troglodyte said:
Everyone has the right to express their views with whatever means are available to them. Celebrities happen to have lots of money and the public's attention. Does this mean they know any more than anyone else?
To me it insults the intelligence of the public. It's patronising.
It's also extremely arrogant to try and sway things if you have the world's ear and little real knowledge of politics and international affairs.
Nobody knows everything there is to know about "politics and international affairs." Bush doesn't know anything I mean everything, and he's president:
Hiller: "Can you name the president of Chechnya?"
Bush: "No, can you?"
Hiller: "Can you name the president of Taiwan?"
Bush: "Yeah, Lee."
Hiller: "Can you name the general who is in charge of Pakistan?"
Bush: "Wait, wait, is this 50 questions?"
Hiller: "No, it's four questions of four leaders in four hot spots."
Bush: "The new Pakistani general, he's just been elected, not elected, this guy took over office. It appears this guy is going to bring stability to the country and I think that's good news for the sub-continent."
Hiller: "Can you name him?"
Bush: "General. I can't name the general. General."
Hiller: "And the prime minister of India?"
Bush: "The new prime minister of India is - (pause) No."
Bush: "Can you name the foreign minister of Mexico?"
Hiller: "No sir, but I would say to that, I'm not running for President."
Actually, I don't hold it against him that he didn't know the name of the president of whereveristan. There are facts, and there is knowing how to get facts, and any president knows who to ask to find out who the leader of whateveristan is in a heartbeat.
Everyone works on imperfect information. The whole "shut up and sing" thing, for that reason, drives me bonkers. The alternative is, what, to somehow muzzle Hollywood celebrities? A lot of them are buffoons anyway, as you and Alice pointed out. But not all of them.
But how about this: when was the last time a Monsanto buffoon or non-buffoon (if there are any) had to go head to head with Bill O'Reilly or some other media attack dog? Corporations are effectively faceless, so they don't get the same sort of personal invective that celebrities (buffoons or not) are subject to.
Does that make sense, in a democracy where they're calling the shots with their pocketbooks?
llouys
Brazil
August 2003
NOV 27, 2004 01:17 PM