I’m Outta Here!!!
We have heard this all before; and there appears to be a list of celebrities who have vowed to leave the US should his/her candidate choice not win the election:
- Lena Dunham
- Matt Damon
- Jon Stewart
- Cher
- Samuel L Jackson
- Rosie O’Donnell
- John Legend
- Bryan Cranston
- Barbara Streisand
- Chelsea Handler
- Amy Schumer
That was the list from 2016. And now joining that list is Bruce Springstein.
Here’s the cliff notes on this from the cheap seats: Bye
My first problem (or should I say yours) is …. “I” don’t know you. In one way or another I have paid for your entertainment but beyond that – we have no relationship. Consequently, your absence means nothing to me.
My second problem is that your success and subsequent affluent lifestyle that the United States has afforded you is apparently not enough to satisfy your ego with the realization that you are (despite your wealth and celebrity) are merely another citizen in this great country of ours and have the freedom to come and go as you please. So, announcing your departure as if it would impact “the little people” in some way as to influence their vote in the hopes of keeping you here is ridiculous.
If you were to ban me from either attending or watching your performances from here until my last day, I would accept that as your right and look no further to you as a source for my amusement. But that is it.
I suggest you take your one vote that you are entitled to by virtue of your citizenship and cast it – just like the rest of us. Stop this tantrum throwing, threat making, if my candidate doesn’t win I’m outa here attitude and do what you need to do to make yourself happy. WELCOME TO THE REAL UNITED STATES.
R-O-A-R!!!!!
Very well said Ellen. Many of the same folks said they were leaving after the 2016 election but can’t recall any that actually did. The reason they don’t go is the thing they cherish most is $$$. The opportunities here dwarf anywhere else. I haven’t heard this about Springsteen but sounds like more nonsense and idle threats. If he does so be it…adios
Celebrity – whether in entertainment, sports, politics, journalism, faith – can be an extremely powerful tool for change. It can bring focus and gravitas to painful issues and gross disparities inflicted on some by those who command similar levels of wealth and power. I see the great advantage of having a person of influence call attention to issues, just as you and I sometimes do with our writings.
I applaud (pun accidently intended) anyone – Bruce, LeBron, Taylor Swift, Colbert, Kimmel and Fallon, and on and on, who use their platform to advocate for positive change and a return to the basic tenets of not only America, but of just about every faith. If the despair of watching the crumbling of all that has been achieved over or very short time as a nation drives people to consider leaving, then perhaps that should serve as a call to examine our individual values and figure out why these acts of conscience anger us so. These same people who ignite the “love it or leave it” flames are the same ones who donate their time, substantial wealth and personal currency to help a lot of people who need a hand. If good and decent people who take action and drive advocacy are to be derided for reaching a point of despair, well, I wonder where the real arrogance lies – with the activists or with the deriders.
Using celebrity as a tool for change (IMO) is different than making a public statement that if your candidate does not win you are leaving. One is voicing your opinion which as Americans, we are all free to do. But stating that you will uproot and leave if your candidate does not win is more of a tantrum before the fact…and quite frankly, an empty threat if they do not then do it. In short, it diminishes their credibility. That’s one of those threats you can only make once. After that it becomes just a lot of hot air. I would like to see more of a happy medium if people want to be a voice for change. Talk about what good qualities you see in the candidate of your choice. Fine with that.