Be wary of movements that front their cause with over-hyped ‘celebs’
Be wary. Very wary, of movements that front their cause with over-hyped ‘celebs’.
There’s a paradox in operation here - and which is in favour of the elite. Using ‘celebs’ is simultaneously an acknowledgement of the ignorance-cum-stupidity of members of the movement. If not, why use ‘celebs’? One has to be pretty ignorant-cum-stupid, to need ‘celebs’ to prod them in the right direction given that ‘celebs’, like singers, actors, comedians, ball-kickers, etc, are professionals in those fields and wouldn’t be as well-versed in socio-political issues as would those whom dedicate most of their time to such matters.
The thing is, if you need a celeb to point you in the right direction, given that s/he isn’t well-versed in these matters, you wouldn’t be of any real use to a movement other than supplying the numbers and not numbers in terms of IQ. And in that, you’ll just end up supplying the support for the aspirations of the integral part of the elite - the celebs. Picture a sociopolitical organisation using Mickey Mouse and Daisy Duck to front their organisations. What would that say about the standard of its members? And how impressionable and ignorant do you think the members are going to be? Wouldn’t this just make them putty in the hands of the elite?
Haven’t you ever wondered why, say, during the period of revolutions and upheavals in the west in the 1700s and 1800s, no entertainer led any movement? Shouldn’t that indicate the rightful place of a 'celeb'
And even if you aren’t as dumb as ‘fans’, socio-political movements who use ‘celebs’ are, through these ‘celebs’, confining the boundaries of acceptable thought within the norms established by what these ‘celebs’ have to say by according them the ‘limelight’. Haven’t you ever wondered why, say, during the period of revolutions and upheavals in the west in the 1700s and 1800s, no entertainer led any movement? Shouldn’t that indicate the rightful place of a 'celeb' who dedicates the bulk of her/is time to coming up with song lyrics of superficial quality, or pretending to be a hero on the silver screen, or scampering after a ball with 21 other men, or shaking their ‘booties’ on stage, etc, etc? I'm thinking of that crotch-swivelling twit, Michael Jackson. He's asking you to 'look at the man in the mirror' to 'make that change'. In truth, he's looking at you to 'make that change' whilst he walks away with billions. Asshole.
In fact, we can say that the preponderance of ‘celebs’ fronting socio-political organisations indicates the degeneration of the citizen to a ‘fan’, and therefore, more impressionable in the face of the superficial and trivial as opposed to those who rallied around the marx’s, paine’s, and socrates’ of previous times. I’d say both form a symbiotic union that sees foot-dragging in significant arenas, or the refinement, as opposed to eradication, of the evils of the past. And let’s not forget, these celebs wouldn’t really be supporting that which might lead to their being deprived of all the wealth and glory which they are accustomed to. You could say that they serve as the first front against the ire of the masses in the face of the elite by making ‘privilege’ and the ‘class system’ more palatable via the ‘entertainment’ they lull you with whilst they laugh their way to the bank with the bankers, politicians and the rest of the global elite.
ed
The following is ed's response to TBPaB's recent email.
TBP:
Hi all,
I probably don't need to tell you that this is a once-in-a-generation chance to change our electoral system. You are already helping us ditch our regressive and unfair first past the post voting system.
But I do need to ask you to make a donation to the Yes to Fairer Votes campaign, so that they can provide all the resources we need to campaign for better politics, loud and clear.
It's time for change. It's time for a better voting system. Make a donation of £15, or whatever you can, to make this happen.
http://www.yestofairervotes.org/contribute-today
Under the current system, many MPs get into Parliament with less than one-third of the votes in their constituency. And many have seats for life.
No wonder MPs often seem to be a law unto themselves. No wonder they often seem to take voters for granted. And no wonder people feel their views get ignored.
In the referendum on 5 May we can vote Yes to change how our MPs get elected. And with your help, when the Yes vote carries the day, we'll have the chance under the AV system to vote for candidates by listing them in order of preference - 1, 2, 3 and so on.
Winning this will not be easy and we will need your help to ensure it happens. So donate £15 today, or whatever you can afford and put a nail in the coffin of first past the post:
http://www.yestofairervotes.org/contribute-today
Yours sincerely,
Eddie Izzard
TBP:
Dear all,
Did you see the email from Eddie Izzard earlier in the week?
I was hugely inspired by Eddie's enthusiasm for changing our politics for the fairer, and I wasn't the only one.
We are making great progress, but we can't win the referendum without you.
There's still time for you to help win fairer votes for everyone. Your donation will provide resources for campaigners up and down the country - supplies that will help campaigners to persuade thousands more people to say Yes to AV on 5 May.
Please make a donation today:
http://www.yestofairervotes.org/contribute_now
With thanks,
Katie Ghose
ed:
Hi all at TBPaB,
Yup, i saw it, but wasn't 'hugely inspired' as he wasn't saying anything new. His being some overly-lauded and overpaid celeb doesn't make a difference.
They aren't professional thinkers, just actors, singers, comedians...no big deal...not a very intelligent caste. They should shut up and let the pro-thinkers take the stage for significant issues.
One has to be pretty ignorant, or impressionable, like celeb-worshipping 'fans', to be 'hugely inspired' by this joker.
And, by the way, i'm all for 'PR now!' and 'Fair Votes Now!' I won't be supporting the sell-out 'Take Back Parliament a Bit' movement.
We were all about 'Fair Votes Now!' and its 'Fairer Votes Now!' now. I'm not into marginalising minority parties in favour of the 'celebs' amongst the political parties.
That's political 'racism' isn't it.
***
Wish you could circulate the above to the mailing list *Winking smile*
Nothing personal. Just political...because political is personal isn't it.
Have a good weekend all *Party smile*
ed
From another view, one could say the members of the movement are smart to capitalise on the degeneration of the populace to an ignorant and stupid mass. In singapore, there are quite a few TV charity shows - NKF Charity Chow, President Star Charity to name a couple. The celebs are used to appeal to the masses to call in during/and after these shows to donate generously for good causes. Who will get immediate benefits from this? Singtel, M1, Starhub, the government, the celabs. To perpetuate the celebs worship phenomenon, there are major shows such as Star Search and Star Awards to ensure the continuance supply of celebs. I am all for doing good causes but will not be used by the elites/government to excuse them from doing their part first.
ReplyDeleteWell, its worse in singapore actually - considering the actors, generally, chinese, are pretty rubbish at acting and entertaining. Well, that's a result of the confucianisation of singapore. Egalitarian multiculturalism and democracy brought in at the right time tends to engender greater all-round intelligence. Can't expect much from a people who leave thinking beyond 'practical' matters to the 'professionals'.
ReplyDeleteYes, i agree with your views on the chinese 'star search'. People whom are inclined to following-like-sheep are most receptive to the farts and fancies of 'celebs' - In this, the Confucianised Chinese are quite similar to the Americans. Two sides of the same coin.
Well, its worse in singapore actually - considering the actors, generally, chinese, are pretty rubbish at acting and entertaining. One needs to have the IQ of a pair of shoes before one can be 'entertained' by them. Well, that's a result of the confucianisation of singapore. Egalitarian multiculturalism and democracy brought in at the right time tends to engender greater all-round intelligence. Can't expect much from a people who leave thinking beyond 'practical' matters to the 'professionals'.
ReplyDeleteYes, i agree with your views on the chinese 'star search'. People whom are inclined to following-like-sheep are most receptive to the farts and fancies of 'celebs' - In this, the Confucianised Chinese are quite similar to the Americans. Two sides of the same coin.