The News Is My Entertainment

Most people depend on the news to give them the truth about the information the audience is recieving. People trust the news and believe what is presented to them. But what if the news didn't give the whole truth? The role of politics in information and popular media is very influencing.

Just look at the Dixie Chicks. Natalie Maines said "Just so you know, we're ashamed the president of the United States is from Texas." She said this at a concert in London, England on March 10, 2003. After the concert, her comment was everywhere, especially the news. The Dixie Chicks were criticized for the comment by the American citizens who support President Bush. The news strongly disapproved of them and many people believed the news' prespective. They simply got criticized for what they thought. What happened to freedom of speech?

After all negativity Natalie Maines recieved, she made a comment the next day, "I feel the president is ignoring the opinion of many in the U.S. and alienating the rest of the world. My comments were made in frustration, and one of the privileges of being an American is you are free to voice your own point of view." She later apologized to the President. I strongly think she shouldn't have because it's her opinion and she doesn't need to apologized for what she thinks.

Natalie Maines was not the only one to object to the President, but Kanye West also did on live television. His famous comment was made after Hurricane Katrina in August 2005. He said, "George Bush doesn't care about black people." He was one of several celebrities and singers participating in a live telethon and concert produced by NBC News titled "A Concert for Hurricane Relief." After the telethon the company issued a statement that read, "Kanye West departed from the scripted comments that were prepared for him and his opinions in no way represent the views of the network. It would be most unfortunate if the efforts of the artists who participated and the generosity of millions of Americans who are helping those in need are overshadowed by one person’s opinion." Kanye West was criticized at first but afterwards this was quickly forgotten by people.

I personally think Kanye West's comment was more controveial than Natalie's. Kanye West was on live television and the Dixie Chicks were not. Kanye West had a bigger audience and more influence but the Dixie Chicks did not. I also think it had something to do with race. Kanye West was talking about how black people were seen on the news compared to white people. "I hate the way they portray us in the media," West said. "If you see a black family, it says they’re looting. See a white family, it says they’re looking for food."

Not did the Dixie Chicks and Kanye West speak out, but Pink also spoke out about the President. She wrote the song Mr. President which was targeted towards President Bush. This song was not approved for release as a single in the U.S but Pink was more pleased by the response from her fans and other people and who have created their own videos to accompany it for online broadcaster YouTube. Some other protest songs include "Get up, Stand Up" by Bob Marley and the Wailers (1973), "Minority" by Green Day(2000), "World Wide Suicide" by Pearl Jam (2006) and many more.

Three different political stances and three different outcomes. They about the same topic but they were all handled very differently. The Dixie Chicks probably got criticized because it was probably the first time they said something that offended some people. But whatever Pink says, people don’t really care as much because they have grown to know Pink as a girl who says whatever is on her mind. Kanye West makes a big deal about things like how he got less time to perform at the MVAs and how Brittany Spears got more time than him. All three of these artists are different types of singers and have different audiences. Natalie’s comment about Bush was taken to the top unlike Kanye West’s comment.

Works Cited
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/03/15/entertainment/main544132.shtml
http://www.democracynow.org/2005/9/5/kanye_west_bush_doesnt_care_about
http://www.spinner.com/2007/07/13/20-protest-songs-that-mattered-no-20/