DroppinScience
11-13-2004, 04:42 AM
Oh please. (n)
For one thing, I don't get why people get so threatened by (in this case famous) people exercising their freedom of speech. Y'know, sometimes I'd like to hear celebs talking about things that MATTER rather than hearing about who they're dating, what they're wearing and all other vapid empty-headed tripe. If that's what you'd prefer, then go ahead and watch Friends, Big Brother and Survivor.
Next thing, politics and the arts have been attached by the hip pretty much since the two were formed. Why people think they must be separated is also equally stupid. Would you much rather have had Bob Marley NOT speak his mind, NOT speak out on the injustices that were going on in his nation (Jamaica)? Here was a man who got the two warring political parties of Jamaica to actually stand in the same room and hold hands. But what business do artists have getting into politics? Marley should've just lit up his spliff and not deal with politics, right? :rolleyes:
Would you prefer that John Steinbeck NOT address the Great Depression in "Of Mice and Men" and "The Grapes of Wrath"? Or how about Ernest Hemingway and the Spanish Civil War in "For Whom The Bell Tolls"?
And far be it for Ray Charles to take a stand and refuse to play to segregated audiences in the South, even if as a result, he got banned from playing Georgia for quite a few years. Another artist sticking his nose in places he doesn't belong. :rolleyes:
Obviously, I fully recognize that everything has its appropriate place and that music or movies are around to entertain and provide escapism, etc. But by the same token, the arts are also around to engage the audience, make them think. The arts is about expressing yourselves and politics can certainly come into play. And if somebody wants to mix politics with their entertainment, who are you to stand in their way?
Are there artists who are just plain annoying when it comes to sounding off their views? Absolutely. Britney Spears, Madonna and others can get plenty annoying. But for every Britney, there's also many Bonos, who are dedicated to helping the world be a better place.
Overall, every famous person differs from case to case on how qualified (or unqualified) they are to sound off on current events, but we can't silence them all, or silence the ones we don't like hearing (nor should we, of course).
As for athletes not being "pushy" about their political views... I find that a totally different kettle of fish. The sporting world is not typically an intellectual field and sports and politics are not really compatible enough to be mixed. These guys throw balls into baskets, hit baseballs, skate with hockey sticks, etc. Them sounding off on universal health care, the Iraq war, etc. doesn't really come into play since we're only interested in them exerting their physical prowess. But not that I'd really object if Michael Jordan wants to talk politics or something. Just saying the two aren't as easily meshed.
And it's not just liberal celebs who can sound off about politics, I welcome Bruce Willis and... hell, even Mel Gibson (the dude's getting way too evangelical these days) to yammer on about their love of Bush. ;)
American
11-13-2004, 12:04 PM
Oh please. (n)
For one thing, I don't get why people get so threatened by (in this case famous) people exercising their freedom of speech. Y'know, sometimes I'd like to hear celebs talking about things that MATTER rather than hearing about who they're dating, what they're wearing and all other vapid empty-headed tripe. If that's what you'd prefer, then go ahead and watch Friends, Big Brother and Survivor.
Next thing, politics and the arts have been attached by the hip pretty much since the two were formed. Why people think they must be separated is also equally stupid. Would you much rather have had Bob Marley NOT speak his mind, NOT speak out on the injustices that were going on in his nation (Jamaica)? Here was a man who got the two warring political parties of Jamaica to actually stand in the same room and hold hands. But what business do artists have getting into politics? Marley should've just lit up his spliff and not deal with politics, right? :rolleyes:
Would you prefer that John Steinbeck NOT address the Great Depression in "Of Mice and Men" and "The Grapes of Wrath"? Or how about Ernest Hemingway and the Spanish Civil War in "For Whom The Bell Tolls"?
And far be it for Ray Charles to take a stand and refuse to play to segregated audiences in the South, even if as a result, he got banned from playing Georgia for quite a few years. Another artist sticking his nose in places he doesn't belong. :rolleyes:
Obviously, I fully recognize that everything has its appropriate place and that music or movies are around to entertain and provide escapism, etc. But by the same token, the arts are also around to engage the audience, make them think. The arts is about expressing yourselves and politics can certainly come into play. And if somebody wants to mix politics with their entertainment, who are you to stand in their way?
Are there artists who are just plain annoying when it comes to sounding off their views? Absolutely. Britney Spears, Madonna and others can get plenty annoying. But for every Britney, there's also many Bonos, who are dedicated to helping the world be a better place.
Overall, every famous person differs from case to case on how qualified (or unqualified) they are to sound off on current events, but we can't silence them all, or silence the ones we don't like hearing (nor should we, of course).
As for athletes not being "pushy" about their political views... I find that a totally different kettle of fish. The sporting world is not typically an intellectual field and sports and politics are not really compatible enough to be mixed. These guys throw balls into baskets, hit baseballs, skate with hockey sticks, etc. Them sounding off on universal health care, the Iraq war, etc. doesn't really come into play since we're only interested in them exerting their physical prowess. But not that I'd really object if Michael Jordan wants to talk politics or something. Just saying the two aren't as easily meshed.
And it's not just liberal celebs who can sound off about politics, I welcome Bruce Willis and... hell, even Mel Gibson (the dude's getting way too evangelical these days) to yammer on about their love of Bush. ;)
Good answer. I think that you covered all bases.
American
11-13-2004, 11:55 PM
You know the thing that just gets my shackles up is when a fucking journeyman plumber starts spouting off about politics at the Home Depot. They shouldn't have the right. Just because they can swing a stilson and thread some schedule 80 black iron...doesn't mean they know shit about the political process. Shut the FUCK UP journeyman Plumbers!
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FUCKIN HIlarious!!!!!!!!
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