“Why the First Amendment Guarantees Your Right to Speak and Our Right to Ignore Your Stupidity…”

There has been a lot of controversy sparked by various organizations taking a stand against “celebrities” using their status to denounce the war in Iraq. Cries of “censorship” and “You’re denying my freedom of speech” arose because radio stations, advertisers and others quietly dropped certain “celebrities” in the entertainment industry after their vocal anti-war mongering.

First, as usual, we do not expect intelligence in Hollywood in any format. But in the hopes that some can actually READ simple declarative sentences; may I remind our Hollywood “friends” that the first amendment specifically forbids the GOVERNMENT from repressing your speech. You know, like sending armed thugs into your home to arrest you because you said something they didn’t like; kind of what the poor Iraqis have suffered over the past twenty years. As far as I know, no government agency has attempted in ANY way to interfere with various Hollywood’s “free expression” even when many of us wishes it would (like shutting down the porno industry).

Secondly, what makes these celebrities think ANYONE is interested in what they have to say anyway? Surely, it is ONLY because they are celebrities that the media will give them a public platform for their views. But if their views are unpopular, then why shouldn’t Americans refuse to listen to them?

Some defenders of Martin Sheen, Tim Robbins, Susan Sarandon, Barbara Streisand, The Dixie Chicks et. al., complain that their professional life should not be harmed because they tout unpopular views. Really? What makes these people “popular” in the first place? All of Hollywood is unreal (though some may say “surreal”). I well remember a tour I was given of 20th Century Fox some twenty years ago by a friend who worked as a sound engineer. Walking among the sets I had seen in countless movies and TV shows was really kind of neat. But all those city streets are images made of canvas and 2 X 4s. There is NOTHING real in Hollywood, not even the “stars;” everything is a creation of talented (often unrecognized) technicians who created the “reality” that makes even the “stars” look so good.

While some actors try to find “high culture” in their “art” in reality, we find them appealing just because we can identify with the characters they portray. But here is an eye-opener; the actors are not the characters they play on the screen. However, because image takes precedence over substance, many people have a hard time distinguishing between the two. We LIKE certain actors because we LIKE the roles they play.

There are few things so disappointing as watching a favorite actor being interviewed on Letterman or Leno where, no matter how desperately they try, they often come across as shallow, silly and incompetent idiots; much like “Joey” on friends. We may have suspended our belief when watching them in a movie or TV show, but when we see them in “real life” they often come across as less than heroic when they do not have the benefit of skilled writers scripting their dialogue, stunt-men taking all the falls, or a crafty director giving them a second chance to “get it right.”

Hence, if a “celebrity” decides to use his status to opine in public his personal views, we then will see him for what he is; and if we do not like what we see, then we have the right to stop watching his movies, or listening to their music. After all, they are the ones who destroyed the carefully created image that made them so appealing to us in the first place. And the only reason why ANYONE would pay two seconds attention to these people is that we LIKED that image. If they then go on national television to pontificate some nonsense or issue error laded press releases that show us that behind the image lives something less savory, why should we continue to listen?

Look, I am really trying very hard NOT to be mean, or scathing or condescending, but it is time for a reality check. These people have spent years honing their “craft,” which is all about creating an illusion. They have no expertise in politics, social philosophy, or public service. They have not demonstrated intellectual or academic competence by peer-reviewed research, or even (usually) earned an undergraduate degree in anything remotely connected with what they want to sound off about.

No, instead, they think that because they are “celebrities” they have the right to use their status earned by entertaining us; to educate us poor benumbed masses who do not share their “enlightened” humanistic and often socialistic worldview. Really, I am not trying to be nasty when I say this, but most actors look pretty and can mouth words that other people wrote; a high IQ is just not a required part of the job description. Furthermore, vanity is almost a sacrament amongst entertainers; they have lived so long on applause that they assume they have a divine right to be heard.

Well folks, welcome to the “real world.” You have the right to say something stupid in public without the government interfering, and we all have the same right to ignore you, or even to stop watching your movies, listening to your music or not welcoming you to public events. I personally stopped watching anything with “Hanoi” Jane Fonda in it after she visited North Vietnam and betrayed American POW’s. Sure, she was young and stupid-but no matter how beautiful or talented she may be as an actress; I could not in good conscience separate her actions from her “art.” I was unable to suspend my disbelief enough to overcome what I sincerely believed to be treasonous and outrageous actions. When I read somewhere that she had formerly apologized for her actions, and even that she made a profession of faith in Christ, I had to reconsider my personal “boycott” and saw a couple of the films she had made over the years (loved “On Golden Pond” even though the language was unnecessarily offensive). And you know she IS a talented actress (and she still looks great). But honestly, she is not THAT talented, (or that beautiful) to make me ignore the hurt she did to guys who were just doing their job, serving their country, and putting their lives on the line for people like HER!

So America, maybe we have just made a major break-through. Hollywood has been successful in manipulating American culture over the past forty years until they went one step too far and tried to impose their will over 70% of the American people regarding the rightness of this war. We just sent them a potent message. Hollywood once made great films that nurtured the soul and made us want to be better people, and a better nation than we were in reality. Maybe a few more boycotts, and few less invitations to certain “celebrities” may wake some producers up. And maybe, just maybe, it shows there is a little more depth to the American people than Hollywood has ever thought.