Today on the Cinema Blend forums a row erupted over Matt Damon making criticisms of Vice-Presidential candidate Sarah Palin. Many argued that his viewpoint is irrelevant, or at least no more relevant or informed than yours or mine. Hollywood actors have a long and time-honored tradition of spouting off idiotic things on causes and politics they know nothing about. Today at the Toronto Film Festival, that tradition was compounded by Fifty Dead Men Walking star Rose McGowan after she said that “her heart just broke for the cause” of the group of terrorists portrayed in the movie she is currently starring in and would have imagined herself signing up. Fifty Dead Men Walking is inspired by the autobiography of Martin McGartland, a man hired by Unionists to infiltrate, and act as an informant against, the IRA in late 80s Belfast.

Lets get one thing straight, many of the UK's most educated people don't understand the depths and complexity of The Troubles in Northern Ireland and the ensuing wave of terrorism under the IRA. I barely grasp it myself, however I lived close enough to know about the murder, torture, death and destruction of the IRA's “cause”. Noble intent only covers you so far. The fact is the IRA were a recognized terrorist organization which, for many years, rode on the back of a genuine political movement for Irish independence. The idea of McGowan trying to reduce it down to a “awww poor wee put-upon oirish lads” who should be sympathized with is idiocy. Rightfully, a royal (if you'll excuse the pun) shitstorm has kicked off in the UK & Ireland. Countless men, women and children were brutally tortured and murdered for this “noble cause” with which McGowan claims to so easily identify.

McGartlin, who still lives in hiding and has distanced himself from the film said, "Rose McGowan's comments were insulting to victims of IRA terrorism and she should apologize. It's easy to say this sort of thing when you live in LA."

William Frazer of victims' group Fair said she had "blurred the fiction of her film with the cold bloody reality of life here"

. McGowan, an Italian American who has lived in LA for 20 years also said she found the sight of Union Jacks, "so deeply offensive." It is one thing for an actor to comment on their opinion of their own political system of which they are part of and which affects them. Perhaps an education beyond proof-reading a script before making such disingenuous, sweeping and reductive statements about a time of violence and political unrest in another unfamiliar country would help some of these others from planting their feet in their mouths the minute they decided to impart their wisdom on things they clearly know nothing about. Perhaps the IRA consultants they used for the movie painted too rosy a picture of life as a terrorist. Perhaps McGowan found the deliberately cautious, measured answers of the other actors and director at the press conference too boring and wanted to liven up proceedings. Who knows?

But here's a rather poignant parting thought on this day of all days Ms McGowan. Would you make such a comment about the 9/11 hijackers if you were doing a movie on Al-Qaeda instead?