Inspire Change - what does this mean? Last time I checked, Rodger Waters was not an expert on geo-politics and neither are you JD. You should keep politics out of your articles before you embarass yourself futher.

If you find what Waters did at his show acceptable, then you are part of the clueless Ameria hating left that keeps wondering why they lose every election.
 

That's a good method for discussing a political topic: taunting and belittling. Why discuss a topic on its merits when you can simply resort to those well-lauded debate skills.

If you would like to know why "what Waters did at his show" was acceptable, might I suggest checking the First Amendment to the Constitution. Our Founding Fathers knew that criticizing America doesn't equal hating America. Some would say blindly following our leaders without question does more harm than speaking out and risking being deemed "clueless" and "America hating" by political pundits like Stevie Wonder.
 

actually I am pretty damn informed on the issues Stevie. I served my nation both in the Justice Department and the military, that makes me pretty damn qualified, along with every other US citizen to talk politics. Bring it on Stevie....
 

JD - I am sure you are informed about the issues - I simply take disagree with your conclusions and what I feel is your indirect approval of what Rodger Waters did.

I am sorry to have offended - you and this site are great - I read it almost everyday. However, what Rodger Waters did at this show was an outrage in my opinion. I too am entitled to my first amendment rights - I am not sure those rights should (or do) apply to pasty Englishmen ;-) I take issue with a British subject coming into my city and implying that the President is on the same moral level with Osama etc. - I am surprised that you seem to have no problem with that.

To put a slightly different spin on the subject, I as a concert goer am sick and tired of perfomers using their status as 'rock stars' to push a political agenda to their fans. Folks pay alot of money to go to these shows (btw T-shirts at Rodger Waters show were being sold for $45!)The message is almost always the same - left wing politics are the only view that is good and correct, Bush is evil, he lied etc. - it's a form of facism. People who go to these shows mostly want be entertained and have a good time. If the concert going public needs to be lectured / informed about world politics by (in many cases) morally indifferent and drug addled 'rock stars' that is really sad. These guys are no more qualified to lecture me on these matters than my dentist - it's just that they are given a platform they are (IMO) abusing. If you have spent any amount of time around musically talented people, you soon learn that their level of 'elightenment' mostly does not go far past their God given talents.

Also, Rodger probably never gets the benefit of even talking to someone who does not agree with his world view (as is the case with many in the entertainment industry) so I am somewhat sure he has no idea how much he offended a great number of his fans.

Bottom Line: There are alot of complex issues out there that need careful and thoughtful consideration. IMO a rock concert is not an appropriate forum for these issues. I have not seen much evidence that Rodger is a 'concerned world citizen' - in the end I think that Waters main consideration is his bottom line which I am sure is nice and healthy.
 

I'm a big fan of the first amendment, which is why I put a forum like this up for reader comments. And, I do appreciate yours. But, if you read carefully you'll see I clearly state I wish he didn't do that. Now the focus is on him, instead of our focus being on poor port security, OBL still on the run, trying to fix Iraq, making sure our troops are getting adequate healh care upon their return home, and a host of other important issues that get swept under the rug. Those are the things we should all be discussing instead of what some rock singer did. So, no I do not "approve" of what he did. But, I also respect anyone's right to speak out, even his.
 

Roger is correct. If you listen to his lyrics and his interviews, you will understand that hs is NOT some uninformed 'rock star'. He knows and understand history at least as well as george bush. He doesnt see it just thru Americas eyes. He has seen the world and knows that America is NOT always right. This war is wrong and thats what Roger is saying. He never said we shouldnt go after bin laden. He knows that bush is doing this for money and oil. Bush doenst care about Iraq at all. He only cares about himself and his 'legacy'. Bush sees himself as some kind of 'christian' crusader and has even said this is a crusade. how much history do you have to know, to underatnd that the crusades were and are wrong? Bush has cut veterans benefits even as he touts his 'success'. He doesnt give them proper arnmour or weapons and lies about the number of attacks on our soldiers. This administration is hypocrisy at its finest. marquew