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| Christian Grantham was a student activist in the late 90s and later was a consultant to domestic policy forums for the Clinton Administration as well as events for HRC and GLAAD. | |||
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July 17, 2004
"There's an atmosphere of fear in America right now that is deadly. Everyone is too career-conscious." So says Sir Elton John performing in New York.
While his comments are somewhat valid regarding the political atmosphere in America, Sir Elton John seems to be the epitome of the career-conscious artist fearful of expressing himself.
"As of this spring, there have been virtually no anti-war concerts - or anti-war songs that catch on, for that matter," Elton added in an interview published on BBC News.
Why, these are great ideas, Sir Elton John. What do you have in mind?
Is Sir Elton brave enough to perform before controversial political video montages like Madonna (or is it Esther?) and Ozzy Ozbourne are currently doing? Apparently not. Is he brave enough to speak his mind on stage like the Dixie Chicks and Whoopie Goldberg? Again, no. Is his money on Michael Moore's $100,000,000 box office grabbing political propaganda flick or publicly helping to fund a candidate in the race for the White House? Maybe Sir Elton should ditch the rose-colored glasses and step up to the plate.
If selling tickets is any indication of Sir Elton's commitment to speaking his mind, I suppose being "career-conscious" has a new champion in America. Compared to these artists, Sir Elton John is intellectually M.I.A. and yet another whiner on the sidelines with a weak excuse for not artistically expressing the truth he wishes to see in the world.
Talk about the “career-conscious.” We all know Sir Elton’s biggest fear isn’t a knock on his door by the F.B.I. for speaking his mind in America. That’s more likely to happen in the United Kingdom under silly speech codes. No, Sir Elton’s bottom line is far more selfish: ticket sales.
Sir Elton John can do us all a favor and can the silly charges of "censorship" in America until he has the balls to speak his mind on stage and face the consequences these artists have accepted.
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