Playing The Same Old Tune
"Ah, celebrities. Is there nothing they can't do?" - Homer Simpson
Another election season is upon us, and this election is a very important election to the future prosperity and security of this "Greatest Nation on God's Green Earth" (to borrow conservative radio host Michael Medved's signature phrase). Predictably, each day seems to bring a new round of opinions and perspectives from some of the deepest thinkers and brightest, most universally respected political minds among us - professional entertainers.
My issue is not with their right to speak their minds. Our Constitution guarantees them that right, and many have died during our nation's history in order to defend that right that we all enjoy. Those who have served and have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country have earned my eternal gratitude. I only wonder who these entertainers think they are to speak as if they have any authority and expertise on subjects such as geopolitics, national security, constitutional law, and international relations, and also why they feel as if anyone gives their opinions any weight or credence.
Not surprisingly, the vast majority of this kind of noise comes from artists who are on the left of the political spectrum. This only stands to reason because the vast majority of artists would describe themselves as Democrats (or possibly as "independents", an exasperating misnomer that I will explore in a future post) but my feelings are the same regardless of this point. I also dislike hearing the political views of those rare entertainers who lean more to the right. I want entertainers to entertain me. That's their job, and that's why many of them earn millions and millions of dollars. Many if not most of these people have been doing this job their whole lives, and some of them have only (barely) a high-school education. It is both baffling and extremely offensive to me that people like Madonna or Whoopi Goldberg or Eddie Vedder or Ben Affleck or Janeane Garofalo (I could go on and on) would presume to think that their opinions deserve to stand alongside those of people who have spent many years studying these subjects and/or serving in positions where they've gained experience and expertise in the political arena.
I'm reminded of an episode of "Seinfeld", one of my favorite T.V. shows. George is currently unemployed and is brainstorming with Jerry on the subject of which kind of a job he should try to get. George mentions that he feels he would really be good at a job providing color commentary for Major League Baseball games because Jerry always says he makes good comments. Jerry replies, "That might be kind of hard to get. Those jobs usually go to ex-ballplayers or people who are....you know.....in broadcasting." It's an obvious laugh line, and a good one, but the point is the same and is well-taken.
The aspect of this issue that I find most offensive, however, is the obvious hypocrisy of these people. What do you think their reaction would be if the tables were turned? What if President Bush or Condoleezza Rice or John McCain or any one of the people these mental midgets routinely criticize showed up at a recording studio or a set where these artists were doing their jobs and offered their opinions and critique? Try to imagine President Bush dropping by the recording studio where Bruce Springsteen or Jackson Browne or The Dixie Chicks are mixing their latest album and saying, "You know, this track really needs more bass." Try to picture what would happen if Condoleezza Rice stopped by the set of Matt Damon's latest film and said, "I'm just not feeling your performance in that last scene, Matt. What's your motivation?" The polite response, which I'm fairly certain is not the one that would be given, would (properly) be, "Ummmm, yeah. I think I know a little bit more about this than you do. So, why don't you run along and let me handle this? O.K.?"
Yet, when it comes to foreign policy, everyone thinks they're an expert. Why is that? It makes absolutely no sense to me. How big of an ego do you have to have to believe that you're smarter than someone else in their chosen field and that you would do a better job than they would? In most cases, these idiots don't actually have any better ideas. All they know how to do is bitch.
So, the next time you hear an artist espousing his or her political opinions and speaking with authority on the subject, keep in mind my example above and do what I do: laugh. Ah, celebrities. They entertain me even when they don't think they're trying to.
Cheers!
P.S. And while I'm on the subject of entertainers, I don't ever want to hear one more word from these people about how hard it is to be a celebrity or how grueling it is to be on tour or film a movie or how horrible it is to live in a fishbowl. This is the reality that you chose, and you willingly made that Deal With The Devil. You're living a life most people can only dream of living, and you're fabulously wealthy. Suck it up, and shut up about it.
Another election season is upon us, and this election is a very important election to the future prosperity and security of this "Greatest Nation on God's Green Earth" (to borrow conservative radio host Michael Medved's signature phrase). Predictably, each day seems to bring a new round of opinions and perspectives from some of the deepest thinkers and brightest, most universally respected political minds among us - professional entertainers.
My issue is not with their right to speak their minds. Our Constitution guarantees them that right, and many have died during our nation's history in order to defend that right that we all enjoy. Those who have served and have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country have earned my eternal gratitude. I only wonder who these entertainers think they are to speak as if they have any authority and expertise on subjects such as geopolitics, national security, constitutional law, and international relations, and also why they feel as if anyone gives their opinions any weight or credence.
Not surprisingly, the vast majority of this kind of noise comes from artists who are on the left of the political spectrum. This only stands to reason because the vast majority of artists would describe themselves as Democrats (or possibly as "independents", an exasperating misnomer that I will explore in a future post) but my feelings are the same regardless of this point. I also dislike hearing the political views of those rare entertainers who lean more to the right. I want entertainers to entertain me. That's their job, and that's why many of them earn millions and millions of dollars. Many if not most of these people have been doing this job their whole lives, and some of them have only (barely) a high-school education. It is both baffling and extremely offensive to me that people like Madonna or Whoopi Goldberg or Eddie Vedder or Ben Affleck or Janeane Garofalo (I could go on and on) would presume to think that their opinions deserve to stand alongside those of people who have spent many years studying these subjects and/or serving in positions where they've gained experience and expertise in the political arena.
I'm reminded of an episode of "Seinfeld", one of my favorite T.V. shows. George is currently unemployed and is brainstorming with Jerry on the subject of which kind of a job he should try to get. George mentions that he feels he would really be good at a job providing color commentary for Major League Baseball games because Jerry always says he makes good comments. Jerry replies, "That might be kind of hard to get. Those jobs usually go to ex-ballplayers or people who are....you know.....in broadcasting." It's an obvious laugh line, and a good one, but the point is the same and is well-taken.
The aspect of this issue that I find most offensive, however, is the obvious hypocrisy of these people. What do you think their reaction would be if the tables were turned? What if President Bush or Condoleezza Rice or John McCain or any one of the people these mental midgets routinely criticize showed up at a recording studio or a set where these artists were doing their jobs and offered their opinions and critique? Try to imagine President Bush dropping by the recording studio where Bruce Springsteen or Jackson Browne or The Dixie Chicks are mixing their latest album and saying, "You know, this track really needs more bass." Try to picture what would happen if Condoleezza Rice stopped by the set of Matt Damon's latest film and said, "I'm just not feeling your performance in that last scene, Matt. What's your motivation?" The polite response, which I'm fairly certain is not the one that would be given, would (properly) be, "Ummmm, yeah. I think I know a little bit more about this than you do. So, why don't you run along and let me handle this? O.K.?"
Yet, when it comes to foreign policy, everyone thinks they're an expert. Why is that? It makes absolutely no sense to me. How big of an ego do you have to have to believe that you're smarter than someone else in their chosen field and that you would do a better job than they would? In most cases, these idiots don't actually have any better ideas. All they know how to do is bitch.
So, the next time you hear an artist espousing his or her political opinions and speaking with authority on the subject, keep in mind my example above and do what I do: laugh. Ah, celebrities. They entertain me even when they don't think they're trying to.
Cheers!
P.S. And while I'm on the subject of entertainers, I don't ever want to hear one more word from these people about how hard it is to be a celebrity or how grueling it is to be on tour or film a movie or how horrible it is to live in a fishbowl. This is the reality that you chose, and you willingly made that Deal With The Devil. You're living a life most people can only dream of living, and you're fabulously wealthy. Suck it up, and shut up about it.
posted by Dave at 7:06 AM
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