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Jul 21, 2004
the choice of a new generation
About a year and a half ago, during a UCC staff meeting, we were discussing an article about how businesses forecast by analyzing current trends and predicting how they may play out in the future. We then did a little forecasting of out own. Troy, our Senior Pastor, asked if we thought there would be a widespread movement, ala the 1960’s, driven by college students of protest against the war and whatever else. The unanimous answer was, “no.” When Troy asked us why (I think he kinda thought there might be. He was a few years older than the rest of us, which may have contributed to this difference of opinion,) we though that way, I responded that young people today are just too apathetic, and that we have it to good to get motivated to protest something. Why do I mention this? Well, some of the flack that the “Hollywood Elite” has taken over the past few weeks (and longer, going back to the Dixie Chicks) has got me thinking about some of these issues. Particularly, Elton John’s recent comments about “censorship” in the US got me thinking. According to Elton John, the backlash these musicians are getting is unfair. He referred to it as “censorship” and even accused the administration of “bullying” against them. First of all, the administration is not bullying any of these people. The backlash is a movement of the people. There is no “censorship” going on. None of these people are being fined, jailed, or executed. Now possibly the FBI is going to them and beating them up and telling them not to tell anyone, I don’t know. But I doubt it. And that’s what first amendment rights are about . . . the government can’t stop you from speaking out. But, the public is another issue. The public can’t stop you from expressing your opinion, but they a. Don’t have to like it, B. Don’t have to listen to it, or C. Don’t have to buy your product if they don’t like what you say. Also, they have the right of expression, and if they don’t like what an entertainer says about politics, they can criticize. Elton also brought up stories of the good ole days, when Dylan, Seeger, and The Beatles were singing anti-war songs. That I think is more to the point. The fact is, this is not the 60’s. I think that the Hollywood crowd is having trouble coming to grips with the fact that we don’t look to them to drive our political movements anymore. I think there are several reasons for this: 1. Entertainers tend to be very liberal. The country, particularly the younger generations (especially Gen-Y, or the Millenials.) tend to be moving toward the right. So, right off there is a difference in opinions and hot button issues between entertainers and everyone else. 2. Lots of Hyperbole: Let’s face it, the comparisons of Bush to Hitler, ect, just don’t fly. We know the difference. 3. We don’t need them as a mouthpiece. Here in the information age, we have the internet, talk radio, and about a gazillion other ways to get our views out. We have no need to rally behind a celebrity anymore. 4. We aren’t particularly impressed with the 60’s revolution. When we see some of the fruits of that revolution, well, we come to the conclusion that some of the values that were protested actually have some merit. Check out this article. 5. We get the impression that some of these “elites” take themselves way to seriously. Another important thing to note is that after 9-11, while we may have some trouble with the war, and maybe even disagree with it, I think there is a sense that we are in Iraq for the right reasons, even if they aren’t the right reasons, if that makes any sense. In other words, much of the world isn’t simply black and white anymore. Anyway, I was right in my assessment that there would not be a protest movement, but I was wrong in my reasoning. I’ve seen very little apathy amongst “Gen Y.” Really, it’s driven more by a. not being categorically against the war and b. A different way of being politically active. Then again, if you look at the situation with the Dixie Chicks and Linda Ronstadt, maybe we are really good at protesting. posted
by Unknown @ 12:20:00 PM |
