My man, TrueSpeech, kind of stole my thunder, but I wanted to comment on this "controversy" as well.
Actress, Stacey Dash, is in the center of a whirlwind full of hate for a tweet mentioning her support for Mitt Romney for President. First of all, as fine as Stacey Dash is, she can vote for "Honey Boo Boo" and I wouldn't care.
But, seriously, let's just analyze what has happened over the past week: this photo went viral along with her mentioning that she supports Romney. Since that time, fans, fellow actors, etc. have expressed publicly that she's wrong for doing so. Wrong for picking a candidate she likes? Heck, I wouldn't be surprised if most of the people hating on her are even registered to vote.
She's even received death threats behind her choice of candidate.
(shaking my head)
Let's get real here: the reason
If Dash were white, then I seriously doubt many people would have raised an eyebrow to this. I'm a black guy who has voted in every election (not just Presidential) for as long as I can remember. Do I support "Mittens?" Heck, no. I can't get with someone who contradicts himself constantly. Ask any black man that has ever had a nightmare about "The Man" and I bet they would describe him as looking like Mitt Romney.
Would I publicly blast someone for supporting him? Absolutely not. Why should I come down on a Romney supporter just because their opinion is different than mine? Sure, I'll disagree with them, but to insult them or threaten their life because they think differently? Is that why a Jacksonville Jaguars fan killed a Chicago Bears fan last weekend?
The logic behind that is stupid! Social networks have given idiots a false sense of power and anonymity they've long craved. This venue allows them to come off as socially conscious or to appear as some sort of an expert critic. It allows them to be able to actually affect the lives of the public figures that were once only accessible on the television screen.
Look, I'm not saying that a person can't publicly disagree with someone's viewpoints. I do so all of the time on this blog. That's what America is all about. But, isn't taking one person's vote and turning it into national stories and death threats a bit much? Does everything have to be an outrage? If Ms. Dash isn't allowed to express herself and vote as she chooses, then what's the point of even having an election? And how would you feel if someone did the same thing to you?
Here's what I'll leave for you all to think about: social networks spark emotions. Emotions spark bad decisions. The days of hearing or reading something that upsets you and waiting to have someone to talk to about it are over. At any time of the day or night, you can go online and find an audience. A lot of people do just that and the time that we once had to rationally think things out has been replaced with an instant emotion dictated in 140 characters or less.
The end-result is a person bullying a celebrity for having the exact same right as they have. "How dare you promote Mitt Romney! #OBAMA2012"
Really?
Have social networks created a "lynch mob" mentality (for lack of a better phrase) when it comes to opinions?
Amen. This so needed to be said. It is her right as an American to vote the way she pleases. So then why are death threats necessary? The whole thing just disappoints me and makes me sad.
ReplyDeleteIt's the society that we now live in Melanie. A bunch of people who think that their emotional outbursts matter in the grand scheme of things. It's sad. Thanks for stopping in!
DeleteFirst, Stacey Dash is hot so she can write-in Fidel (Allegedly Brain-dead) Castro for all I care. Second, Stacey Dash has looked exactly the same since 1986. She's got whatever Lena Horne had in terms of aging. Did I mention she was hot?....On a more serious note, the issue isn't that Dash is supporting the Republican party. To me, the issue is that more African-Americans don't support the party. Black people are overwhelming anti-abortion and pro-religion. Its interesting to me that "we" vote Democratic but many believe in Republican core tenents.
ReplyDeleteAmen to that Lena Horne comparison. I think that blacks do themselves a disservice by being so loyal to one party. Democrats know that they have our votes, so they take us for granted. Republicans know we won't vote for them, so they don't even try.we are cheating ourselves by not paying attention to platforms and choosing accordingly.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping in!
I NORMALLY won't weigh in on topics like this, I usually lurk however, in THIS particular instance I feel compelled to add my lil ole 2 cents. Since my American his[story] classes in college and political science major classes, I decided that the Republican Party definitely fit my train of thought. A historical study of the tenets of these political parties brings up one key factor that remains at the top of my brain...it was the Democratic party which was the largest supporter of slavery and segregation. Not until Lady Bird Johnson jumped on her husband did the Democratic party begin to exhibit a change and not until the Kennedy's REALLY stepped up for their political gains did the party actually stand behind Black America.
ReplyDeleteOk so with that being said, I support Ms. Dash's right to her feelings and opinions and I don't pretend to speak for the entire Black American populace BUT, the outpouring of negativity is a fallback to the days of a unified minority moving in the same direction to accomplish a purpose. Those that betray that movement are going to be ostracized and viewed in a negative light. I ask you this question "Is it any more wrong to vote for a member of your race for that sole reason than it is to vote against them because they are NOT of your race"?
Let's face it more white people will vote against Obama just because he is Black than Black people will vote against Romney just because he is white.
Dash is being seen as a traitor to the Black movement, just as those Blacks who joined with the fbi and hoover to destroy King, SNCC, Malcolm and The Black Panther Party as also seen as traitors. Wrong or right, it is what it is.
I do not agree with death threats against someone for their opinion, I believe it is disgusting and dangerous to the fabric of our society as a whole. But for the record, I am Black, Republican AND voting for Obama because he is Black and also because of Romney's Mormon roots which I totally disagree with and fear a return to a psychological sort of industrialized slavery under that guy. However, if McCAIN was running, I would vote for HIM over Obama, color totally aside.
Thanks for chiming in. You make some great points. I don't know if she necessarily betrays a movement since I personally don't believe in either political party. Despite having quite a few Conservative views, I feel as if both parties have their share of crooks. Having said all of that, I have no problem with Dash declaring her love for Romney although I'm not a fan. I don't agree with voting for a person just because of their color either. If I thought Obama was bad for my wallet, then I wouldn't vote for him if he were my uncle, yet alone because he's black.
DeleteAs for McCain, I like him. I don't agree with a lot of things he says, but I like his conviction and his attitude. He looks like someone who would get some things done which should count for something.
Mittens? Lol. Anyway, the backlash is completely absurd. She's allowed to vote for whomever she wants to, whatever her reasons may be. Isn't the fact that she has the right to even make that choice what America is supposed to be all about?
ReplyDeleteExactly, Tiffany. Besides, she's rich, so maybe she wants to go with a candidate who will help her continue to line her pockets. And that appears to be "Mittens." :)
Delete