Meryl Streep is on-the-roll saving the world from Trump and I suspect, also red states and conservatives as well (aka a not insignificant chuck of her fan base). My thoughts here apply equally to all the other celebs that feel compelled to school me about why their politics are right. It doesn’t matter that some of my politics actually overlap with theirs. Since Meryl Streep has now repeatedly foisted herself into the spotlight, I may as well speak directly to her.
“Meryl, there are a lot of reasons why I don’t like Hollywood preaching to me about politics, so I’ll list them here.
It doesn’t sit right with me | Every time I hear about a celebrity political sermon in the news, I think, “Huh? Who made him/her into an authority over my opinions?”
It’s bait and switch | Especially at awards shows where you’re contracted to applaud and enlighten about the preforming arts, we get politics instead – like we don’t already get enough of that 24 hours a day on social media. We turn on the TV to watch one thing and get blasted with a different ‘product’.
The camera is not democratic | Those who stand in front of a camera for a living are presented extra-ordinary opportunities that don’t belong to the average person. Acting is certainly hard work but it does not confer to you any special qualification or authority to recommend political positions.
Acting does not give you superior understanding about government | Sure, you can moonlight in government matters and you can say anything you want, but that does not give you the right to leverage fame into activism, piggybacked on entertainment. You can vote, run for office, write your senator, or stand in any venue you want and shout into the wind but don’t mix it with your day-job.
You assume special knowledge and insight | Remember Alar? You, (Meryl), were a spokesperson against it. It’s been debated by real scientists ever since. I personally am against most chemicals in the food chain but when you testified back in the day, you were nothing but a pretty face speaking for someone else. An actual scientist would have been far more apropos.
It often accompanies special access | Don’t we all revile special access? Isn’t that why lobbyist are so scorned? As an A-lister, (Bs and Cs may fall under this as well), you get invited to see the President or other rulers. You idolize them and they idolize you. You gaze into one another’s eyes. The President, provided he is in your political wing, can count on you to advance and support his/her message. You get your Hollywood standing validated and advanced. Quid pro quo. Now, please go and have a good time with whomever you want, but please recuse yourself from any advocacy shared with that elected official.
The reverse test | Don’t you just feel really icky when Trump and any of his star boosters do the same in reverse?
Thank you, have a good day.”
Lee
BTW, I don’t like Meryl Streep that much anyway. She under-acts her non-verbal parts and over-acts her speech.
