Barbra Streisand Drops 'F' Bomb at NY Concert

Parent Cafe
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<p>I think artists who have “causes” actually have more of a ripple effect than if they just wrote a check</p>

<p>For example- I have personally gotten involved, by writing checks, attending events and getting others involved, in organizations that I had not been before, or even heard about- before I read about them through PJ</p>

<p>Youthcare- houses and advocates for Seattles homeless youth
Surfrider Foundation- environmental organization dedicated to protection and enjoyment of worlds oceans
CCFA-improving quality of life for those with Crohns disease</p>

<p>a percentage of every single ticket sold on this world wide tour( and every tour) goes to benefit local organizations</p>

<p>If just 5 people at every show, got involved in one organization, what a positive effect that would have!
much bigger IMO than having one celebrity spend time 1:1 trying to get a politician to listen.</p>

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<p>Aw, c’mon, Driver. Buckle down! You’ll get it eventually. </p>

<p>Here’s a hint: The statement “I get it” means the answer to the self-referential question is no. Now all you have to do is read the Wikipedia article really, really carefully to get the part about “self-referential” and you’re almost there! :)</p>

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<p>egads…this thread! I actually like Barbra Streisand…terrific singer, comedianne, actress. Last thing I saw her in was ‘Meet the Fockers’ which is absolutely hilarious. I do think she has unusual, bordering on delusional, expectations regarding how much people really want to hear her political pov. But that’s a whole 'nother issue…</p>

<p>My issue is with media treatment of two similar events. Barbra, and the Columbia College Republicans, had the right to the floor…to say what they wanted on whatever subject they wanted. But, in the case of Columbia, ‘hecklers’ were so out of control, they shut the College Republican’s presentation down, taking from them the right to express themselves. THAT did not happen at the Streisand concert, Barbra was VERY expressive and very much got her pov across with little hindrance from her one lone heckler. She had the mike and definitely got the last word (and what a doozie it was…lol!). But for some reason, Barbra’s guy is the villain, and the Columbia protestors are liberal media darlings. Doesn’t compute.</p>

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<p>kluge,</p>

<p>There’s a time and place to personally jump on a hand grenade to save others, so to speak. The problem is - you only get one shot at that kind of effort. Politics is war, but it is most effective when done in a way that even your opponent (not enemy, note the difference) praises your presentation and lauds the nobility of your cause. Sometimes, even agreements break out.</p>

<p>We need more of this today. There are always hills to die on; the wise (and lucky) soldier lives to join the fray another day.</p>

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<p>parent2noles, you may well be (and probably are, in my opinion) right about the overall effect of Barbra Streisand’s actions on anything that happens in the political world. It’s probably true that nothing that she does or doesn’t do will make much if any difference to anything at all. But it seems to me that she’s not doing it for profit, and she’s not doing it to ingratiate herself with people she thinks can advance her personal interests - she’s doing it because she believes in it. Yeah - she’ll lose some money over that, but I have a hard time condemning her for that. </p>

<p>Incidentally - I actually have no idea what Barbra Streisand’s politics are and what it was that she was doing that the heckler took exception to - some form of criticism of George Bush, I think? But artists of various sorts have stood on principle and taken a hit financially for it for a long time, and generally their reputations don’t suffer for it in the long run. One irritant to me is the number of Hollywood types who are Scientologists these days. (OK - call me intolerant - but Scientology gives me the creeps.) But I still go to their movies.</p>

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<p>P2N, while not defending Streisand’s F-bomb, the time for being “nice” is long past. One of the Dems problems for the past six years is they’ve played “nice” and been played for suckers along the way. For me, the Rubicon was crossed with the treatment of Max Cleland in the Georgia Senate race in 2002. And with all the Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld/Coulter/Malkin/Dobson/etc ad nauseam crap since then, I’m not endorsing going back to “nice” any time soon.</p>

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<p>Interesting comment, IDMom06. I think you make a good point.</p>

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<p>How about that Toby Keith? :slight_smile: </p>

<p>Man, no matter how hard on try on this one I can’t help but picture everybody with their silly pants on. </p>

<p>This is like a segment of Linda Richman’s Coffee Talk. </p>

<p>Should an artist speak out on issues or just Siiinnngg?</p>

<p>Discuss boobies.</p>

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<p>I don’t need nicey nice, but don’t particularly care to hear profanity, used to make a point, either.</p>

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<p>Who cares what Barbra S. does at a concert? The world is falling apart and the news media focuses on a celebrity who swears. What a nonstory.</p>

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<p>NSM, I think it’s only CC that is so focused on this story. Other than a few moments on one of the morning shows, I haven’t seen any other mention of it.</p>

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<p>Obviously, the CC knows what’s significant. Path-finders, so to speak.</p>

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<p>Northstarmom, I SO agree. This has been a distraction for me, LOL, to be honest with you. Today, I am feeling like so many horrible things are going on. Even when my D called from Italy, I had to share so much going on here in the states and while I don’t want to live my live in fear, it is all so disturbing…</p>

<p>The multiple school shootings…the plane striking the building in NYC today (I have a kid who goes to school there)…a train wreck in France (other D recently and shortly once again, will be traveling through France on several trains)… there is a college student at UVM who is missing; last seen walking home from downtown Burlington, VT to her dorm Sat. night, during Parents Weekend and didn’t show up the next day for the outing with her parents who are up here from VA…and then many other ongoing disturbing things like the war in Iraq, well you get the picture. I have felt a lot about all this today. This talk of a total non important thing at a Streisand concert was a diversion from what truly tugs at me at the moment.</p>

<p>Also with regard to the Streisand concert, my point has been precisely that, who cares? If you don’t like her as a performer, do not attend her concerts or buy her records.</p>

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<p>A perfect utilization of the CC. Diversion and maybe some information.</p>

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<p>last point on the topic, my H is Irish, and the Irish men, well, the F word is just a word, and our weirdness about a word, and NOT the phrase, as it were</p>

<p>words are powerful, but context is everythng…the N word is not my favorite word, but when people use it affectionaly with each other, it takes away the evilness of the word</p>

<p>cursing doesn’t bother me- name calling does though, and calling someone on a stupid face or moron, or whatever is just as bad as saying effin idjet- which actually is one of my favorite insults- especially to other drivers</p>

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<p>Parent2noles…CC is surely a diversion and a chance to converse with others. But I happen to believe the forums are a WEALTH of information, particularly beyond the Cafe. The Cafe is meant as a chance to connect with others who have something in common (in this case, parents of teens and college kids) on off topic issues or even frivolous matters. For some, it is a place to veg and “escape” from the more important matters in life.</p>

<p>CGM…while I do not blame Barbra for trying to get the guy to be quiet as it is inappropriate for an audience member to heckle the performers, even she admits that the words she used toward him could have been better. It is not so much the F word, but rather saying “shut the ‘F’ up” that is an offensive way to talk to another person. I can’t blame her for being extremely annoyed, as it is hard to perform with that going on. But as much as I also use profanity at times, it is still considered offensive to DIRECT profanity at someone else. I see a big difference between dropping something and muttering, “oh S <strong>T” or “oh F</strong>_K” (even if some call that vulgar) than telling another person to “shut the F up”. It isn’t just the word itself but HOW it is used. I’m mostly commenting here on your support of profanity, not the incident with Streisand.</p>

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<p>Agreed, Soozie of Vermont - both points.</p>

<p>The trees are probably gorgeous up there around now. Never had that, being born and raised in Florida, but saw it once. Very nice.</p>

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<p>To go back to my statement about IQ, I think it was misinterpreted.
I did not mean to suggest in any way that artists in general are less smart than any other professionals. I was referring to some specific artists that are in the public eye who are in my opinion not particularly intelligent or learned about many things, who do not hesitate to use the public platform to forward their viewpoint. I don’t believe that is appropriate.<br>
There are dumb people in every field, and Hollywood certainly has more than it’s share. I don’t think anyone here would argue that Jessica Simpson or Brittany Spears should be discussing foreign policy on Bill Maher’s show. They know their limitations. Not so for some of the others. That was my point. I did not mean to offend anyone, and certainly did not mean to suggest that anyone whose interest is in an artistic field is less intellectual by nature. It’s not so.</p>

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<p>Citygirlsmom, you are entitled to discuss you or your husband’s tolerance of foul language, but I think you are wrong to assume it’s typical.

My parents left Ireland in their mid-thirties, my brother and two older sisters were born in Dublin and I have a collection of aunts, uncles and first cousins with whom I keep in touch. My father and brother would NEVER use such language, at least in front of a woman or in public. I’ve stayed with relatives a number of times in Ireland, and the F word is NOT common usage. So please stop assuming that your experience is universal.</p>

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<p>Citygirlsmom said: "As well, what is the big deal with the F WORD…its an adjective…wow…for us to be so freaked out in this day and age for someone to blurt out the F word…my goodness…</p>

<p>What is truely amazing about that word:</p>

<p>is a noun, a verb, an adjective, an adverb, a superlative, an insult, a compliment, a grunt…it is one of the most amazing english words when you think about it."</p>

<p>I wonder how she would feel if, out of frustration during a Presidential speach, GWB were to tell some heckling audience member to “shut the F-up”. I doubt she would be so understanding, nor wax poetic about what an “amazing” english word the F-word is. Often, it seems, the human reaction is to minimize the shocking or inappropriate behavior of someone of whom one approves, but to villify that same behavior from someone whom one dislikes. That’s why Matt Lauer gives the Columbia stage-troopers a pass, when chastizing Bab’s lone heckler. </p>

<p>Ok, maybe you could argue that the public use of such language would be entirely inappropriate under any circumstances coming for “the supposed leader of the free world”, but what about this scenario:</p>

<p>Suppose Toby Keith were to get on a political soap-box, (presenting a skit, perhaps) extolling the virtues of George W. Bush and his handling of “The War on Terrror”. Suppose someone who took exception to his departure from entertaining in order to push his political beliefs, were to heckle him to “shut up and sing”? Suppose Toby (a known conservative), were to tell that audience member to “shut the F-up”? Somehow, I doubt Matt Lauer would have suggested that the heckler should have taken an extended bathroom break. Somehow too, I doubt CGM would be asking, “what is the big deal?”. Political hypocrisy and double standards are intellectually and morally dishonest, no matter what side you happen to be on. The behavior is either excusable, or it’s not. Whether or not you agree with the political views of the person doing the behavior shouldn’t make any difference.</p>