Sean Penn and Hugo Chavez are BFF

[Simbagal23]

You guys are getting your panties in a bunch over nothing. Sean Penn matters for jack in the world politically speaking until he holds an elected office and has never changed anyone's mind about anything. And even if he has, what's it to you? Celebrities often happen to have annoying ways of expressing their political views, but they still have the right to have them.

I didn't view this as anyone getting their panties in a bunch....simply making fun of yet another "celebrity" (and I use that term losely with some of these people!) with pseudo-political aspirations. Not a big deal.

I think it is kind of a big deal. These are meaningless targets that distract people from real problems - it wouldn't be such a big deal if certain political parties didn't run entire campaigns based on rallying against the supposed "Hollywood threat". And a large percentage of people buy into that hoopla.

I was referring to this board's reaction....not the US population as a whole. My view is like Popeye's...Penn is a good actor. Outside of that, I could really care less about his (or other actors/actresses) political views.

[ghostrunner]

Sean Penn is a great actor.


--P--

I'd argue that point even.

[Popeye_Card]

Outside of that, I could really care less about his (or other actors/actresses) political views.

I'd much rather care about their charitable views than their political stances. Except for a lot of the hollow junk about AIDS. (It seems hollow to me anyway.)

--P--

[Cronos]

You guys are getting your panties in a bunch over nothing. Sean Penn matters for jack in the world politically speaking until he holds an elected office and has never changed anyone's mind about anything. And even if he has, what's it to you? Celebrities often happen to have annoying ways of expressing their political views, but they still have the right to have them.

I'm surmising that this had already been posted, but it isn't that he shouldn't be allowed to have political views, it's that he feels his political view means more than anyone else's because of his celebrity. And no, I don't think that's a leap of judgment.

Because of the big deal he himself makes out of his political opinion, the sheep who happen to be die-hard fans of the actor may make that their own political opinion without thinking through what their own opinion was or might be. If they want to do that, that's fine, but it's an awfully shallow way to think, and it simply extends the power the celebrity already has.

[Simbagal23]

Outside of that, I could really care less about his (or other actors/actresses) political views.

I'd much rather care about their charitable views than their political stances. Except for a lot of the hollow junk about AIDS. (It seems hollow to me anyway.)

--P--

Yep. One that immediately comes to mind is Ashley Judd, who travels to various countries for good causes...yet she doesn't spout her political views. She'd rather talk about the charities she believes in (or her husband's car racing!).

[maddash]

You guys are getting your panties in a bunch over nothing. Sean Penn matters for jack in the world politically speaking until he holds an elected office and has never changed anyone's mind about anything. And even if he has, what's it to you? Celebrities often happen to have annoying ways of expressing their political views, but they still have the right to have them.

I'm surmising that this had already been posted, but it isn't that he shouldn't be allowed to have political views, it's that he feels his political view means more than anyone else's because of his celebrity. And no, I don't think that's a leap of judgment.

Because of the big deal he himself makes out of his political opinion, the sheep who happen to be die-hard fans of the actor may make that their own political opinion without thinking through what their own opinion was or might be. If they want to do that, that's fine, but it's an awfully shallow way to think, and it simply extends the power the celebrity already has.

Don't you think people who use Penn as a target for their agenda are just as sheepish and shallow?

[Jocephus]

You guys are getting your panties in a bunch over nothing. Sean Penn matters for jack in the world politically speaking until he holds an elected office and has never changed anyone's mind about anything. And even if he has, what's it to you? Celebrities often happen to have annoying ways of expressing their political views, but they still have the right to have them.

I'm surmising that this had already been posted, but it isn't that he shouldn't be allowed to have political views, it's that he feels his political view means more than anyone else's because of his celebrity. And no, I don't think that's a leap of judgment.

Because of the big deal he himself makes out of his political opinion, the sheep who happen to be die-hard fans of the actor may make that their own political opinion without thinking through what their own opinion was or might be. If they want to do that, that's fine, but it's an awfully shallow way to think, and it simply extends the power the celebrity already has.

i think thats quite a leap...

[ghostrunner]

Only problem I had with Penn was in going to Iraq in the run-up to the war. Otherwise, I think he's the proverbial gnat on a cows' butt.

[Popeye_Card]

Only problem I had with Penn was in going to Iraq in the run-up to the war. Otherwise, I think he's the proverbial gnat on a cows' butt.

The Katrina stuff was pretty stupid too.

--P--

[clement]

Bruce Springsteen best summed up what I think about this thread.

[/youtube]