Tracy Summerville's Article: "Celebrities should think before they speak."
Most celebrities, professionals and professors, do think but have their own agenda which guides them before and during their speaking.
Motivation for Russia's pole-vaulter statement on homosexuality, we can only guess; maybe political pressure.
Political parties use professors to write and speak about their policies. Pipeline companies, environmental groups have celebrities or high priced professionals issue statements which, like many other promises of today, have history's that often prove the opposite to be true.
Frequently motivation stems from self-interest in a political, environmental, business or career goal's want or need. Most of society, while not directly involved in a movement, is almost always affected by the group's goal and therefore to protect themselves are forced to sift through the rhetoric hoping to find the neutral truth.
What-is-the-truth was best expressed by Edgar Allen Poe: "Believe only half of what you see, and nothing of what you hear."
How can society know truth when the opinion being delivered by partisan celebrities is frequently slanted?
Politicians, unions, businesses and special interest groups look inward when making comments. Their hope is to lead society into accepting their self-empowering interest.
Let us not forget the money factor.
Justin Trudeau charged a charity in New Brunswick $20,000.00. Did they pay him $20,000.00 because he best represented the charity; did Justin's speaking fee instantly prove him an unbiased, charitable man whose endorsement could be trusted?
New York Daily News states President J. W. Bush has raked in $15 million (in speaking fees) since leaving office. Were his words the words of an open-minded spokesperson?
Did Michael Jordan enjoy Fruit of the Loom underwear prior to his endorsement or did he switch when paid to represent that company?
Today's truth appears to be, what's best for me or what's best for this group, not what's best for society.
Too often the quickest way to achieve a goal is by hiring a celebrity to bleat-out biased statements while they display feigned interest.
Unfortunately too many self-interest factors exist with celebrity speakers, making it difficult for today's people to trust their declarations.
Engaging celebrities to sell merchandise is acceptable and logical, but when seeking support for important issues, emotional trickery through the use of big name people is deceitful.
Celebrities do think before they speak, but do they speak for us or for their own interest; money; power; prestige?
Bill Barnes
Prince George
