Brain Fertilizer

I don't understand the "Shut up and Sing" thing (also the title of L. Ingraham's latest, if memory serves). If folks like Streisand or the Dixie chicks or whoever want to lose fans for the sake of their political leanings, so be it! Because of their celebrity, they have a wider audience to convey their feelings to. The flipside is it may cost them monetarily or diminish their popularity. Their lives, their choices, their concern, not ours! Shut up and sing...or don't! Give over to your politics....or not! Talk about how you'll vote and why...or don't!

Why are we so busy telling people what their assigned role is society is? That seems decidedly unAmerican. Everyone from Streisand to Heston is entitled to their opinion, and to share it with the rest of the world however they see fit. Whether we choose to pay them heed is another matter altogether.

I could point out that in criticizing my comments, you are attempting to prevent me from exercising my free speech, as much as you are claiming I'm trying to prevent her.
But nothing could be further from the truth. She can hold whatever opinion she wants, and she can use her fame to spread it. However, she apparently has let her fame and fortune convince her she is also more intelligent, because her opinions are not well-developed or insightful at all. The only thing she brings to the table is she is famous for singing well. She could develop her ideas further and promote them as does Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins (whose opinions I disagree with, but you won't find a single word of criticism for them expressing them here), and others.
Re-read carefully what I wrote: I am expressing an opinion that she should stick to singing because parroting already-debunked accusations is just making her look stupid. You know: "Better to keep your mouth shut and let people think you are a fool rather than open it and prove it."
I'd think a far more egregious breach of 1st amendment rights was John Kerry's lawsuit and other intimidation tactics to try to silence the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, whose allegations Kerry could resolve just by releasing his records...
All I'm saying is that she's probably irreparably damaging her actual career in her strong point as an entertainer in order to delve into a new career of political punditry, and it is an extremely poor career choice on her part.
Should I retitle the piece: "Some Friendly Advice"?

My comment was directly in reference to the comment "Just shut up and sing". I would never be so bold to tell anyone to "shut up". Including you, the yay-hoo with the anti-gay literature at my door, The anti-abortion folks who hand out bloodied fetus replicas, etc.

And I mean, let's both be honest here: We know EXACTLY why she's "trading the massive respect she had as a singer for the heaping boatload of scorn she deserve as a pundit". Because these are issues important to all of us, regardless of how we interpret them.

It's interesting that you cite anti-gay and anti-abortion literature as somehow infringing your free speech, but seem to have no problem with liberals who tell me I don't have the right to an opinino on gay marriage because I'm straight, and aren't allowed an opinion on abortion because I'm a man.
Perhaps "Shut up and sing" was a bit too far on my part. Or incomplete. Take it as: "If you want to retain the good will you have gathered throughout your long career as an entertainer, you would be better served if you did not assume your fame and wealth entitles you to spread out-and-out lies as if they were truth."

The liberal philosophy has never repudiated its connection to "from each according to his abilities to each according to his needs." Well, all I'm saying is this isn't really one of her abilities.

You don't see me giving singing advice or telling people in Hollywood how to live their lives or run their careers, do you?

It's interesting that you cite anti-gay and anti-abortion literature as somehow infringing your free speech

Huh? No I don't. I said I would never tell them to shut up. How did you get that from what I said? They have every right to say what they please.

but seem to have no problem with liberals who tell me I don't have the right to an opinino on gay marriage because I'm straight, and aren't allowed an opinion on abortion because I'm a man.

Aww, now I am gonna play wounded bird. Do you remember what my very first e-mail to you ever said? It read "I am sorry that people are telling you you don't have a right to an opinion on abortion because you're a man. I don't think that's true." Then I explained why *I* was pro-choice.I always felt that e-mail is why we became friends. I'm a little bummed you don't remember it! It happened at Dawn Olsen's old blog. And then I told you you had well thought out points and should get a blog. And you did. ;)

"If you want to retain the good will you have gathered throughout your long career as an entertainer, you would be better served if you did not assume your fame and wealth entitles you to spread out-and-out lies as if they were truth."

yes. that would have been better.

You don't see me giving singing advice or telling people in Hollywood how to live their lives or run their careers, do you?

Wasn't that the point of your post? ;)

I also remember times when you supported someone who told me gay marriage was none of my business because I'm already married and straight.

But I think I understand it now. It's a very fine line between what is acceptable and what is not. Simply put: if it conservative and/or Republican, it is wrong, evil, misguided and/or fascist. [grin]
Yeah, I know you don't actually think that way. But I gotta tell you, as a white male conservative Christian, it does seem like All That is Liberal or Democrat does heartily disapprove of my very existence, much less me expressing my opinion or actually having access to articles that treat conservative subjects without distortion and untruths...

Now Jo and Nathan,

Both of you go to your rooms and don't come out until I call you for dinner.