Eric, given what you've said, if you've ever had a moustache, you are supporting terror. If you've ever held a kegger with fratboys, you've supported fascism, and if you've ever listened to The Village People, you've commited a crime against humanity.

On that note I shudder to think what the penalties would be for liking Air Supply or Kenny Loggins. Talk about violating basic human decency!

Jim, I am confused by your comment - please elucidate.

>Further proof that most musicians are idiots when it comes to politics and world affairs

no, proof that these musicians don't agree with your worldview. that's all.

I don't care about agreement, I care about logic and providing coherent reasons for one's views other than the vaguest of generalities and knee-jerk reactions then foisted upon uninformed fans, who then take the view as gospel. That's why they should shut the fuck up.

i have to agree that that petition is pretty weak...meaning more or less devoid of content.

but given the level of debate i've seen about the (probably) upcoming war, i seriously doubt ANY level of logic and detail will appease folks on the pro-war side.

Jim, I am confused by your comment - please elucidate.


Actually, I was just being an asshole. But then I read this transcript from CNN. Aside from the complete ignorance of Canada:

GOLDBERG: Now look -- Look, the story -- there is an unprecedented civil war within the Canadian liberal party, regardless. The reason -- the reason the moron story is significant is because -- is not because it is a gaffe, it's because it actually reflects what the Canadian -- what the liberal Canadian government and a lot liberal elite, on the east coast of Canada, believe about the United States. Canada is remarkably anti-American in the last ten years. ROCKBURN: Oh, nonsense, nonsense, nonsense. We love you like brothers. In fact, what he said is Mormon, he didn't say moron.

I do not doubt ignorance of the outside world within the US, but that is nothing compared to the ignorance OF the US BY the outside world.

I think comment #4 nailed it.

The fact he doesn't agree with you doesn't make him an idiot.
It just means you disagree. Why is that so bad?
A better question would be: Why do we care what an actor - the Viggo thread - or Green Day - think about war? And the answer is as long as fans and critics (yes, you included, Eric) pay attention to his opinion he and others will continue to spout off.

It seems to me to be inconsistent to be leading this web site where you are asking people of all walks of life to share their opinions while making comments like this:


"But now singer/guitarist/songwriter Billy Joe Armstrong, not content with being absolutely, 101% butt-slapping wrong about the US invasion of Afghanistan a year ago, is now agitating against war with Iraq - keep the string alive Bill!"

Telling someone to shut the hell up reminds me more of Bill O'Reilly as he shouts down and kicks out anyone whose opinion he doesn't like, then it does a free speech advocate.

Why not just tune him out and/or not buy his albums instead of telling him to shut up?

Final thought: Would this be a good time for me to suggest a 10-part blog critic series about rock stars like Ted Nugent who are conservative and pro-war but are talking out of their butt and therefore I say (in just) they should shut the hell up too?

Or are you cool with that?

Scott, I am cool with that too. But mainly I would remind you that this post was written almost three years ago in another lifetime

My bad. I was doing a search and it came up and I didn't realize the date.

And I was joking about the series idea.

I have generally toned down my rhetoric a bit since then, but I reserve the right to snap at any moment

YOU SPELLED HIS NAME WRONG!! Billie Joe Armstrong, not "Billy" I'm not gunna justify everything he said but I do know that if you are going to do a shitty article about somone you should get their name right!!!

sorry about the second post, dunno how that happened

see, the cool thing about the Internet is that you can fix mistakes like typos.

I think you are just some red neck who is pro war. I know this article is old, but I wanted to tell you that you are [personal attack deleted] He thinks about the greater good of the world and all you think about is America. there are other countries and it seems the war is just killing fellow Americans. You will never get anywhere with that attitude and you have no right to tell people to shut up. You are just some shitty article author and Billie Joe Armstrong is one of the most famous people in the world right now. If you don't have a clue what you're talking about (which you don't) I advise that you shut up [personal attack deleted] !!!

I think that it is great what billie joe armstrong is doing and i wish i knew how to sign that petition, i no the website, but i cant find the thing....... sorry billie.....i hope you arent mad at me.

billie joe if you were to be a super hero who would you be

Is the petition still there?I wana sign it.

As far as I can tell, Green Day, and Billie Joe Armstrong specifically, have as much right to express their political opinions as you or I. That's the beauty of our country --the Land of the Free, remember? At the very least, they are inspiring young people to think about poltics and voice their opinions. I can't see how that is a bad thing. (Also, I can't resist pointing out how much "better" things have been for the people in Iraq since Saddam Hussein was done away with. Hhhhmmm...funny how time works on an issue, isn't it?)

sam, unfortunately you don't live in the Land of the Free. you live in a country where somebody made up that slogan and an awful lot of good people sincerely believe it.

I can't see how that is a bad thing. (Also, I can't resist pointing out how much "better" things have been for the people in Iraq since Saddam Hussein was done away with. Hhhhmmm...funny how time works on an issue, isn't it?)

Nice to see that someone has noticed the improvements in electricity and services and the lower level of random murder despite the efforts of terrorists. And Iraqis are no longer fleeing the country at a rate of 100.000 a year. That should tell you something.

Dave

i agree with everything what billie joe armstrong
says he is so hot i love him

I LOVE GREEN DAY MOSTLY BILLIE JOE ARMSTRONG HE IS SO HOT I LOVE HIM SO MUCH HE IS MINE

I LOVE BILLIE JOE ARMSTRONG CC ARMSTRONG THATS SEXY BILLIE JOE ARMSTRONG IS SO HOT I LOVE HIM

I DONT GET THIS I GET WHAT EVERYTHING BILLIE JOE ARMSTRONG SAYS BECAUSE HE IS SO HOT BUT YOU GUYS DONT STUPIDS I LOVE BILLIE JOE ARMSTRONG

BILLIE JOE ARMSTRONG IS MINE

ALL YOU GIRLS STAY AWAY FROM MY MAN BILLIE JOE ARMSTRONG HE IS MINE GOD STUPIDS YOU GIRLS ARE A**HOLES SORRY BUT I LOVE BILLIE JOE ARMSTRONG HE IS MINE GOSH I AM ONLY 24 YEARS OLD YOU GIRLS ARE MAYBE 12,10 SOMETHING LIKE THAT TO YOUNG HA HA

I Love Billie Joe Armstrong!!!!!!!!
You f****ing b******.

I hate you b****es.
Billie JOe Is Mine!!!

remember me a**holes i am the won who love BILLIE JOE ARMSTRONG cc armstrong billie joe armstrong oh yeah a**holes stay away from my man F*CK YOU ALL

I am 29 you guys are probably 10,11,or 12.
You think you know everything about billie joe but you don't.

BETTER NOT STILL MY MAN BITCHES GOSH I LOVE BILLIE JOE ARMSTRONG MORE THAN ANYTHING SO HA HA
HES MINE

i agree everything that cc says stay away from my man you b******.

hello again b**ches i love billie joe armstrong more than all you stupid b**ches

we luv Billie Joe Armstrong


more den all u loosers


keep ur handz off him coz he's ours hahahaha!!!

to demi & georgina. How old are guys? I can tell you are like 10,11, or 12. No one uses the word LOSERS. You don't even know how to spell losers. It doesn't have 2 o's in it. See ya B**ches!!!!!!

i love billie joe armstrong more than u demi & georgina f*ckin a**holes me & ss love him more i just turn 25 not to long ago i'm closer to billie joe armstrong age & ss,ss is older than me she is closer to his age she is 29 years old & billie joe armstrong is 34 & i am 25 u 2 girls r maybe 11,12,13 2 young for him u girls r b**ches & ugly f*ckin a**holes GOSH i love billie joe more than u demi & georgina u both r a**holes i love billie joe armstrong more than u [hahaha] back at u 2 a**holes

I LOVE BILLIE JOE ARMSTRONG & HE LOVES ME & WE ARE MARRIED THATS HOT

i love billie !but not like that you chicks r cool and yet wirde(SP)!!!

i'm jk i am not married but i do love him i sound to much like a child and i'm 25 i take back all the stuff i said but i sure do love him

i wish i was married to billie joe

yeah right cc & ss i luv him more grow up u girls r in your 20 so get over it & get someone your age gosh lol if u r in your 20 hmm wounder-wounder
GOOD BYE

have anything 2 say

Eric, with the benefit of hindsight, do you feel like a 'tard for writing this four years ago? This particular op-ed has not dated well, although I agree re: most musicians being idiots.

What's going on with these peage is from 2005 i love what you guys say can they just give me afavor : ADD MORE COMMMENTS OF 2007 PLEASE !!!!!!!!!!!!

I know this comment is years after the original post, but even so... The fact that other regimes are as cruel and oppressive as Saddam's was and no-one does anything about it speaks reams. If a country is going in to liberate the oppressed, they should stop at nothing to liberate ALL the downtrodden peoples. The fact is, it's not possible and the only reason the US went into Iraq was to "liberate" the oil. With hindsight, things in Iraq are more bloody and violent than they've ever been. Progress?