EltonAttacks 'Censorship' in US,Stars afraid toSpeakOutAgainst WAR

[Guest guest]

> Sat, 17 Jul 2004 18:30:22 -0400

> Elton Attacks'Censorship' in US,Stars

afraid toSpeakOutAgainst WAR

>

> EltonAttacks 'Censorship' in US,Stars afraid

> toSpeakOutAgainst WAR

>

> Sir Elton John is currently performing in New York

>

> Elton John has said stars are scared to speak out

> against war in Iraq

> because of " bullying tactics " used by the US

> government to hinder free

> speech.

>

> BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Elton attacks

> 'censorship' in US

>

Address:http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3902833.stm

>

>

> " There's an atmosphere of fear in America right now

> that is deadly.

> Everyone is too career-conscious, " he told New York

> magazine, Interview.

> Sir Elton said performers could be " frightened by

> the current

> administration's bullying tactics " ,

> The singer likened the current " fear factor " to

> McCarthyism in the

> 1950s.

> " There was a moment about a year ago when you

> couldn't say a word about

> anything in this country for fear of your career

> being shot down by

> people saying you are un-American, " he told the

> magazine.

> The singer said things were different in the 1960s.

> " People like Bob Dylan, Nina Simone, The Beatles and

> Pete Seeger were

> constantly writing and talking about what was going

> on.

> Backlash

> " That's not happening now. As of this spring, there

> have been virtually

> no anti-war concerts - or anti-war songs that catch

> on, for that

> matter, " he said.

> He voiced concern that it appeared acceptable to

> speak out if you were

> pro-Bush, using the example of country singer Toby

> Keith, but not if you

> were critical of the President, as in the case of

> country rock band, the

> Dixie Chicks.

> " On the one hand, you have someone like Toby Keith,

> who has come out and

> been very supportive of the Bush administration and

> the war in Iraq -

> which is OK because America is a democracy and Toby

> Keith is entitled to

> say what he thinks and feels.

> " But, on the other hand, the Dixie Chicks got shot

> down in flames last

> year for criticising the president. They were

> treated like they were

> being un-American, when in fact they have every

> right to say whatever

> they want about him because he's freely elected, and

> therefore

> accountable. "

> Sir Elton is currently in New York playing a series

> of concerts.

> E-mail this to a friend