Why have the guys been so quiet politically?

Fifthelement wrote:

Why is it that Americans, as soon as they achieve some kind of fame, are no longer allowed to voice an opinion about politics, the environment, etc.?

I thought America was supposed to be the poster child for "democracy"?
I'm not saying this to slag America or Americans, it's just something that I have always wondered. The backlash against the Dixie Chicks was the most frightening example of this kind of intolerance. I've even seen it on this board recently in regards to Ed. Basically it was "shut up and sing."

Aren't people who have achieved some success or fame responsible, if they chose to be, to raise awareness of social or political problems. I'm not saying that they're right, but at least they can spark interest and maybe in some small way make a difference in this large, scary and interesting world.

Cheers!

good points, but you don't have to achieve success or fame to voice an opinion. Ed's opinion shouldn't matter any more than yours or mine does...

simpleman wrote:

good points, but you don't have to achieve success or fame to voice an opinion. Ed's opinion shouldn't matter any more than yours or mine does...

That's what I meant, I'm sorry that it did not come across that way. Just because a person becomes famous doesn't mean that their opinion is any more or less valid than any other persons. It just seems that when one does become famous, especially in the States, that they're told to shut up, like their fame will be too much for the 'ordinary' human being to handle, that they would/could have too much influence on the course of events especially in politics.

Cheers!

Trimmer McGrady wrote:

Maybe Ed just wants to wait and see who'll be the Democratic nominee. It's gonna be a long summer. They'll be there.

I have nothing to prove this to be true...but on Sunday night...a Dj from 107.7 The Bone here in the Bay Area said... "it's official.... Eddie Vedder is now on board with the rest of his bandmates in backing Barack Obama".

I couldn't find anything online...so who knows if he's informed on this subject or not?

I'm sure we'll hear plenty of Ed's rants and opinions on the April Fools tour.

Fifthelement wrote:

Why is it that Americans, as soon as they achieve some kind of fame, are no longer allowed to voice an opinion about politics, the environment, etc.?

I thought America was supposed to be the poster child for "democracy"?
I'm not saying this to slag America or Americans, it's just something that I have always wondered. The backlash against the Dixie Chicks was the most frightening example of this kind of intolerance. I've even seen it on this board recently in regards to Ed. Basically it was "shut up and sing."

Aren't people who have achieved some success or fame responsible, if they chose to be, to raise awareness of social or political problems. I'm not saying that they're right, but at least they can spark interest and maybe in some small way make a difference in this large, scary and interesting world.

Cheers!

Your correct...generally when you have someone bashing celebrities about their views and wanting them to be quite its indicative of a person that doesn't want their fragile reality shaken by some truth.
Fk I could care less what Ted Nugent says.........but that isn't the same as some that criticize Ed for pulling in a different direction.
Please though remember not to cast us all in one stroke as you did in this post....alot of "Amercians" do get it...(-:

Ed was right on Iraq. I went to Toronto and heard him say "the government is trumping up charges on Iraq in order to invade" (or pretty close to this...need to listen to the boot) and GUESS WHAT he was right. And yes this was before we invaded....course anyone with half sense realized this was the case.

callen wrote:

...generally when you have someone bashing celebrities about their views and wanting them to be quite its indicative of a person that doesn't want their fragile reality shaken by some truth.

I would disagree. I think the bashing more often comes from folks much more up to speed on the issues, both the nuance and the whole picture, that no single issue occurs in a vacuum and what not. But sure, some of the bashing is certainly as you state.

I think celebrities generally are just using their megaphone at the behest of others, fed soundbites and talking points with little understanding of either more nuanced implications or even larger contexts. I think they are just being used as tools -- case in point the parade of celebs in photo ops with Chavez.

But yes, some celebrities do take the time to roll up the sleeves and really find out what's up. I think that's the exception: Bono, Geldof, Willie.

And again, poster boy for celebs who should just STFU: Tom Cruise.

Danimal wrote:

They better break their silence soon I need to know who to vote for...

I take this as sarcasm. Those who really think like that bother the shit out of me.

For me, there is no problem with Ed or any other celebrity speaking their minds about issues and elections....as long as it stops there. The reason it irks me is that when celebs speak out there are people who blindly follow what they say and pronounce as the only moral and just way to think. I remember being so disgusted during the last presidential election when Puff Doody was all over MTV encouraging young folks to get out and vote.

Ok, true enough, everyone should exercise their right, but talking to a bunch of teenagers about the importance of voting and then telling them so-and-so is the candidate they should vote for is why I have a problem with it. I'd bet that a large majority of those kids he was encouraging to get out and vote couldn't have picked out a single one of the candidates in a line-up and they knew very little of the issues.

I'm just saying, celeb endorsements can be a dangerous thing because some follow blindly