Shut up and Take a Walk

Everybody has his or her own opinion, even celebrities. The only difference is that the opinion of a celebrity is listened to more then anyone else. For example, take a look at politics. Everyone has something to say about politics. One person who has a political opinion is rapper Kanye West. Back when Katrina hit New Orleans, a bunch of celebrities did a telethon to help raise money. Kanye was one of them, and in his short segment with Mike Myers, he decided to speak up. He started talking (very nervously) about how everyone is poor and black and America is helping them as slow as possible. They’re also giving permission to go down and shoot them (which I really don’t understand that… I don’t remember anything about the army flying in to shoot people). After Myers was done talking again, trying to be as professional as he could after West’s major off-script rant, he then throws it back to West, who says, “George Bush doesn't care about black people!”[1] After that they quickly cut to comedian Chris Tucker without giving poor Mike the chance to finish the phone number. NBC later explained the outburst as “emotions running high” and edited it out for the West Coast feed. My opinion? I agree with his statement on saying that blacks were being misrepresented as “looting”. However, I think he was out of line to say George Bush doesn’t care about black people. I highly doubt Mr. W was floating around down there in a little raft and said, “Hmm, there’s some black folks in this here flooded house next to me… Oh, but those white folks over yonder look more needy so I’m going to go help them, ya’ll!” … No, that just wouldn’t happen. I’m sure there might have been some discrimination, and even some moments like that. But you really can’t blame George Bush for everything. At that time, I believe every human being was a human being who deserved to be saved.



Some celebrities speak out in a different way, like using their talent. Pink, or rather, P!nk, is a very opinionated person. She might be a little out there, but for a celebrity she has good values. She decided that she would rant about America’s problems and the president to boot in the hit single “Dear Mr. President” P!nk never intended on Dear Mr. President to become so huge hit, but it became controversial as it came out. In the song, she talks about taking a walk with the president and talking about how the homeless are suffering, people crying because of the war, homosexuals getting their rights restricted etc. She ends the song saying the president would never take a walk with her and listen to the problems. There was a small outcry against the song. But honestly, it makes valid points and I thoroughly enjoy the song. I think it would be good for the president to listen to it, just so he can see what his country is going through. At one point, the song says:



Let me tell you 'bout hard work/ Minimum wage with a baby on the way/ Let me tell you 'bout hard work/ Rebuilding your house after the bombs took them away/ Let me tell you 'bout hard work/ Building a bed out of a cardboard box/ Let me tell you 'bout hard work/ Hard work/ Hard work/ You don't know nothing 'bout hard work[2]



This is a little contradicting. After all, P!nk is a famous celebrity with tons of money and probably never has to go through any of that stuff. So, in a way, she knows nothing about hard work. However, she made her point that people DO live like that. Maybe it might be a little hard for one little leader of the free world to handle, but it definitely got his and other people’s attention. Props to P!nk.



P!nk didn’t lose much over the song. However, there are cases where opinions have ruined entire careers. Look at the Dixie Chicks. In 2003 at a London concert the Chicks said they did not support the war and the lead singer Natalie Maines jokingly added “I’m ashamed that the president is from Texas.” They got cheers from London, but back home in the U.S. they only met negative reactions. Everything was documented in the documentary, Dixie Chicks: Shut up and Sing. It showed how radio stations were boycotting their music; people destroying their music and even sending out death threats. The Chick’s career plummeted. Despite this, they stuck true to their comments. They disappeared for a while, but came back stronger then ever with their hit album “Taking the Long Way” that included songs like “Not Ready to Make Nice” which is based off the controversy. Americans loved it, now that they realized Bush’s war just wasn’t working. I hold a lot of respect for the Chicks. They went through so much and still came out with their heads held high. Not only that, but it also said a lot about the American culture. Three years prior, they freaked at Natalie’s comment. Now, they laugh a long with the comment. Why? They nearly destroyed the Chick’s career and showed that they do believe in freedom of speech… just as long as you don’t say anything that the majority of the people don’t agree with.









[1]http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/03/AR2005090300165.html

[2]http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/pink/dearmrpresident.html