Yesterday on my Facebook page, I reposted a link to Jim Boren's recent blog entry about Sean Penn's Oscar acceptance speech, in which Penn criticized Proposition 8, the gay marriage ban passed by California voters in November.
A side debate sprung up on Facebook about whether or not celebrities should express political views during their acceptance speeches.
Here's what one commenter said:
"Actors/actresses should not be pushing their political agendas at an awards show...let them run for election and buy air time! and NOT use their professional status to further political views."
I think in the instance of Penn's acceptance, though, since the movie dealt with the first openly gay elected official and his assassination, that attitudes about homosexuality are a relevant issue for Penn to bring up.
After a couple more posts back and forth on the subject, I added my opinion:
"Penn did quite a bit of research before playing [Harvey Milk]. Also, Penn has spent the past several years as a political activist as well as an actor. So I don't personally have a problem with him expressing his political views during his turn in the spotlight.... I respect [Penn's] decision to use his moment in the spotlight to speak about something he feels passionately about. I think we'd have a much better world if more people got involved in issues beyond the realm of their day-to-day jobs. I admire his commitment to the greater world, even if his postions aren't always ones that are widely agreed with."
What are your thoughts on the subject? Do you think it Is ever appropriate for actors (or musicians) to express views on subjects outside the realm of acting or music?
We are all multi-dimensional people, with passions and interests beyond our job descriptions. How much should those beliefs be compartmentalized?
Since I am not financing those shows in question, I have no right to determine the format and its propriety. And half of the posts on the Sean Penn topic called the actor rude names and practically denied his right to free speech. And I share Lisa Maria Boyles' view on the absurdity wanting to restrict actors comments to acting only. What about the different occupations of the bloggers on the beehive? Just think about it for a moment!
I went back and checked the posts Isabel and your suugestion that half the posts called him names or denied him free speech is way to high. Irregardless I would suggest to those who have a problem with Penn to do as I did. Who really wants to watch these pompous, arrogant people? It for the most part is a popularity contest or a political contest. Don't watch it. Low ratings and if by chance you find a company that advertised and send them a letter that you will no longer be buying their product is the best you can do. By doing all this commenting your just encouraging them. A lot of them already feel a bit omnipotent. Ignore them.
NEGATIVE RESPONSES TO SEAN PENN
Bill, common sense, Sue, Brian Murray 3, T C Morgan 5, Bart Turnipseed, Ted Rudow III MA, Roxanna, homoifestybad, apr.47,
Jackie Krage, Joe Marshal, Tim, Victoria Landgren, Tim Spangler ...TOTAL 21. I may have chosen the wrong words in my former post. I am revising it to negative responses. And I fully agree. If one does not want to listen to what one considers irrelevant, or inappropriate, use the mute botton. Mine is almost worn out it in my practically new TV. hahaha!
Isabell,
I thought the point of OpinionTalk was to elicit responses -- how else will the bloggers know anyone is reading?
Sean expressed in a rabidly negative way exactly what he thought of the majority of CA voters. A few of us took the opportunity on this forum to express our opinion of his comments. Funny thing is, if all of us voted by not going to the movies, sweet little Sean wouldn't even have a platform to spout his opinion to the world.
Lucky me, I tuned in to the Oscars just long enough to hear Penn's nonsense. My mistake. I'll make it a point not to turn it on at all next year.
It seems that blooging is such a disjointed manner of communication. Blogger Common sense thought that I was critical of his negative post. The gist of the above post was to prove to blogger Jim that I had been correct in the nummber of negative responses. I am still able to calculate about half of 41...hahaha! I say, keep on praising, keep on bitching, keep on with blogging...we all shall survive mix-ups and misunderstandings.
May I suggest you may also want to consider most of the awards programs such as the Golden Globe,
etc. The only show I watch a bit is the CMA. The rest of them are just as bad as the Academy. They feed off this type of stuff and low ratings will make them hungry. I have just made it a habit not to watch these awards shows for the media and music.
Since you brought it up half of those were people grumpng about words that others used so you really can't count them Isabell.
I don't wish to sound thin skinned and may not be speaking for others whom I share space with in your new contribution to social taxonomy... but in my view the production of lists in such a small village is a provocative adventure. I will always regard the authors of such lists with scorn and always suggest a different approach at expression in this sanctuary.
Wow! That sounds almost like the creation of an ism, Mr. Turnipseed. I did not expect that my taking the entire topic so un-seriously might bring out such deep intellectual reflection. But I prefer to stay on the light side on the subject.
Awards shows are not the appropriate venue for actors to express their personal political views. At the very least it is bad manners. People tune into the awards shows for the ceremony, the "glamour", the acceptance speaches, the craft and the movies. A political ajenda does not belong there. Those financing the awards shows are not doing so to create a platform for political speeches. The advertisers aren't paying for premium air time to be associated with a political stance. It is true Penn was in a film about homosexuality and it is not wrong to comment on that. He could possibly explain that he learned a lot in the role and that it had modified his thinking on the subject. That approach is in line with the event. Political rhetoric and lashing out at voters is not the purpose of the event. It's not like celebrities don't have plenty of access to the media spotlight to further their own political agendas. They do it at big events like this for the shock factor because it IS bad manners and they know it. After a long day at work, I enjoy the mental respite of pretty dresses and smiling faces of award recipients. I don't want to think too hard and I surely don't want to hear political rhetoric in a world oversaturated with it when I am attempting to enjoy a brain dead evening
And based on this blog, I am sure Sean Penn is going to heap ashes upon his head and the industry is going to chastise the winner of the award. And our opinionated crock is going to change the industry's agenda. In your dreams. And I am not preoccupied with Penn's challenge to the YES vote on California Prop. 8. I am amused by the bloggers cock-sureness about something that is really none of their business, beyond being free having an opinion on it. But some of the posts took on the nature of...... I decree! I am going to make known what kind of table linens the Obamas can use every Wednesday. Let us see how far it shall get me? . hahaha! Don't take yourselves so damn seriously on this bit of Hollywood pomp and glitz. I much rather concentrate on putting California's government back to where it belongs....to serving the people. Only 9 posts on that subject of California's political future, but close to 50 posts on that ....whatever well dressed and coifed TV bunkum.
I gave up on Sean Penn movies a long time ago - long before his latest Christophobic rant. Effeminate men (?) like Penn are an insult to decency. I’ll take my Clint Eastwood straight, thank you!
But, the question before us is, was it an appropriate forum? It was, if you consider his audience; The Hollywood crowd long ago gave up any pretense of morality. Their support of immoral and leftist causes places them well outside the great majority of Americans, who go to their jobs every day, work hard to support their families, teach their kids morals and start their week at a house of worship.
Penn speaks to a certain element in our society. That "group" however does not in any way represent "normal" everyday working Americans.
"Dizzy"...1 or 100 posts on anything adds up to nothing but talk on any subject.Is anyone doing anything other than perfecting verbal masturbation here?
It doesn't really bother me that people like Sean Penn make comments at the Oscars, but it would seem to me that they would realize they are being given an award for acting a part, acting better than anyone else during the year. They are not getting an award for for the social message of the film, or at least I thought it was about acting. The problem with some of these actors is that they think they are making a better world with their movies. Maybe they are, but that's not supposedly why they are getting the Oscar. I would be more appreciative of a comment about how they approaced the role, how they were able to create an Oscar=winning performance.
If the likes of Rush Limbaugh and Fox News can spout irrational diatribes masked as "news," the Sean Penn can certainly challenge us to become a more accepting society, yes?
Hey Booney...that guy,in the suit,standing in your living room...that would be Rod Serling.
Funny how this "accepting" stuff only goes one way. The gay crowd wants me to be "accepting" of their deviant behavior and wants to force their beliefs on me; But when it comes to "accepting" (my) evangelical Christianity, they are intolerant to the point of violence.
As I don't want to hear Sean Penn I also don't want to hear Rush or Fox News. It is a personal decision or belief. The voters have spoken. Mr Penn is an incredible actor which is why he was on the Oscars not because because we are needed to hear that we should be more fair to gays. If one is in love they are free to be with their partner and have gained many rights in the past few years but it is never enough. He will probably run for political office at some point and win because there is no experience required obviously.
Alright Booney,
then as a magnanimous gesture on your part, take the first step and "accept" the fact that the California voters (society) have spoken...and just move on to fighting for your next "progressive" cause.
wow ... there's a lot of hate over here on the opinion blog. geez.
Yes Will but it is an example of weakness, nothing more.
The bloggers being so hung up on Sean Penn's remark about California Prop 8, I went to Kurier ; a German language major daily.
The paper reported Sean Penn, best actor for role of Harvey Milk, the homo sexual politician. . In translation from the Kurier: "How did you land all those hereto roles all those years? Tonight it is important to be a good actor, but in life it is important to be a good human being, and my friend Sean Penn is that." Robert De Nero, who apparently had no problem with Penn's remarks. And absolutely nothing about prop 8 or the topic of same sex-marriage. So I am learning over and over again that American is American and Euro is Euro, and the twain shall never have a meeting of minds. Tomorrow I shall research English and Irish reports. My French is too poor to pick up any perceptual nuances or slants. But I doubt that the French would get all shook up about the mention of same-sex marriage.
"Dizzy"...so we are supposed to take our cue from euro-weenies and other actors?Europe...isn't that where a bunch of those hypocrites who make a living pretending to be someone else were going to run off to when George W.Bush was elected president?They will say anything no matter how stupid to get a little PR and follow it up with what?...more empty utterings and little or no action.Follow their lead if you desire.
Who else got the ridiculous impression that I was trying to sell "euro-weenies" to true blue Yankee bloggers? hahaha!