got us to think about how immigration affects all of us!”