Should celebs use award shows, etc to express their political view points?
By sylviekitty
@sylviekitty (2083)
United States
December 20, 2006 6:31pm CST
My question is this. Do you think that actors (male or female) have the right to use award shows and other such events to spout their own personal views on politics, religion, etc? I just read a story on this website:
http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/story/0,23663,20961261-10388,00.html
"SEAN Penn warned an audience at a New York awards ceremony this week that unless they challenged US President George W. Bush and Vice President Cheney over the Iraq war, they would become semen stains.
The All The Kings Men actor shocked the audience on Monday with his tirade against the war when accepting the Christopher Reeve First Amendment Award and stunned them even further by answering his cell phone during the speech.
Penn said: "Let's put his administration under oath. And then if the crimes of treason, bribery or other high crimes and misdemeanours are proven, do as Article 2, Section 4 of the United States Constitution provides, and remove the president, vice president, and civil officers of the United States from office."
So how do you feel about this? Why do celebs think their opinion means any more than Joe Blow's on the street corner? Do you think less of them for spouting their views when they do it? Personally, whether I believe the same thing they do or not, that isn't the reason they're up at the podium. Stick to accepting the award and let us go on with our lives!
4 responses
@beautifulceiling (1300)
• United States
21 Dec 06
Their opinion may or may not be more valuable than anyone elses. But their right to say it is equal to everyone else's. We shouldn't try to compensate for their fame by censoring them. Freedom of speech is for everyone. If their opinion bothers you, you can change the channel.
@sylviekitty (2083)
• United States
21 Dec 06
Do you think an award show is the proper platform for them to go on a political rant?
@sylviekitty (2083)
• United States
21 Dec 06
http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/story/0,23663,20961261-10388,00.html
Not sure if that link will work, but there it is again. I do not disagree that they have the right to their own opinions as does/do everyone else. However, I think there is a time and a place to give said opinions. And I don't believe an award show is one of them.
@beautifulceiling (1300)
• United States
21 Dec 06
I believe when people are dying and countries are being destroyed, it is perfectly understandable to use any platform available to stop the insanity.
I can understand your point of view. It would probably be annoying to me if I was trying to watch a show and a celebrity was going off on an issue where I disagreed. But I would try to understand that they are passionate and feel a sense of urgency and if I didn't want to hear it I would just change the channel.
@Angelwriter (1954)
• United States
31 Dec 06
I don't believe award shows are the proper place. Not because I think celebrities have any less right to speak up than the average person (or more, for that matter) but because there's a time and place for everything. The impact that someone could have giving their personal opinion on an issue would be less at an award show, I think, because most people aren't in the mood to hear it. Famous actors have more opportunities to speak out, besides award shows, and they should use those opportunities. But, I don't think they believe their opinion means more. They think their opinion means something and they just have a better chance at being heard. Still, I think they can pick different times to use the privelege.
@Angelwriter (1954)
• United States
31 Dec 06
I haven't heard anything about the race car driver, so I don't have an opinion on that.
@sylviekitty (2083)
• United States
31 Dec 06
Thank you for your response. I agree- they have the money to set up their own platform if they so wish. An award show is to accept awards. Not for people to go past their 30 seconds or whatever (however long they're given to say thanks) to start rambling about politics.
What do you think about the race car driver recently fined for the bumper sticker he put on his car?
@vanities (11395)
• Davao, Philippines
21 Dec 06
thats what democracy are all about..everyone has the right to speak of their own opinion unless its not libelos lol
@Ashida (1370)
• United States
1 Jan 07
I think they have the right to say it, but I have the right to ignore it. personally I think it's awkward when they do this. And I don't think the proper forum for these debates is an awards show. if you were at a meeting at work and interrupted to launch into a political tirade, would that be acceptable?
