Opinions and Editorials Section
By Ben Jenkins, Staff Writer
In the current political landscape it is more important than ever for celebrities to be more than just entertainers.
Celebrities, actors, athletes and musicians have a unique platform to spread awareness about politics. They are often not directly involved with politics which gives them the ability to provide a unique view we as the public are accustomed to only hearing from our political leaders.
The public has found it easy to dismiss politicians’ messages. What they articulate can be chalked up to them simply trying to say what they think will get the votes, but with celebrities it is different.
For celebrities there is a little personal gain in expressing their political beliefs. Today more than ever the United States is staunchly divided. With every political opinion given by a celebrity, they run the risk of losing fans.
That is what increases the importance of them being outspoken. They are not looking out for themselves, rather, they are looking out for the people.
The words of a regular person in society mean much less than those of a person with a huge following. Anyone could go out and speak against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or about any of the other issues in the nation, but that will carry little weight in the grand scheme of things.
When a person of huge fame, say Billie Eilish, speaks out against ICE on a giant platform like the Grammys, her words carry true impact.
The world heard her message, “No one is illegal on stolen land.” Whether someone agrees or disagrees with that does not particularly matter. They are now talking about it and it is through public discussion that change can be made.
Staff writer, Ben Jenkins argues that celebrities have a huge impact on society’s political opinion.
Celebrity activism is a key component to the basic function of democracy, yet there are many who think they should “stay in their lane.”
Many point to the fact that most celebrities are more likely not as educated on politics as most would like someone of such influence to be. They say people will follow them blindly just because they like them. While this may be true in some instances, that is not on the celebrities, but on society as a whole.
When people hear the message that celebrities push, it makes them stop and think. They hear their favorite rapper or actor give a political opinion and it makes them research the issue. And that is an undeniable benefit for the country.
The more politics can be openly discussed, the better the political landscape will be. Discussion is what leads to compromise and compromise is the very thing democracy is built on.
When the people of the U.S. are able to compromise with each other, not hating people of opposite beliefs or only looking at the country from their own lens, it forces politicians’ hands.
They will not be able to be so extremist if the people are no longer so divided. Now, of course there are going to be people who want the country to lean very far in a particular direction. That is not the goal of our system of government. The goal is to appease the most people while also not hurting particular groups.
That is what makes celebrities’ expression of political views so important. They have the ability to be the catalyst of discussion.And It will be discussion that guides the U.S. to its strongest future.
