Q: What is your opinion of the Oscar boycott? — Randi, Las Vegas, Nevada

A: I knew that question was coming. I thought of dodging it. The answer is not going to make me very popular, but popularity is not one of my attributes; speaking my mind is (which may explain why I'm not very popular).

First off, let me say that I believe in protests. I peacefully protested the Vietnam War. I was at Kent State when students were killed and maimed. Thanks to sit-ins in colleges across America, the war ended. Protests brought about civil rights.

I also believe in boycotts. Years ago, Cesar Chavez led a boycott. He asked consumers not to buy lettuce or grapes until those who harvested those products were given a decent wage. That also worked. It worked because iceberg lettuce and purple grapes rotted on store shelves.

I too believe that the folks who decide the Oscars are a lot of old fogies who are whiter than white bread and fairly out of touch. Last year was proof when "Selma," an amazing story about the fight for civil rights, got nada nominations. A criminal oversight.

With that said, I think the boycotts of the Oscars are a mistake.

Why? Because not being somewhere is not a good idea (unless we are talking about your ex-boyfriend's wedding, chicken fights or hot dog eating contests).

Years ago Marlon Brando did not attend the Oscars the year he won. He did it to protest the poor treatment of the American Indians in this country. He sent Sacheen Littlefeather to accept by proxy. How many people recall that? It would have been much better if Brando had showed up and talked about the horrific way we treated a people whose land we overtook.

If the African-American actors who are sitting out this year stood up, viewers would notice the discrimination in the nomination process. Seeing Will Smith on the stage presenting would make people recall his splendid acting in "Concussion." They would ask, "How was he overlooked?" When he was out of the country his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, decided to boycott. When he returned to the states he also said he was opting out.

If black actors and actresses showed up in full force, there would be a pink elephant in the room. No one would be able to ignore or deny that the snubs were bizarre. Alas, there will not be an elephant in the room, because simply not being there does not make for pink elephants. It makes for an empty room.

Fans asked Chris Rock, this year's host, to step down in solidarity. Thankfully, he did not. Rock, who never shies away from speaking his mind, will have a platter of things to attack — and nothing beats attacking with humor.

My great-aunt Esther was a suffragette. Because she and others marched, protested and clamored for the women's vote, I get to vote. If her ilk decided to protest by not cooking for their husbands, I would be putting a pot roast in the oven, watching men make stupid voting choices.

To find out more about Lynda Hirsch and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate web page at www.creators.com.

Photo credit: Robert Couse-Baker