(no subject)

[changeyourstars8]

Found another article on George Clooney-- unfortunately, it's not about another go-around with Bill O'Reilly (those are always fun). ;-)

In 2003, a lot of us were saying, `Where is the link between Saddam and bin Laden? What does Iraq have to do with 9/11?'" Clooney wrote. "We have to agree that it's not unpatriotic to hold our leaders accountable and to speak out."

Agree or disagree with the guy, it's always nice to see a celebrity (aka-- person with a built-in very public soapbox in our culture) talking about things other than their new 20 million dollar car or the latest purse to keep their fashion-accessory dog in. Maybe I need to stop pausing at MTV to roll my eyes when I flip channels, though. Hee.

And speaking of Clooney, not sure if I want to see Syriana, but I'm definitely going to check out Good Night and Good Luck.

Comments

[rosevaughn.livejournal.com]

You know...I have a great deal of respect for George Clooney. It really bugs me that people think that just because he's an actor, he can't have an opinion. And a damn good one at that. People are forgetting that actors are some of the most influential people in the world today. They can reach people, and they can leave an impression on them. So when people discount him just because he's an actor...I'd like to see them get into a debate with him. How long do you think they'd last?

[jadelynx.livejournal.com]

I can't speak specifically for George Clooney's comments, because frankly I've stopped reading what "Hollywood" has to say on politics, but it bugs the ever living crap out of me that these stars think that they *should* use their star power to influence people in areas they are clearly uneducated in.

When you have these role models (whether people should or shouldn't look up to them, they do) that spout off things like "If George Bush gets elected President, then I'm moving out of the country while he's in office!" and then don't, it just diminishes any chance of my taking anything they have to say seriously. They are just stomping their feet and whining because they didn't get their way.

Making statements like that to begin with annoys me. If you don't like how the country is working, don't just stand up and whine, actually WORK to make a difference. Do your research, help write bills, write letters to your government leaders and more importantly than anything VOTE VOTE VOTE. With absentee ballots available, there is no excuse not to vote. Threatening to move out of the country also accomplishes nothing other than make you look like to you your country is only worth the man in office, and that's offensive.

Consider Angelina Jolie. She's not just standing up in front of a camera and saying "Maaaaaaan. Think of the underprivileged countries! ::whinnnnnnnne::" She's is getting out there, she is making a difference. It might not be the one thing that changes the world, but she's changed at least two people's worlds for the better. She puts her actions where her mouth is.

I dunno, that's just my take on celebrities getting involved in politics. Most of them should just step back and shut up until they can say something beneficial.

[rosevaughn.livejournal.com]

Ah...so...just because he's an actor...he doesn't know anything about politics. How do you know he doesn't have any experience with politics. Did you grow up with him? Do you know him personally? Have you even been paying attention to Hollywood lately? It's a lot more political than you think.

Are you saying that he shouldn't state his opinion just because he's an actor? Because that's what it sounds like. He's a human just like the rest of us, and he has his rights too. That does include freedom of speech. If you're going to tell him to keep his opinions to himself, then you had better do that same thing.

They are role models. They *should* be speaking out. People listen to them. I'd rather listen to George Clooney go on about politics than listen to Jessica Simpson go on about her lame music.

((Most of them should just step back and shut up until they can say something beneficial.))

Wow. I guess it's a good thing that Jesse Ventura and Arnold Schwarzenegger did that, huh?

[allthelivesofme.livejournal.com]

Granted, I'm not updated on everything that happens in George Clooney's life, but I think that he does work to make a difference-- last I heard, guy was involved in quite a few charity projects. And considering the places he's traveled to for filming and the people he's been in contact with, he probably knows more about politics than I do. Doesn't keep me from shooting my mouth off, goodness knows. ;-)

"If George Bush gets elected President, then I'm moving out of the country while he's in office!"

I could be wrong, but I think that was Alec Baldwin. And yeah, twitty thing to say.

Being a part of "Hollywood" doesn't mean your opinion on politics is or should be automatically worthless; I think it just depends on the person and how much research they've done or experience they've had.

[jadelynx.livejournal.com]

Yeah, like I said I can't say much about Clooney. The scads of other idiots spouting off without thinking killed my ability to listen to ANYTHING anyone in Hollywood has to say.

And what bothers me most about it all, I think, is that it tends to just be Hollywood that opens their mouths. If sports stars starting trying to talk politics, no one would listen. But for some reason Hollywood has people mesmerized. I think that people don't stop to think that these people have never actually been doctors, lawyers, judges, and all other types that they play. They are just actors pretending to be those people based on scripts written by people who may or may not have any actual experience in the field themselves. A lot of great stuff was written by people who had to do research because they themselves didn't know. It doesn't make them experts and it most certainly doesn't educate the actors enough to make them suddenly capable of running a country.

There are obviously those that managed to emerge from Hollywood and do some real good. It makes me think of that line from Back to the Future. "Who is the President?" "Ronald Reagan." "The actor??"

But, just as I had to stop listening to reports coming out of New Orleans after Katrina because they began to be tainted with more and more stupidly slanted views, I am having to stop listening to Hollywood actors wax poetic about politics.

I certainly hope Clooney has the knowledge to back his sound bites, he's always struck me as the type that seemed too smart for Hollywood (whoo boy, did that just come out of the mouth of someone that still practices her Oscar acceptance speech in the mirror?), but I don't know him personally so he could just be a *really* good actor. :D

I can guarantee you one thing, should I make it big out there, I have no intentions of backing any one person for presidency. I will, however, use all the star power I have to get people to educate themselves before elections arrive. I will push hard to encourage people to find out for themselves who they want to vote for and not just take the word of the people who get the air time. I can only hope that someday our country truly starts looking at the people they are voting for and not just their party affiliation.

[allthelivesofme.livejournal.com]

I can only hope that someday our country truly starts looking at the people they are voting for and not just their party affiliation.

You optimist, you. ;-)

The scads of other idiots spouting off without thinking killed my ability to listen to ANYTHING anyone in Hollywood has to say.

I'll listen to some. George Clooney, yes, Britney Spears, not so much. lol Actually, a lot of the actors I like don't get into political stuff much (to the best of my knowledge, anyway).

I think that people don't stop to think that these people have never actually been doctors, lawyers, judges

One of my favorite anecdotes about separating the actor from the role is from the TV series The Fugitive-- the actor who played the cop pursuing Kimble (of course I'm blanking on his name) was walking down the street when a lady approached him and started talking about how she loved his work, but "You need to stop chasing that nice man around, okay?"