Opinions are like certain bodyparts...

...Everybody has one. This blog in fact is full of my own opinions. So what's wrong with that, you ask. Well nothing much I guess. It's nice to think your opinion amounts to something because you actually know what you're talking about, but ignorance doesn't seem to stop most people from having an opinion on the situation in the Middle-East, a subject this blog is dedicated to.

It would be nice if adult people, with a right to vote on things (talking about the civilized world here of course, countries like Germany, Canada and Israel) would exercise some form of self-discipline and really inform themselves on the issues at hand. After all, the rights are (or should be) accompanied by the responsibilities.

But most people are not burdened by such notions. Many people can't be bothered to vote at all, which isn't that surprising either, considering the difference various governments make (not very much at all). It must seem to people it will make no difference if they vote at all, or if they do, who they vote for.

So it's quite something to make the effort to vote at all. A bit too much to ask perhaps to actually read up on the subject(s), and be informed. So for that, it seems, people look towards someone they feel IS informed. Could be a website, a newspaper, a priest, a teacher, even just a knowledgeable friend. Hopefully a combination of such sources, from various ends of the political spectrum.

Some celebrities are aware that their fans (or a portion of them) are not yet bound to one party or another. So they take it upon themselves to inform the fans personally. Unaware of (or indifferent to) the fact that (most of the time) they know sh*t themselves because THEY have not made the effort of informing themselves.

Sean Penn traveled to Iraq. And thought HE now knew. He SAW. But in fact he was always so blind that whatever he was going to look at, he was only going to see what would fit into his preconceived notions. And so everything he saw confirmed his worst fears. And he only got more angry than he already was (is that at all possible?).
Now Penn feels he has something worthwhile to tell the world. It could be that he, and all the celebrities like him are just famous people who hold a passionate view about something, and because they are famous, we will all know how they feel, and they don't care wether we agree or not.
It could also be that they use their status to influence other people. I guess there's nothing wrong with either option. It's just that, when people don't take the responsibility that comes witht the right to vote, and don't inform themselves but look to their idols for guidance instead, they've effectively cast their vote with someone who happens to make music they like, or movies they enjoy. Their emotional preferences dictate their voting, JUST AS IT DOES FOR THE CELEBRITY.

For me personally, musicians and other artists telling me their political preference causes problems. They usually feel very different than I do on many subjects. I think there's a simple explanation for this fact.
Their very talent and ability to make beautiful music that moves me (a prerequisite for me to listen to it) is grounded in their ability to tap into their emotions. Rational music does not exist. Real artitsts are often tortured souls, to varying degrees.

But this same emotional basis for their art also disqualifies them from making a sound judgement on affairs that NEED to be judged rationally, dispassionately, unless of course they are still intellectualluy honest and can set aside the prejudices that usually come along with the trade. This doesn't happen very often.

So when an artist whose music I own tells the world he supports the political aspirations of terrorists and murderers, they loose a fan in me. I refuse to sponsor a person with diametrically opposed views, especially if those views can have direct physical consequenses to people I love. I also walk away from concerts if an artist decides to treat me to an unwanted bonus. Many in the audience may happen to agree with the artists' view, but I don't want to know, even if he and I happen to feel the same way. It is not why I went to the concert. Let him do what he does best, and refrain from showing his ignorance on global issues. Many politicians are not that well-informed, even though it is their job. Journalists too are often too arrogant to really investigate any more.

So please, celebrities of the world. Resist the urge to tell the world what to do, just because you are in a position to. The heart may show the right course to follow, but only if you've truly made the effort to be informed. THEN tell others what you think, and if you must, what THEY should think as well. Until then, Keep on Rockin' in the Free World...

What Alice Cooper thinks...