Celeberties

Since everyday citizens won't use their political clout to throw their weight around and change the system--preferring rather to live in their own small world and tell everyone outside their own home to stuff it (by commission or omission)--causes often need celebrities to bring attention to their plight.

I find it sad only because it highlights the apathy of the general public. If we had an educated and active citizenry, our government would be much better, IMO.

--tibac

Do you really want to know what I really think about them?

An example? Of what--the uneducated and apathetic citizenry, celebrity causes that were unknown prior to the celebrity, the government being better with more involvement?

I've heard that the Parkinson's lobby couldn't get Congress to give them the time of day prior to Michael J. Fox and his interest in gaining governmental support for treatments of this disease and national awareness. There are lots of people in the US with Parkinson's--and due to the health care inequities and insurance noose tightening on good health care, how many of those people do you think are getting top-notch care?

Think about how often you contact your officials to tell them what you think about legislation that's coming up?

--tibac

Originally posted by TheBear
How do you feel about celeberties using their popularity to speak out on a political issue?

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it depends
some are usefull and actually know what they are talking about
others are just flat out annoying and harmful, both on the left and right incase anyone was wondering


the problem like wildernesse has stated is that nobody really gives a hoot about regular people speaking about things.

the truth of the matter is that fame draws people in, it brings in the cash, and the short attention spans of the avg couch potato.

Originally posted by mala
it depends
some are usefull and actually know what they are talking about
others are just flat out annoying and harmful, both on the left and right incase anyone was wondering


the problem like wildernesse has stated is that nobody really gives a hoot about regular people speaking about things.

the truth of the matter is that fame draws people in, it brings in the cash, and the short attention spans of the avg couch potato.

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Excellent.  Celebs are tools for a cause.  They don't impress me and maybe not you but they do impress the average schlub. 

I've met a few.  I make it a point to treat them like real people and not smother them.  Ever see the episode of "The Simpsons" where Homer became the confidante of that now-divorced couple, Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger?  It was a good portrayal of how living in a fishbowl can hurt them.  Another take can be found in Kurt Vonnegut's book Mother Night about a celeb who became a Nazi sympathizer but was secretly an American spy and the crisis of the soul he went through. 

I believe that celebrities should keep their noses out of the political arena. If for no other reason than there are alot of uneducated voters out there who will blindly follow whatever famous person advocates ANY cause.

Celebrities need to stick with what they do well. That is acting and singing. NOT politics.

However, celebrities are citizens (applicable only to celebrities who actually are) and as citizens, they have every right and *responsibility* to be active in the political process. They shouldn't be punished for an accident of fate--their profession and success.

Maybe people who dislike the sway celebrities have on the uneducated could work to educate citizens on their role in the government and their responsibilities.

--tibac

Originally posted by wildernesse


Maybe people who dislike the sway celebrities have on the uneducated could work to educate citizens on their role in the government and their responsibilities.

--tibac

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In an ideal world, yes.  But, how many of us live in an ideal world?

Fact is, that many people blindly follow celebrities without truly thinking through the positions that they advocate.

In my opinion, celebrities can support any politician/position that they want.  But should not be allowed to influence others with their opinion.

People should research and think for themselves.  Not what some famous actor tells them to think about any issue.

Originally posted by MyJhongFist
In an ideal world, yes.  But, how many of us live in an ideal world?

Fact is, that many people blindly follow celebrities without truly thinking through the positions that they advocate.

In my opinion, celebrities can support any politician/position that they want.  But should not be allowed to influence others with their opinion.

People should research and think for themselves.  Not what some famous actor tells them to think about any issue.

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Unless they are actually educated about the topic of choice (and most aren't), celebrities need to keep out of politics. PARTICULARLY Janeane Garafalo. I have NEVER seen anyone SO uneducated about politics in general, but she spouts her political views on any news forum that will tolerate her. My Jhong is totally right. Too many uneducated voters are going to look at the uneducated celebrities, and take what they say to heart. Again, if they aren't going to bother to educate themselves, then celebrities need to stay out of politics.

If I had a podium to speak from, I darn well would voice my opinion on matters in the Government.

Originally posted by TheBear
hmmm......

I wonder if those assuming that the average citizen is poitically "uneducated", or a "schlub", counts themselves in that category.

sniff..sniff (TheBear smells a little elitism going on.)

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I think every citizen in a democratic country thinks they know best how things should be done. I've lost count of the number of times I've heard my parents or grandparents talking about the way things SHOULD be, or what they would do if they were president (or prime minister). We see such attitudes in any discussion on these forums relating to homosexuality, abortion, drug legalization, economics, politics, the US in general, etc. Anyways, I think everyone has a little elitism in that they all believe their own views to be the right ones.

Given certain laws relating to freedom of speech, there's really very little that can be done about celebrities using their positions to influence people. It is indeed up to the people being influenced to educate themselves enough to know better if the celebrity is lying or distorting the facts. If you tell a celebrity that they are not allowed to speak of their political views to anyone, you are taking away their rights, even if they use that freedom to promote really dumb things.

Originally posted by TheBear
hmmm......

I wonder if those assuming that the average citizen is poitically "uneducated", or a "schlub", counts themselves in that category.

sniff..sniff (TheBear smells a little elitism going on.)

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I look at myself, and then I look at some of my family and the majority of my peers. Half of those (mostly in the peers section) don't even read the newspaper--or even watch CNN (or any news program). A large section of our society doesn't bother to vote, never involves them in the political process and when they do, they don't bother to seek out the facts, but they listen to whatever the prettiest person says--which wouldn't be a problem except that our republic is *democratic*.

I'm not the most educated/enlightened person in the country, but I am active and aware of what's going on. I try to advocate for issues that are important to me and I learn about the legal system that we live in. I do have more than a little contempt for people who don't try--they enjoy the rights and priviledges of citizens, but they don't take any responsibility.

Also, since when is it the "responsibility" of a celeberty to speak publically on politics?

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If they are a citizen of this country, they have a responsibility to be active in the political process--which includes speaking publicly about current political issues. I won't deny a person their chance to air their views on political issues simply because they are popular.

If they have a "responsibility" to speak out on political issues, shouldn't they also bear accountability for any and all policies that have gone wrong?

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Yes, as do all Americans.

--tibac

Originally posted by MyJhongFist
I believe that celebrities should keep their noses out of the political arena. If for no other reason than there are alot of uneducated voters out there who will blindly follow whatever famous person advocates ANY cause.

Celebrities need to stick with what they do well. That is acting and singing. NOT politics.

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hehe what do you think ronald reagan was?

Originally posted by MyJhongFist
I believe that celebrities should keep their noses out of the political arena. If for no other reason than there are alot of uneducated voters out there who will blindly follow whatever famous person advocates ANY cause.

Celebrities need to stick with what they do well. That is acting and singing. NOT politics.

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That's your opinion.  Any attempt to write this into law would be unconstitutional. 

Charles Lindbergh (hero for his 1927 Transatlantic solo flight) became a spokesperson for groups opposed to the U.S. getting into World War II before Pearl Harbor.  Many felt he was foolish as there was considerable support for our alliances with England and France.  He was wrong, but he had every right to say whatever he wanted.  Later, especially after Pearl Harbor, he became a pariah in his own country because of that position he took.  That's the breaks.

But though his organization (The America First Committee, I believe) was wrong on the issue they had every right to publicize their position and to use Lindbergh's celebrity status to do it. 

The British Trotskyites are an insignificant minority party but they milk the fact one of them is a celeb (Vanessa Redgrave) and that's their right.

Oh yes, I think martin sheen should be president and sean pean could be his second. Babs could be the secretary of state and susan surandan can be our national security advisor. hahaha.

So, we should let every uneducated ******* spout of his or her political views on TV??? I hardly think that is appropriate. It's the same thing with celebrities. Stars or not, a lot of times they don't know what they're talking about when they get on TV about politics and run their mouths...and that creates problems.