So yesterday on Entertainment Weekly there was a report on the Dixie Chicks trying to come back from the "incident" in which they bashed on the president and the war effort. For those of you who don't know, this caused many radio stations to stop playing their music, and their fans to rebel against them.

The Chicks say that they were disappointed in the reaction, etc etc, blah blah blah. They also mentioned the fact that Jennifer Anniston was quoted as calling the president a "f**king idiot" in an interview, and wondered what all happened to her.

Here's the thing. I'm a soldier, I'm a patriot, and I back the pres's plays (I get paid for it, ok?). BUT, I still listen to the Dixie Chicks, and I still watch Jennifer Anniston. Why? Because they are MUSICIANS and an ACTRESS. Regardless of their political opinions - which, by the way, don't make ANY impact on ANYTHING - the Chicks can still sing, and Anniston still has a nice butt. If the makers of Pepsi publically claimed that "anyone who dips copenhagen is weird," I would still drink Pepsi.

The point I'm trying to make is this: Somewhere in the recent past, we've started letting actors, professors, pro athletes, stamp collectors, gardeners, basically ANYBODY with an opinion to be interviewed on CNN or another SUPPOSEDLY reputable forum. These interviewers don't quiz them on what they know or do, but they ask these people for their analysis of the war effort, etc. Worse yet, these folks in completely unrelated occupations actually respond as if they know what they're talking about. And worse still, some of the public takes these opinions to heart, either backing up the likes of Sean Penn, Alec Baldwin, etc, or disagreeing and vowing to never ever watch their movies again.

STOP THE MADNESS! Since when do the opinions of entertainers matter AT ALL? Who in the hell are these people? NOBODY. Just overpaid, bored individuals who have nothing to do between concerts, games, and scenes but to stir up ****.

Ignore them, go back home and watch your favorite movie. Throw in a Dixie Chick album. If you refuse to do that, go down to Barnes and Noble and buy yourself a copy of my latest book, "How to Have a Baby the Right Way." I assure you, THIS MAN KNOWS.

Its all about ratings man. TV is the devil, and the producers are our torment....

Put it this way, how would you stir up ratings? Interviewing Dr. Cheboyiwo of Nigeria who specializes in the AIDs epidemic in that country, or what Jay-Z thinks we should do?

Sadly, the world population (don't think America is only victim to this...) would rather hear what a "musician" (i say that with the loosest terminology...rapping is just speaking fast...that isn't singing...) thinks...

If you haven't read the final "Monday Night at Morton's" column by Ben Stein, it's a must-read. It echoes many of the sentiments you expressed.

Quote: Originally Posted by Ben Stein ...I no longer think Hollywood stars are terribly important. They are uniformly pleasant, friendly people, and they treat me better than I deserve to be treated. But a man or woman who makes a huge wage for memorizing lines and reciting them in front of a camera is no longer my idea of a shining star we should all look up to. How can a man or woman who makes an eight-figure wage and lives in insane luxury really be a star in today's world, if by a "star" we mean someone bright and powerful and attractive as a role model? ... A real star is the soldier of the 4th Infantry Division who poked his head into a hole on a farm near Tikrit, Iraq...

http://www.eonline.com/Gossip/Morton...03/031220.html

Amen to that FF!

This to me is just another sad footnote on where our society has gone. We set up a world where our children admire the wrong people for the wrong reasons.

No longer do we admire the man who works hard to support his family, and does an honest days work. He lives comfortable, but not beyond his means.

Now we admire the ones who live byond their means, and do "jobs" that even well trained animals can do. We admire sports "heros" who do drugs, rape, kill and a miriad of other illegal activities.

When I was growing up actors were "those weirdos in Hollyweird", and athletes were paid for playing cause they loved the game.

Quote: Originally Posted by Foe Amen to that FF! This to me is just another sad footnote on where our society has gone. We set up a world where our children admire the wrong people for the wrong reasons. No longer do we admire the man who works hard to support his family, and does an honest days work. He lives comfortable, but not beyond his means. Now we admire the ones who live byond their means, and do "jobs" that even well trained animals can do. We admire sports "heros" who do drugs, rape, kill and a miriad of other illegal activities. When I was growing up actors were "those weirdos in Hollyweird", and athletes were paid for playing cause they loved the game.

HOOAH! Just when I thought I was alone in my thought process! LOL
I think the world would be better overall if everyone admired ME! Right Foe, right? heheheh

Dude, listening to her voice is like listening to cats in heat.

Quote: The point I'm trying to make is this: Somewhere in the recent past, we've started letting actors, professors, pro athletes, stamp collectors, gardeners, basically ANYBODY with an opinion to be interviewed on CNN or another SUPPOSEDLY reputable forum. These interviewers don't quiz them on what they know or do, but they ask these people for their analysis of the war effort, etc. Worse yet, these folks in completely unrelated occupations actually respond as if they know what they're talking about. And worse still, some of the public takes these opinions to heart, either backing up the likes of Sean Penn, Alec Baldwin, etc, or disagreeing and vowing to never ever watch their movies again.

Many people don't want to think for themselves. Therefore they are easily swayed.

Quote: Originally Posted by TimberWolf Dude, listening to her voice is like listening to cats in heat.

Well now I didn't say she was my FAVORITE...quit messing up my point! hahahaha

Well, I've become one of the people who disregard anything of political reference that anyone in Hollywood says unless they have some significant idea on what they are saying. Also I'm one of the few americans who also admit they voted for Bush. At the time of the election I felt that Bush was doing a good job and if you wish to flame me for such thinking, be my guest because its the not first time. Now, back on topic lol. I feel that most opinions of stars are primarily under educated. They have no real clue on whats going on and they just kind of follow the general concenus.
Jennifer's comment is total proof, if she honestly knew what she was talking about, she would have probably rephrased it and would have had a reason to why Bush is a bad president. While I was very against Kerry's run, Tom Delonge, The guitarist of the band Blink 182, was being interviewed on a local radio station about the presidency and he stated that he was voting for Kerry and gave reasons why! I was rather impressed that a star of his magnitude wasn't just voting for Kerry cuz he has this Make love not War attitude, but because he did his homework and general agreed with Kerry's Stand point.

So, honestly I really don't care what famous people say, it doesn't affect me in anyway and in most cases doesn't affect how I enjoy what they do

Read the new michael crichton book "State of Fear" (well, not really "new" persay, but his latest)

It kind of addresses that issue where eveyrone will blindly follow an actor, even though they know nothing about what they are trying to help.

I actually had a runin with this during the time when Mel Gibson's Greatest Story ever Sold...err...I mean "The Passion of the Christ" came out.

The Univeristy of South Carolina was holding a religious conference about the movie and the life of Christ in general, and how they compared, the keynote speaker was John Dominic Crossan, the scholarly leader on the historical Jesus...

He went through his arguments and basically stated (with outstanding support) that Mel's movie is his own unique vision, iand in no way could be taken as the "true" happenings. It's a meshing of all the Gospel's and follows (almost verbatim) the diary inserts of a crazy Catholic nun..

However, a women in the crowd, stood up during the Q&A session and said (i'm not lying)...

"Mr. Crossan, I hear what you're saying today, and I've enjoyed it. But I have to say...I agree with Mel, and not you. I've never seen the movie, but I know that's how it happened. I can trust Mel Gibson."

Yeah, but the irony here is Ronald Reagan and Ahnold Schwarzenegger were both actors. Does this mean we should listen to actors and musicians just in case they'll later hold an office?

Quote: Originally Posted by Wordbiker Yeah, but the irony here is Ronald Reagan and Ahnold Schwarzenegger were both actors. Does this mean we should listen to actors and musicians just in case they'll later hold an office?

Don't forget Sonny Bono and Client Eastwood.

Well, Alice Cooper (back in the '04 election) also made the statement that we shouldn't listen to musicians when deciding on who to vote for. If I based my vote on who I believe would be a better president (I voted for Bush), then I did listen to him about not listening to musicians but only because I listened to him....Aagh. Stupid political/hollywood spin.

The one thing I remember Brad Pitt saying (actually the only thing I remember him saying that wasn't a line in a movie) was when he was being interviewed after the movie "7 years in Tibet" came out.

When asked about the political ramifications as pertaining to the Tibetian Monks, he came out with a classic reply. "How should I know, I'm a f***ing actor."


Go Brad!

If I recall correctly, the Dixie Chicks said that the President was an idiot and that he made them ashamed to be Texans. It was the combination of their antiwar stance and their reference to Texans that caused their downfall.

I'd rather not listen to them unless they have a better answer to current problems or participate in fixing things for countries less fortunate than the US, UK, etc.

Quote: Originally Posted by Hibiki If I recall correctly, the Dixie Chicks said that the President was an idiot and that he made them ashamed to be Texans. It was the combination of their antiwar stance and their reference to Texans that caused their downfall. I'd rather not listen to them unless they have a better answer to current problems or participate in fixing things for countries less fortunate than the US, UK, etc.

But see, I think that's the problem. You've placed stock in the opinions and statements of MUSICIANS with regards to politics. Who cares what they think? Are they even qualified to have a say in any of this? No. Otherwise, they'd be the first governor threesome of Texas or something.

Here's a personal opinion of mine: Companies who sell products in the US should be mandated to have ENGLISH SPEAKING tech support for US based consumers.

Now that might offend some of our English as a Second Language brethren. Or, it might not. EIther way, my opinion doesn't change anything. It doesn't matter at all. I'm a soldier, a PC modder, a graphics geek...not the US Consumer Laws and Policies God. So, would the better response to my statement be something like, "Who gives a s**t, but hey, nice mod," or something like, "I don't think I'll look at your sig anymore until you make world-wide changes in the costumer support arena." ???? Exactly.