Elton John has said stars are scared to speak out against war in Iraq because of "bullying tactics" used by the US government to hinder free speech.Name a single instance of the US government actually making anyone shut the fuck up. I can't get away from people like Sean Penn, Tim Robbins, Susan Sarandon, and John himself flapping their gums about how they're not allowed to flap their gums. Who the hell's stopping them? Well, no one, actually. But they're "chilled" by the lack of warmth with which their brave dissent in service of brutal autocracy in the middle east has been met in middle America.
"There's an atmosphere of fear in America right now that is deadly. Everyone is too career-conscious," he told New York magazine, Interview.Give me a name. Cite me a single example of HUAC taking some liberal wank like Camryn Mannheim out in handcuffs in the middle of the night. Then comes the dead giveaway "in MY day" self-centered navel-gazing baby boomer drivel:
"There was a moment about a year ago when you couldn't say a word about anything in this country for fear of your career being shot down by people saying you are un-American," he told the magazine.
The singer said things were different in the 1960s.Yes, they were. The judgment of time has not been kind to their idiotic opinions.
"People like Bob Dylan, Nina Simone, The Beatles and Pete Seeger were constantly writing and talking about what was going on.
"That's not happening now. As of this spring, there have been virtually no anti-war concerts - or anti-war songs that catch on, for that matter," he said.Because you're boring the fuck out of the public, which has already determined that there is a serious problem that requires the attention of serious-minded people, and they don't want to hand you $70 a ticket to hear you bleat about things you have readily demonstrated you're not capable of grasping. The solution, from your perspective? Tell your pinko anti-American friends to write catchier songs.
He voiced concern that it appeared acceptable to speak out if you were pro-Bush, using the example of country singer Toby Keith, but not if you were critical of the President, as in the case of country rock band, the Dixie Chicks.Mighty fuckin' gracious of ya, Elt. Toby Keith gets a free ride on that rather terrible "Red White and Blue" song because people support the sentiment. They share the sentiment. There is a strong feeling in this country that someone needs a military boot up their ass. In the face of that sentiment, the fact that the left can't comprehend that the majority of this country doesn't want to hold hands and sing Kumbaya means they're not going to crack the top 40 with "Ode to Osama". Sorry, dude.
"On the one hand, you have someone like Toby Keith, who has come out and been very supportive of the Bush administration and the war in Iraq - which is OK because America is a democracy and Toby Keith is entitled to say what he thinks and feels.
This kind of hysteria from the guy who sang "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting", yet.
"But, on the other hand, the Dixie Chicks got shot down in flames last year for criticising the president. They were treated like they were being un-American, when in fact they have every right to say whatever they want about him because he's freely elected, and therefore accountable."First, their behavior was unAmerican. Or, more properly, anti-American. Second, note by whom they were treated that way. Certainly not the big, scary Bush administration, unless you believe George Bush mandates record sales (and if he does, we're going to have to have a chat about certain acts.) It is a sure sign of ego run amok that entertainers are so sure the entire world revolves around their opinions they think there's an actual organized effort at the top being galvanized to stop people from buying their cds. I have news for you: you're just not that important. Nobody cares what you think. Now shut up and play "Island Girl", you deep thinker, you.
[Via Drudge.]
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