Comments on: Jolie Good in Hollywood http://www.billmuehlenberg.com/2007/12/30/jolie-good-in-hollywood/ Bill Muehlenberg's commentary on issues of the day... Fri, 10 Feb 2012 03:50:32 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Emily Casebow http://www.billmuehlenberg.com/2007/12/30/jolie-good-in-hollywood/comment-page-1/#comment-72301 Emily Casebow Tue, 22 Apr 2008 18:45:25 +0000 http://www.billmuehlenberg.com/2007/12/30/jolie-good-in-hollywood/#comment-72301 The conundrum with Hollywood campaigners is that while they may provide a much-needed boost of awareness, the causes they champion so noisily may be much more complex than they imagine. Take for example, the Darfur brigade - the likes of George Clooney and Mia Farrow who campaign for awareness of the alleged genocide occurring in Darfur, Sudan. On the one hand, by merely being celebrities they are bringing the public's attention to a tragic and arguably under-represented situation. On the other hand, the solutions they propose and the way they portray problems are often far too simplistic. In the case of Darfur, Farrow's portrayal of the conflict as merely genocide between Arab and African muddies the waters of Sahelian politics. The reality of the situation being far more complex! I think celebrities have their uses, but sometimes they should be more informed when making comments that could mislead thousands. Emily Casebow The conundrum with Hollywood campaigners is that while they may provide a much-needed boost of awareness, the causes they champion so noisily may be much more complex than they imagine. Take for example, the Darfur brigade – the likes of George Clooney and Mia Farrow who campaign for awareness of the alleged genocide occurring in Darfur, Sudan. On the one hand, by merely being celebrities they are bringing the public’s attention to a tragic and arguably under-represented situation. On the other hand, the solutions they propose and the way they portray problems are often far too simplistic. In the case of Darfur, Farrow’s portrayal of the conflict as merely genocide between Arab and African muddies the waters of Sahelian politics. The reality of the situation being far more complex!

I think celebrities have their uses, but sometimes they should be more informed when making comments that could mislead thousands.

Emily Casebow

]]> By: Simon Kennedy, VIC http://www.billmuehlenberg.com/2007/12/30/jolie-good-in-hollywood/comment-page-1/#comment-53751 Simon Kennedy, VIC Sat, 12 Jan 2008 01:19:19 +0000 http://www.billmuehlenberg.com/2007/12/30/jolie-good-in-hollywood/#comment-53751 I'm not entirely suprised it occurs, but a lot of Bono bashing goes on. I think this is a shame; people find it far too easy to criticise others who are actually acting on their convictions and working very hard to fix problems. Sure, there are celebrity activists who's motivations could and should be questioned. Some, though, deserve respect. Bono, I think, deserves any recognition he gets for his work. He has, I think, been making a difference. Simon Kennedy, VIC I’m not entirely suprised it occurs, but a lot of Bono bashing goes on. I think this is a shame; people find it far too easy to criticise others who are actually acting on their convictions and working very hard to fix problems. Sure, there are celebrity activists who’s motivations could and should be questioned. Some, though, deserve respect. Bono, I think, deserves any recognition he gets for his work. He has, I think, been making a difference.
Simon Kennedy, VIC

]]> By: MurrayA http://www.billmuehlenberg.com/2007/12/30/jolie-good-in-hollywood/comment-page-1/#comment-53078 MurrayA Mon, 07 Jan 2008 23:24:40 +0000 http://www.billmuehlenberg.com/2007/12/30/jolie-good-in-hollywood/#comment-53078 A further comment on the way people get their theology from celebrities and not from Scripture: "All you need is love", sang the Beatles. From this little ditty went forth the formula that standards counted for nothing, that the only principle of right was what was loving in a given situation (Situation Ethics), and the sentimentalising of love such that it had more to do with what you saw in a Hollywood movie than with John 3:16, or Ephesians 5:25. But since when did the Beatles know anything about sound theology or sound ethics? Murray Adamthwaite A further comment on the way people get their theology from celebrities and not from Scripture:
“All you need is love”, sang the Beatles. From this little ditty went forth the formula that standards counted for nothing, that the only principle of right was what was loving in a given situation (Situation Ethics), and the sentimentalising of love such that it had more to do with what you saw in a Hollywood movie than with John 3:16, or Ephesians 5:25.

But since when did the Beatles know anything about sound theology or sound ethics?

Murray Adamthwaite

]]> By: John Angelico http://www.billmuehlenberg.com/2007/12/30/jolie-good-in-hollywood/comment-page-1/#comment-52221 John Angelico Tue, 01 Jan 2008 11:41:17 +0000 http://www.billmuehlenberg.com/2007/12/30/jolie-good-in-hollywood/#comment-52221 Bill, a timely comment. For some of those you refer to, the Scriptural reference is "They have received their reward in full". The best "celebrity cause" I know of - second hand only, is the special appeal made by The (original) Seekers during their "Carnival of Hits" tour in the year 2000. They supported research into Motor Neurone Disease (also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease) because a number of the band had been touched by it personally (Judith Durham lost husband Ron Edgeworth to the disease for example). So they explained what they were doing, and simply asked their audience to drop loose change into containers at the exits. The result: they raised almost $100,000 for research into MND. Oh, and if you think I'm merely an old nostalgic, they are Australia's first super-group, having knocked over both the Beatles and the Rolling Stones with their chart hits in the 1960s. See here for their career details: http://www.milesago.com/Artists/seekers.htm John Angelico Bill, a timely comment. For some of those you refer to, the Scriptural reference is “They have received their reward in full”.

The best “celebrity cause” I know of – second hand only, is the special appeal made by The (original) Seekers during their “Carnival of Hits” tour in the year 2000.

They supported research into Motor Neurone Disease (also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease) because a number of the band had been touched by it personally (Judith Durham lost husband Ron Edgeworth to the disease for example).

So they explained what they were doing, and simply asked their audience to drop loose change into containers at the exits. The result: they raised almost $100,000 for research into MND.

Oh, and if you think I’m merely an old nostalgic, they are Australia’s first super-group, having knocked over both the Beatles and the Rolling Stones with their chart hits in the 1960s. See here for their career details: www.milesago.com/Artists/seekers.htm

John Angelico

]]> By: Jonathan Sarfati http://www.billmuehlenberg.com/2007/12/30/jolie-good-in-hollywood/comment-page-1/#comment-52022 Jonathan Sarfati Mon, 31 Dec 2007 08:52:57 +0000 http://www.billmuehlenberg.com/2007/12/30/jolie-good-in-hollywood/#comment-52022 What a radical idea from Dr Adamthwaite, deriving our treatment of the poor from Scripture! Too many in the Evanjellyfish Left derive their ideas from Marx instead, such as government control of resources like water (although the only biblical example of price controls is by the Antichrist), abolishing employment contracts entered into freely (endorsed by Jesus in Mt. 20), and high "progressive" taxes (although the biblical tithe was a flat tax). And so many of these Evangelefties are overjoyed that Chairman Rudd wants to increase "foreign aid", which is really poor people in rich countries supporting rich despots in poor countries (see also <a href="http://www.capmag.com/article.asp?ID=1607" rel="nofollow">Foreign "AID" at Taxpayer Expense: What is Seen and Unseen</a> by Thomas Sowell). Jonathan Sarfati, Brisbane What a radical idea from Dr Adamthwaite, deriving our treatment of the poor from Scripture! Too many in the Evanjellyfish Left derive their ideas from Marx instead, such as government control of resources like water (although the only biblical example of price controls is by the Antichrist), abolishing employment contracts entered into freely (endorsed by Jesus in Mt. 20), and high “progressive” taxes (although the biblical tithe was a flat tax).

And so many of these Evangelefties are overjoyed that Chairman Rudd wants to increase “foreign aid”, which is really poor people in rich countries supporting rich despots in poor countries (see also Foreign “AID” at Taxpayer Expense: What is Seen and Unseen by Thomas Sowell).

Jonathan Sarfati, Brisbane

]]> By: MurrayA http://www.billmuehlenberg.com/2007/12/30/jolie-good-in-hollywood/comment-page-1/#comment-52006 MurrayA Mon, 31 Dec 2007 06:48:41 +0000 http://www.billmuehlenberg.com/2007/12/30/jolie-good-in-hollywood/#comment-52006 Bill, I am sorry if I seem unduly negative in this post, but I am constrained to say it just the same. I am heartily sick and tired of so-called celebrities sponsoring fashionable political and social causes, and the whole world going after these vacuous profligates (which is most of them, albeit with some exceptions). When interviewed their replies are usually inept and ignorant. And especially Bono is now treated as some kind of authority in the American evangelical scene. What would he know about sound theology? When I have seen him interviewed he too is ignorant about the things of which he presumes to speak. Man, what he knows about good music is thin enough! Whether what he sings can be authentically classified as music is to me more than doubtful. I submit that it's high time we derived our ministry to the poor, as well as our theology, from Scripture, and NOT from celebrities. This obsession with celebrities is one of the curses of our modern collapsing culture. Murray Adamthwaite Bill, I am sorry if I seem unduly negative in this post, but I am constrained to say it just the same.

I am heartily sick and tired of so-called celebrities sponsoring fashionable political and social causes, and the whole world going after these vacuous profligates (which is most of them, albeit with some exceptions). When interviewed their replies are usually inept and ignorant. And especially Bono is now treated as some kind of authority in the American evangelical scene. What would he know about sound theology? When I have seen him interviewed he too is ignorant about the things of which he presumes to speak. Man, what he knows about good music is thin enough! Whether what he sings can be authentically classified as music is to me more than doubtful.

I submit that it’s high time we derived our ministry to the poor, as well as our theology, from Scripture, and NOT from celebrities. This obsession with celebrities is one of the curses of our modern collapsing culture.

Murray Adamthwaite

]]> By: Andy http://www.billmuehlenberg.com/2007/12/30/jolie-good-in-hollywood/comment-page-1/#comment-51977 Andy Mon, 31 Dec 2007 02:05:59 +0000 http://www.billmuehlenberg.com/2007/12/30/jolie-good-in-hollywood/#comment-51977 I still do not understand why people believe (RED) is a corrupt, unsuccessful, or unethical. In effort to ensure your #'s are correct, (RED) has facilitated the donation of over ~$50 million. As for the money spent on advertising, I am cannot confirm how much money was spent, but I do not believe it was $100 million. More importantly, (RED) is a business model and does not directly receive any of the money companies donate; instead, the money goes directly to the Global Fund. Also, few businesses are profitable in the first two years. While (RED) is a non-profit organization, we should not expect the donations to exceed the costs within its first two years. Andy Carpenter I still do not understand why people believe (RED) is a corrupt, unsuccessful, or unethical. In effort to ensure your #’s are correct, (RED) has facilitated the donation of over ~$50 million. As for the money spent on advertising, I am cannot confirm how much money was spent, but I do not believe it was $100 million. More importantly, (RED) is a business model and does not directly receive any of the money companies donate; instead, the money goes directly to the Global Fund. Also, few businesses are profitable in the first two years. While (RED) is a non-profit organization, we should not expect the donations to exceed the costs within its first two years.
Andy Carpenter

]]> By: Ewan http://www.billmuehlenberg.com/2007/12/30/jolie-good-in-hollywood/comment-page-1/#comment-51875 Ewan Sun, 30 Dec 2007 11:26:30 +0000 http://www.billmuehlenberg.com/2007/12/30/jolie-good-in-hollywood/#comment-51875 What irks me is that most celebrities, especially those associated with pop music and Hollywood, not only display the most appalling moral standards in their private lives, but make music, movies and TV shows that have in no small way contributed to the decline in public morality. Then some of these celebs have the audacity to lecture the rest of us on how we need to save the environment. They think nothing of polluting our airwaves with moral filth, whilst pontificating about global warming, saving the whales or some such nonsense. You never see them using their profile to promote anything that might be considered politically incorrect like opposing abortion or speaking out about Islamic fascism for example. The little good that some of them might be doing is far outweighed by their collective bad moral example. I feel better for having gotten that off my chest! Ewan McDonald, Victoria. What irks me is that most celebrities, especially those associated with pop music and Hollywood, not only display the most appalling moral standards in their private lives, but make music, movies and TV shows that have in no small way contributed to the decline in public morality. Then some of these celebs have the audacity to lecture the rest of us on how we need to save the environment.

They think nothing of polluting our airwaves with moral filth, whilst pontificating about global warming, saving the whales or some such nonsense. You never see them using their profile to promote anything that might be considered politically incorrect like opposing abortion or speaking out about Islamic fascism for example. The little good that some of them might be doing is far outweighed by their collective bad moral example.

I feel better for having gotten that off my chest!

Ewan McDonald, Victoria.

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