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Post by Benji Duncan on Apr 18, 2008 7:53:14 GMT -5
I don't get for the life of me why people have such a problem with celebrities expressing their political views. For one thing, studies show that it has very little impact or influence with the public and who they vote for or what stances they support. Secondly, I still think it is valuable for what it does influence. With celebrity comes a responsibility to set an example for the public of a good citizen. A good citizen is outspoken about his/her beliefs.
"Shut your mouth and leave the conversation to the pundits and politicians" is a poor example to set for the public. Is that what we think citizens should do? No, I would hope we think citizens should express their opinions. Celebrities should model that behavior.
It seems to me when people complain about celebrities getting involved in politics they're really implying that ordinary citizens also should not voice their opinions. If a person does not have a press-pass or is not elected that person should just shut up? Not very in keeping with democratic ideals if you ask me.
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Gingy
Full Member
me and my Dad
Posts: 125
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Post by Gingy on Apr 30, 2008 22:35:13 GMT -5
funny how the republicans seem so anti hollywood. yet they have a few top hollywoodsters thenselves...ronald reagan, and arnold.
i agree they are citizens. i guess it depends who the celebrity likes.
when people coimplain,...it is just meaningless sour grapes...that is what i think.
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Post by Benji Duncan on May 1, 2008 0:39:24 GMT -5
You're right Gingy. If someone doesn't like what someone else says, they can argue against what they said. But no one should say others shouldn't express opinions in the first place as a deflection from the fact that someone may have nothing intelligent to offer as a response.
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Gingy
Full Member
me and my Dad
Posts: 125
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Post by Gingy on May 2, 2008 16:45:22 GMT -5
being from hollywood and being a celebrity doesn't make one intelligent. and even so as you say every one has a rite to free speech. look at limbaugh. nothing intelligent there and he pollutes the airwaves regularly.
maybe he helps cause global warming?
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Post by Benji Duncan on May 2, 2008 23:01:31 GMT -5
He thinks global warming is caused by volcanoes. (no joke)
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Gingy
Full Member
me and my Dad
Posts: 125
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Post by Gingy on May 3, 2008 23:03:08 GMT -5
he may say that but he is just puffing the hot air. as usual.
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Post by Marvin the Misfit on May 8, 2008 14:01:54 GMT -5
He thinks global warming is caused by volcanoes. (no joke) You may be too young to remember this, but Reagan used to say pollution was caused by decaying trees. lol |
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Gingy
Full Member
me and my Dad
Posts: 125
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Post by Gingy on May 12, 2008 21:36:39 GMT -5
i am almost 56 but i don't remember that. mayb his alzheimers was starting up?
that is really nonsense!! but it sounds like him.
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Post by Benji Duncan on May 12, 2008 22:44:30 GMT -5
He thinks global warming is caused by volcanoes. (no joke) You may be too young to remember this, but Reagan used to say pollution was caused by decaying trees. lol No, of course I don't remember that. But there is a clip of reagan saying that in Al Gore's film "An Inconvenient truth" so I have seen the video of him saying that. It's almost as stupid as when Nancy Reagan wanted to get ketchup classified as a vegetable to cover the 4 main food groups in kids school lunches. |
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Post by Gene on May 13, 2008 8:44:58 GMT -5
I don't fault celebrities for tipping thier hand about who they prefer and don't prefer in politics, but it is risky, since there are idiots that make a big deal about this, and, other idiots that actually listen to the first idiots...
It reminds me of the scuttlebutt about the Dixie Chicks saying in an interview one time that they were ashamed of being from the same state that George W is from. I personally don't look to my favorite musicians to provide political commentary for me any more than I would look to my dentist to install a toilet in my bathroom, and most people are this way. However, in this episode, there were rightist DJ's that were boycotting the Dixie Chick's music and even holding burnings of their album on the air and such, trying to make people feel guilty for favoring thier music product, and trying to harm these artists monetarily. That behavior is idiotic, but there are those that actually buy into this load of crap, so in that way, it is a business risk for celebs to open their mouths about this kind of thing. I'm not saying it's wrong, but I'm saying that it is a gamble, and one could even call it brave...
It is much the same in any entertainment form. If a movie actor that you "like" because you saw them in a movie where they played a role relatable to you later comes out with some political opinion contrary to yours, do you then "like" them less? Just like Dixie Chicks music is not political but their opinions are, it doesn't come through the speakers, and actors' performances that come through the screen equally often have nothing to do with how they feel politically. It's pretty silly, really!...
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Post by Benji Duncan on May 13, 2008 9:18:57 GMT -5
Well, look at it this way...
A good citizen should express their political views, right? A good citizen also should not hate or like someone less who expresses political views they don't care for, right? So celebrities should express their views because it sets a good example and citizens should learn to not hold that against them, just as we shouldn't hold it against our neighbor if he has views we don't like. I understand how people are, but people don't have to be that way and behaving according to their hangups encourages those hangups.
Most wrestlers are republicans, doesn't make me like wrestling any less. I haven't ceased to enjoy "the running man" or "rocky" any less since Schwarzenegger and Stallone expressed their right-wingedness. I don't like listening to Metallica any less since I learned James Hetfield was a republican.
This public attitude of "You have no right to offend me!!!" is really starting to piss me off. Look at Mel Gibson. After Passion I was really looking forward to more films from him. He was turning into one of the greatest directors of my lifetime. Now, nothing.
The Dixie chicks situation is also something I can't help but shake my head at. Look at all the things in market that destroy our economy or hurt people. Nike shoes, foreign cars, ect. Everyone is always like "Oh, it's too hard to boycott something. We can't get enough organization to make any kind of impact." But they could boycott the dixie chicks? Nike's shoes are made by 12 year old kids in indonesia for two cents an hour- we can't boycott them, but the dixie chicks!!! How dare they have opinions!!!
The Dixies made their comment about Bush initially during a concert in europe.
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