Artists and Political Editorials

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 20 Jan 2003 6:34 pm

I'll go alone with Tom's examples of eating meat and wearing leather, but I think the example of taking medication is a little unfair. Just because somebody may be opposed to using animals for medical testing, once those tests have been performed and the medications developed, it's unreasonable to suggest that somebody should not avail themselves of medication that could restore their health and possbly save their life.

Greg Simmons · Post by **Greg Simmons** » 20 Jan 2003 7:10 pm

Lee Greenwood sings about being proud to be an American but he has a short beard and wears turtleneck sweaters just like the communists do !

Ah, yes, comrade Leonid Greenwoodovich...oops sorry guys would love to stay and discuss the latest conspiracy theories and possibly plot the overthrow of the Grande Ole Opry but I gotta run as it sounds like my copy of Bob Dylan singing "Talking John Birch Society Blues " is skipping...

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Greg Simmons
Custodian of the Official Sho~Bud Pedal Steel Guitar Website

Dave Boothroyd · Post by **Dave Boothroyd** » 21 Jan 2003 4:35 am

I would not presume to meddle in US politics- my family do enough of that in the UK version- but it does seem to me that Americans have a real problem with the concept of "loyal opposition"
From this distance, Tom Petty and Mary Chapin Carpenter etc. just seem like people who are proud to be Americans, but would like America to be a better, fairer place.
Oh, in case you are wondering, I have a political party membership card in my wallet. It says "Liberal Democratic Party" on it. There are two words that some might read as Communist!
Cheers
Dave

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 21 Jan 2003 3:03 pm

Actually, the word communist has been used so often and so irresponsibly as to lose all meaning. I've read that the use of a Gibson Les Paul to play country music was communist.

Other examples of "communist" propaganda include the book Huckleberry Finn, and the film High Noon. And of course let's not forget that among those accused of being communists were Elvis, and president Eisenhower.[This message was edited by Mike Perlowin on 23 January 2003 at 01:34 AM.]

Ron Page · Post by **Ron Page** » 22 Jan 2003 8:14 am

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>From this distance, Tom Petty and Mary Chapin Carpenter etc. just seem like people who are proud to be Americans, but would like America to be a better, fairer place.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Well, then at least we have that in common. Now all we have to do is agree on what's "better" and "fairer".

I didn't mean to limit this to American politics. It seems to me that leveraging their fame for alternate purposes is something celebs -- liberal, conservative, whatever-- do everywhere.

Bob Shilling · Post by **Bob Shilling** » 22 Jan 2003 11:21 am

I took part in the thread that Gene referred to, and I agree 100% with b0b on closing that thread down. I also agree that this thread, in that it refers to artists using celebrity status to espouse a political viewpoint, is more relevant to the topics.

I personally think it's fine for them to express their opinion. This IS America after all. I think it's OUR duty to sort out that just because they are a celebrity doesn't mean that they are an expert on whatever topic they are pushing. The complaints usually seem to be more content oriented though. Right wingers don't like Sean Penn or Martin Sheen, left wingers don't like Reagan or Schwarznegger. And so it goes...

As to Jane Fonda, IMHO, she stepped way over the bounds of treason when she posed in that anti-aircraft gun taking a bead on American pilots. If anybody (celebrity or not) takes an anti-USA stance like that, they should be treated as our enemy.

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Bob Shilling, Berkeley, CA--MSA S10, "Classic"

Chip Fossa · Post by **Chip Fossa** » 22 Jan 2003 6:22 pm

All those old coined and pointed words to describe some vague notion, be it political,
musical, religious, homo, hetero etc., always left
me shuddering.

As time moves on, they not only lose their relevance, they seem like old-world terms. Out-of-sync. They've lost their MEANING; whatever that may have been at any given time.

Loaded words for people with a load to eliminate.

Jason Odd · Post by **Jason Odd** » 22 Jan 2003 8:24 pm

I'm vegetarian and I have a leather belt or two, jacket and some shoes, and at this point I would happily kick your ass if you said I was a hypocrite.

We should have a new Forum called 'Dumb.'

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 22 Jan 2003 8:28 pm

...at this point I would happily kick your ass if you said I was a hypocrite

Well, at least they won't call you a "Pacifist"!

Tom Olson · Post by **Tom Olson** » 22 Jan 2003 8:44 pm

OK, you asked for it -- YOU'RE A HYPOCRITE!!

And, nothing would make me happier than for some vegitarian to attempt to kick my ass

Actually, in my opinion, a vegetarian who wears leather products is not necessarily a hypocrite. Only a vegetarian who wears leather products and who also says that animals shouldn't be used to make leather products would be a hypocrite. Besides, I like Vegetarians -- they leave more meat for us meat-eaters! And, they smell better too

[This message was edited by Tom Olson on 22 January 2003 at 09:50 PM.]

Ron Page · Post by **Ron Page** » 23 Jan 2003 6:45 am

Ah, maybe this is all nonsense on my part. I just never thought that I'd get to the point where I would opt to avoid someone's music or motion pictures because of their political viewpoints or opinions. And in reality, I'll go watch about any movie my wife wants to check out.

I guess they'll always have a high profile outlet as long as we have mainstream entertainment shows masquerading as news shows, e.g. The Today Show.

They'll continue to exercise their right to speak out and I'll be more and more comfortable doing anything I can not to contriubte to their cause when I disagree. [This message was edited by Ron Page on 23 January 2003 at 06:46 AM.]

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 23 Jan 2003 10:20 am

Personally I feel that music and art are far more important than politics.

Consider this: 200 years ago Napolean made speeches and Beethoven wrote music. Today only a handful of people know or care about what Napolean said, but millions of people listen to Beethoven's works every day.

Another example is the late Soviet spy Leon Therimin. His real life's work was espionage for the Russians. His music was only a hobby. But he will be remembered for inventing the instrument that bears his name.

Politicians and political causes come and go. Music and art last forever.

Frank Estes · Post by **Frank Estes** » 23 Jan 2003 1:11 pm

That sounds "warm and fuzzy," but it is stupid.

Terry Edwards · Post by **Terry Edwards** » 23 Jan 2003 2:24 pm

If God wanted us to be vegetarians He wouldn't have made animals out of meat!

--- Homer (Simpson, that is!)

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Terry Edwards
Fessy D-10; Nash 1000
Martin D-21; Flatiron F-5

[This message was edited by Terry Edwards on 23 January 2003 at 02:25 PM.]

Jason Odd · Post by **Jason Odd** » 24 Jan 2003 10:59 pm

Bono bashing, that usually fires me up, but most forms of ignorance get me irate.

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 25 Jan 2003 4:43 am

Oh Geeze..aside from Steel Guitar and Telecasters..THIS IS MY FAVORITE SUBJECT !!

Multi Millionaire Hollywood types over there on the left coast including BS , Norman "how do you like my LEAR"..Jet and that Hungarian women, Arial something or other..
are on a campaign to get rid of SUV's for gas mileage and want us to lower our home thermostats to conserve fuel.

Now conservation is always a good thing and we should all think along those lines...but..

It's rumoured that BS has maybe a few Hummers, Arial flys around the globe in private Chartered Jets and Norman..well..he's still living at Archie's Place and I am quite certain that they all have a bigger house then me, and probably more houses than me, I have only one.

Now their campaign must be really widely accepeted, they raised 50 thousand dollars for the cause ...thats it...evidently it ain't much of a cause coming from someone who has a ten car garage with multiple SUV's in it. But BS did in all fairness put it in prospective , she said " I don't drive them everyday".. good for you Barbara.

Hey George Clooney..hope you got a lot behind you or you may have to room with Ed Harris ..hows $360/week sound ?( the max unemployement ) I'm sure your pals will bail you out...

Cheryl's a disappointment ...I can't imagine why these folks would come out and basically blast 1/2 of their paying audiences..regardless of what political view they may take...

I think the next time I take a large purchase order from a customer I will end the conversation by saying " I can't believe you voted for XXX, what an idiot you are " !!!

Oh yes.

The other day, during our NC 6 inch snow storm, I drove our Jeep 4X4 mid size SUV to one of our vendors and picked up completed materials and paid him for them and dropped off another order which they started working on. Seems to me my 4X4 SUV was contributing to maintaining the economy..

tp

Tom Olson · Post by **Tom Olson** » 25 Jan 2003 11:09 am

Larry Miller · Post by **Larry Miller** » 25 Jan 2003 1:12 pm

Thank God for Leon Theramin, if not for him there would be no good vibrations....or excitations!

JB Arnold · Post by **JB Arnold** » 25 Jan 2003 8:18 pm

Welllll-I should probably shut up, but here we go...
It seems like most here only have a problem when the political position being espoused is a liberal one. Being a complete anarchist, I don't care-but does anyone have a problem with Charleton Heston pimping for guns? And recently, some country singer who I have already forgotten came to Greeley and made comments during a break about (and I'm paraphrasing here) "non americans needing to learn the language and stop crying about it" or some such thing. It went over poorly with the mostly Mexican-American audience and he got a lot of heat for it but wouldn't take it back. He got a lot of support here for that move. No one ever complains when the Hag pounds home his hard core conservative political message.

Seems like our attitude about a famous person's right to free speech depends a great deal on how we feel about the message....or how it's presented.

JB

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Fulawka D-10 9&5
Mullen Royal Precision D-10 8 & 5
"All in all, looking back, I'd have to say the best advice anyone ever gave me was 'Hands Up, Don't Move!"
www.johnbarnold.com/pedalsteel
www.buddycage.net

http://www.nrpsmusic.com/index.html

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 26 Jan 2003 3:40 am

JB, I don't think it's so much the message as it is who's carrying it..regardless of which side of the aisle they sit on.

Charlton Heston and guns..as of today..guns are still a legal entity in the USA protected by the second ammendment. That ain't gonna change without re-writting the constitution.

When someone like Rosie O'Donnel comes out and states that all USA citizens should give up their guns I think the gun tottin' folks got upset because she had a gun tottin' body guard for her children and defended it because she lives in NYC and her childern need protection.. ??XX!!!

Sharon Stone brings her Hand Gun to the LA police department and turns it in stating that someone needed to be first. Then the gun control folks give her a prestigious award..problem is..she was the only one who turned in her gun! She was first and last...Now all the crooks know she has no gun at home..unless she bought another and didn't tell anyone..or has an illegal gun..wouldn't that be a suprise...

George Clooney making fun of CH due to his disease was the issue , not the gun issues.

Ed Harris making fun of GW being from Texas and challenged him as a man because he wears boots and drives a pickup..whats up with that ?

And as always the elite Hollywood Liberal crowd, BS , Lear and that Hungarian lady on a campaign to get rid of SUV's due to fuel economy..It's hard to take these folks serious when they each travel around in private chartered jets, have huge homes ( several) and multiple cars in their multiple car garages, including SUV 's .

It's not so much the issues but rather how and who presents them.

I have always wondered why someone who makes there living in the arts being music, TV or film would come out publicly and make strong statements that may and in many cases do anger maybe as much as half there ticket buying, CD buying audience . When we gig, do we just start yapping about political views between songs ? Most likely NOT...that is if you want to get paid and maybe get invited back...

Politicians are supposed to do this sort of stuff..thats what we expect from them..they get paid to spin and speak..

Alec Baldwin stated publicly he would leave the USA if GW became President..well..?
Oh Alec.....We're waitng...

Harry Belafonte stated he will now give up his US citizenship because of GW and the war...ok..I say do it.....Lets see where his character really is..lets see if he does it....

Where I sit..these Liberals are just making fools of themselves and if they have a legitimate cause it gets buried and lost in there stupidity and actions.

Tom Ridge became the Homeland Security main dude this week, like Wednesday..Hillary Clinton comes on TV Friday and says he's not doing enough !! I say give him a few more days..geeze....

Are there nut cases on the other side of the aisle..you bet....

Does Trent Lott come to mind ?

I don't recall any Republicans or Independents claiming that they would give up citizenship and leave the country when Bill Clinton was in office..not even the politicians that hated him..I don't recall any Democratic politicians stating they would leave the country either..only a few Liberal Hollywood idiots...

Everyone has the right to speak out..but does that mean they should ? Common sense should show up somewhere....unless they don't have any....

tp

JB Arnold · Post by **JB Arnold** » 26 Jan 2003 9:45 am

Right. Well, the short answer is yes, they should. Once again, being completely apolitical, I see the stupid meter being pegged regularly on both sides of the spectrum. Rush Limbaugh is every bit as bad as Sharon Stone, who ya gotta admit is a doozy.

Most folks think that the person they agree with is An Important American Voice That MUST Be Heard, and the person they don't like is an (insert affiliation here) Idiot Loser Who Should Shut Up.

truth be told, they are probably BOTH Overblown Windbags With Soapboxes Larger Than Their Intellect....

JB

------------------
Fulawka D-10 9&5
Mullen Royal Precision D-10 8 & 5
"All in all, looking back, I'd have to say the best advice anyone ever gave me was 'Hands Up, Don't Move!"
www.johnbarnold.com/pedalsteel
www.buddycage.net

http://www.nrpsmusic.com/index.html

Ron Page · Post by **Ron Page** » 27 Jan 2003 6:41 am

... I don't care-but does anyone have a problem with Charleton Heston pimping for guns?

See George Clooney...

Sure, plenty of folks, and I'll bet they avoid his movies like a plague.

JB, you're confusing the issue a bit when you mention Hag's tunes and again when you toss Rush Limbaugh into the mix. Hag's tunes should say whatever he wants them to say -- that's his work product and the livelyhood that brought him the celebrity and fame. Rush is on the up-and-up because we all know he's a political commentator.

The issue is when some singer or movie star turns political activist. They need to be prepared for the fallout on the other side when they try to sell us more records or movie tickets.

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HagFan

PS: Tony, it's Arianna Huffington you're talking about.[This message was edited by Ron Page on 27 January 2003 at 06:42 AM.]

Eric Myers · Post by **Eric Myers** » 27 Jan 2003 7:35 am

>Thank God for Leon Theramin, if not for >him there would be no good >vibrations....or excitations!

And we would never know what flying saucers really sound like!

Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 27 Jan 2003 8:15 am

....... I don't care-but does anyone have a problem with Charleton Heston pimping for guns? ....

No...because it gives some balance to the "anti-gun lobby".

Tom Olson · Post by **Tom Olson** » 27 Jan 2003 7:07 pm

I might be wrong, but I thought the issue was plain and simple -- it's not the messenger, it's not the message.

The issue is when the messenger exhibits behavior inconsistent with the message that the messenger is delivering. Questions? See Tony Prior's posts above.