After over 50 years as a member of Equity, Maureen Lipman has cancelled her membership Actors are always being asked to speak. Sometimes there is a well-honed script, often there is not. But we are well-practised in the art of words and the power of their meaning. We know when to project and when to stay silent. We understand better than most that the pen is mightier than the sword. We live it. That’s why it was so very troubling this week to hear our union chiefs, Equity president Maureen Beattie and general secretary-elect Paul Fleming, wield that gift in such a reckless, dangerous way. The pair used their position to urge Equity members via Twitter to join a march, held last Saturday, in which Stop The War and Palestine Solidarity Campaign demonstrated against Israeli actions in the Middle East.