Should entertainers like Barbra Streisand and the Dixie Chicks be allowed to spew their views to the audience?

Question

Let me go into a little depth here.....You pay your hard earned money whether it is 25 dollars or 700 dollars to go watch a musician(s)

Do you find it appropriate that they preach their political views whether you agree with them or not.

I am not wanting to deny them of their constitutional right of freedom of speech and expresion, but money is coming out of my pocket to watch and hear them sing their songs and talk about those things......

I don't want to hear...."I love George Bush" or "I hate George Bush"

I can understand a comedy show, a political lecture, a debate, etc.....

Answer 1

I AGREE WITH YOU 100%!

I NOW would walk out of a concert and DEMAND my money back if that happened.

15 years ago we got our first taste of POLITICAL entertainers at a Bruce Springsteen concert. It was election night - the night Clinton won for the first time. My husband and I voted for George Bush and disliked Clinton and his lack of decency even then.

Well - the concert was a Bill Clinton LOVE FEST. We had a horrible time and I must say Bruce sucked that night anyway(he forgot a LOT of his words and his voice was just bad). It was an accoustical tour and not with the E Street Band. We SHOULD have left but we stayed. NOW I would leave in a heartbeat!

Answer 2

Hey I always thought Babs and the Chicks were entertaining. But I don't agree with their pseudo-communist viewpoints.

But unfortunately this being America, I would err on the side of the 1st Amendment and simply put it this way: If you don't want the lecture and you do want the musak, by the musak on disc and spare yourself the lecture.

If you so strongly disagree with their political speech, you can choose not to go to the show or buy the disc.

Its a free country. You no more have to listen to what they're saying than they no more can force you to.

The end result is if no one wants to hear their political rants, then sales will slump and their agents will tell them to cool it.

I

Answer 3

In my personal opion NO they should not they are being paid to entertain us and not campaign for their views on whats going on in the world. If they want to tell us their views on the Political situation in the world let them run for office and form a platform for how to improve the world situation until than they can keep their opionions to themselves. I have stopped buying Streisand records and I never much cared for the Dixie Chicks. My cure is I just don't watch their movies, listen to their music, attend their concerts or comedy shows, when I am paying to be entertained that's what I expect and not a lecture on Politics. In other words if we hit them in the pocket book maybe they'll learn..

Answer 4

We can argue what's appropriate but you used the word "allowed". The word has a legal implication.

Both entertainers / groups you've mentioned have a history of expressing their political views on stage. If you purchased a ticket for one of their concerts it shouldn't come as a surprise if they got at least a little political.

Answer 5

The same reason you should be allowed to spew your views to the public. It is a Free country, not a dictatorship. At least for now. Perhaps you would like to see that changed? OMG RLP Agrees with you 100% time to kill yourself before the next full moon!

Answer 6

If you paid the money, then presumably you know what you're getting into. If you don't, you paid, and then you disagree with their rants, well then...t.s.

It is kind of ashame though, because it's not their politics that made them famous, it's what you paid to come see that did. I personally can't stand it when any entertainer, musician, actor, actress or Hollywood elitist opens their mouth about politics because the majority of them are dumber than rocks, and because of their status and America's unfortunate ability to elevate anyone and give them a podium for no reason whatsoever, they're heard, and then copied by other individuals who think they know more than just how to act.

Answer 7

Why should anyone be held to your standards or dislikes based on the price of a ticket? Maybe you should instruct us all on how to respond to your questions so you get things delivered only in the ways in which you want them.

The people you mentioned are known quantities as far as these practices are concerned. Just don't go if it irritates you so much. It can't be any fun if these things ruin a show for you.
Go hear people that will stick to your protocol of keeping with material that doesn't bother you.

Answer 8

You make your own choices. I choose not to spend my money to see Tobey Keith spew his trash, you can choose not to pay yours to see Barbara Streisand or the Dixie Chicks. I personally think that Babs and the Dixie Chicks are very talented. The Dixie Chicks are very HOT!

Answer 9

You are correct. This is why I do not buy CD's by Streisand or the Dixie Chicks. This is why I do not go to movies that have Susan Sarendon in them. Or George Clooney. This is why I quit watching Law and Order.( they regularly spew political opinion and call it entertainment) I vote the way I choose and if I wanted an entertainer to tell me how to vote I would ask them.

Answer 10

Here's the thing about free speech. You can elect to not attend their concerts. With some entertainers you can expect certain things. I have a whole list of entertainers that I will not support.

Answer 11

If their fan base demanded that concerts be plain and simple apolitical concerts, I am sure these celebrities would stick to it. Fans don't realize this, but they have a very powerful influence on their celebrity favorites. The problem is getting the fan base to all agree on what they would ask of their celebrity.