You're right, RM95. It seems overblown. Having said that, I guess I just dislike politics and politicians so much, that I wish that it weren't thrown down our throats when we're just trying to enjoy a concert. Or even mentioned. Geez, can we take a couple of hours off from political endorsements and conversation to just have a freaking concert??? To just enjoy the music?? Whatever she did, the story indicates that it caused a big scene. A big scene that no one paid to see...and which was entirely unnecessary. Just because you have the right to say something, doesn't mean you always should. There are appropriate and inapprorpriate contexts for everything. A freaking Linda Rondstadt concert???
Performers have the right to say whatever they want to on stage, but they also must remember that what they say may have consequences.
Okay, so I lied about not posting any more in this thread.... Exactly. I could not have said it better myself. Thank you.
This is why I rarely even bother going to concerts anymore. Maybe I'm petty, but if the artist I was seeing dedicated a song to Michael Moore of all people, it would ruin the entire concert for me.
Classy move, bringing up politics to people who don't want to hear it but instead want to hear music aka what they paid their f*cking money for.
Manny, I was replying to wizkid. I haven't read all the thread, but it seems to me that some of the only rays of sanity were voiced in the original article: "Whether you are politically on the left or on the right is not the point. She went up in front of the stage and just let it out. This was not the correct forum for that. Our first and only priority is the enjoyment of our customers....If she wants to talk about her views to a newspaper or in a magazine article, she is free to do so. But in a stage in front of four and a half thousand people is not the place for it." -- the Limey casino guy The bottom line is, as it is usually, the bottom line.
I have been at several concerts when the performer discussed political views and ideas while on stage ~ a Rage Against the Machine show was particularly annoying. However, I did not fly in an uncontrolled fury, I did not attempt to destroy property, and I did not attempt to harm the any member of the band. My actions in no way caused the show to end earlier than planned. ____________ Willie Nelson often discusses personal political views at his shows ~ he also has many Republican fans. Is Willie in danger if this new breed of bloodthirsty conservative attends his next concert?
I'm going to agree with madmax and T_J (yes, T_J, you did a good job making logical arguments in this one, something i havent seen in a while, with only a pinch of rhetoric and insults). The U.S. has recently gotten very political, and frankly, no matter what your political spectrum is, the news can be very disconcerting, for both liberal, conservatives and moderates alike. In the past it was easy to escape politics, but that is becoming less easy now as the steamy political debate has become a regular backbone in entertainment, almost an essential necessity of talk shows, a key ingredient in the Daily Show, Letterman and Conan, filtering even into E! and now into MTV. This is both a blessing and curse, depending on your feelings of the importance of politics, as people are more informed, but it does create factions in our society that are difficult to overcome. As a result of this excessive mainstreaming of current politics, it is difficult to find an escape from someone who has an opinion, in fact its almost a given that most of the people you know have an opinion, but its now become a necessity to express it. Again, this is not completely a bad thing, but it can change atmospheres and take the enjoyment out of events. There's a time and a place for politics, which is why the D&D is its own forum, we all know threads could go to hell in the other forums if politics were discussed. Again, there are some moments where this is appropriate and others when it is not. Now Rondstant used her judgment to bring politics into an entertainment venue, where people are usually willing to shed aside their differences for the sake of entertainment and an escape from the outside world. You mention a political statement or opinion in a public forum and you will trigger people into "political mode". Its too complex to say what she did whether it was good or bad, but she did have to face the consequences of her choice to bring politics in a arena where politics was not expected. The response was somewhat extreme, but not unexpected. my point is, some people look for politics, and some choose to escape it because it can bring out the worst in people. In this time people with a microphone should know this, and if they choose to open pandora's box, they should be prepared for its contents.
I would think not. You start booing the guys at a Rage Concert for their political views and you are bound to get stomped into oblivion. Slightly different crowds we are talking about here...
"For you to throw Linda Ronstadt off the premises because she dared to say a few words in support of me and my film, is simply stupid and Un-American," Moore wrote. Ugh! How strikingly odd that TJ is the voice of reason here! She was escorted out because of the reaction to her words...NOT because of the words themselves! But Hey--if it helps promote the movie... Casinos don't like riots! (it distracts the card players). Anybody else amazed at the scene? I agree that her 'dedication' was a wee bit over the top. I can see being offended (assuming you're pretty uptight). But this is a Linda Ronstand crowd. Aging hippies. Lawyers and consultants. The parking lot is full of Volvos and station wagons and yet...fueled by a speach that couldn't have lasted more than a couple of minutes...by an unabashed lefty...flower power hippy...they are so taken by the moment, they storm out...flinging martinis in their fury! Wow.
yeah...it makes me wonder if there's more to this story than is being reported here. like if more happened in there than the paper has mentioned yet.
Seperation of politics and paid entertainment (that is not of a political nature) is the answer. If I had been one of those who paid to go to this concert and was not enjoying her performance, the second she mentioned Michael Moore's name I might have thrown some stuff around as well to get my money back
I agree with you Buck on this assessment. I also agree that there must be more there than what is reported. However, I can't help but feel that this was caused by probably the greatest lightning rod for controversy in this country today aka Mr. Michael Moore. Something tells me that he enjoys the controversy, but when you are that polarizing of a personality, then it should be no surprise that there are going to be people who have extreme disagreements with you. I mean is there anyone out there that feels nothing about this guy? You either love him or hate him - there is no in-between.
