I don't understand the anger that celebrity political views garner. People are infuriated by Matt Damon's comments on Sarah Palin (read the comments under the video, on the original page - they'll make your hair curl with the vitriol).
Why isn't a celebrity allowed to express his or her opinion on politics? Why do they need to stay out of it? Aren't they citizens of this country, just like the rest of us? Why do people feel the need to claim that they should shut up and just act, not spout off?
We spout off, no matter what side of the political blanket we're on. We go on about one candidate or another, one cause or another. Why is it verboten for a celebrity to do the same?
If you don't like what they have to say, don't listen. If you don't agree with them, say so. Why hurl epithets and derision? It doesn't get us anywhere.
In my years of being a political animal, I've been able to have reasoned, rational conversations with people who don't think the way I think. I have not felt the need to hurl insults or call names. I can come up with many ways to say why I think they're wrong and none of those ways insult the other person in the slightest.
So why do we hold celebrities to a different standard? Why aren't they allowed to express their opinions too? I don't understand why this is such a horrible thing, I really don't.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
8 comments:
Believe it or not I agree with you. Just because they are celebrity and their word is heard louder than yours and mine why stifle them?
That being said what happen to common curtosiy for others. Why can’t the candidates and their supporters run on their positives? Tell me what you stand for and will do. Not what is wrong with you opponent.
In the ideal world, the candidates would run on their issues, not personally bash the opposition of course. But, obviously, that's not likely to happen. Every day NOT talking about the issues a victory for McCain draws closer.
I don't care if you're an unemployed auto worker or a multi-million dollar actor, you have the right to speak your mind. To borrow what I heard a very right-wing conservative, McCain loving friend said. "It's only his opinion" (That friend wasn't talking about Damon - rather about McCain's bashing of Obama)
Yes! I get particularly sputtery about celebrities who are famous because of actual talent expressing their politics, like Bruce, to cite an example we can both relate to :)
If I had a dollar for every goober who is just now figuring out that Bruce is a leftie and says Bruce should shut up and sing... Maaan. In many societies, the artists are often the dissidents calling the government out on its corrupt practices. Solzhenitsyn, anyone?
As what has been said by others, yes they are allowed to have their voice as long as they understand that it is a "large voice". They get personally attacked because they started it. Personally attacking is not how politics should be. Unfortuntely, that is how politics are.
Matt should have focused on his beliefs and how they align with his candidate and not attack the opposition.
Again, this I believe will come down to the lesser of two evils...
actors should stick to acting
Amen. Besides, there are GOP actors and singers (although they're not nearly as cool as the Dem ones, heh), and what if they decide to voice their opinion? It's only when a celebrity supports a Democrat that they're told to shut up.
This is really a challenge for me. I am a huge Dixie Chicks fan but am also a Republican. As you know, this is a difficult mix.
At the last concert I went to of theirs, they were in the middle of Orange County, CA (very, very Republican). Natalie says, "So we've been in the news a lot lately..." and the audience begins to boo. They turn the house lights up and let us boo for a while and Natalie says that just as it was her right to say what she said, it was ours to express ourselves that night.
If I am allowed to have free speech I guess celebrities should be too. I just wish their voice wasn't louder than mine.
TOTALLY agree - free speech is free speech. People need to realize that you don't have to listen, and you don't have to get mad at anyone who speaks...it's wrong to say that Matt Damon is not allowed to speak just because of who he is.
Post a Comment