Should Artists Use Their Art/Music To Influence Voters?

Here's my Essay for September, I hope you enjoy it.
-the editor.

I didn’t receive any submissions to the Essay this time, but I didn’t really expect any. The topic is sort of a no-brainer.

The reason I selected this as this month’s topic is due to one of Minnesota’s Senators, who supported the war in Iraq, saying that he wished that Bruce Springsteen wouldn’t be on a tour protesting the war and president bush. The Senator uses one of Springsteen’s songs as a theme song for his weekly show on a local radio station.

So, do I think that Artists and Musicians should use their talent to further their political views?

HECK YES!

Not only that, I think that it is their duty! As citizens of the United States of America it is the right and duty of all of us to speak up if we feel that the need is there. Just because a person has a certain amount of notoriety or fame doesn’t mean that they should keep there mouths shut during a political season. And I mean our stars of all political persuasions, all of them add to the stew that is our political process.

It not only informs and entertains, it shows the public, especially the young, that it is okay to have and to express an opinion. In these days of political division it is the Artist’s job to show that there are other ways of having a dialogue that don’t involve shouting at your opponents.

And I wish Mr. Springsteen and Co. all the best of luck!

Dave Cofell
September 27th, 2004