Line Out - Comments on "What happened to us this weekend was a wake up call, and it's about something much bigger than the censorship of a rock band."

Comment by Jason Josephes

Jason Josephes — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 11:44:51 -0800

I don't like the censoring. That said, I don't like Eddie Vedder taking a stand over a man whose approval rating is even lower than mine (as hard to believe as it is.) EVERYBODY hates W. This is not a bold stand by any stretch of the imagination. You may as well say you like puppies.

By the way, notice this is the first time in years anybody is talking about Pearl Jam (nationwide, anyways.) Heh. I bet it wouldn't have been as big a story if this happened in the middle of a new song as opposed to an old hit.

Comment by jim

jim — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 12:59:43 -0800

hey putz, at least someone is bringing this infliction of civil rights to our attention, no matter how small the issue. how many other things are we not privy to because of corporate censorship? I am canceling my AT&T service today.

Comment by randy

randy — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 14:10:21 -0800

@Jason, you're a douche. Vedder SAID that the problem is a lot bigger than the simple fact that his song was censored. What more do you want? You think that maybe this was just a Pearl Jam publicity stunt?

And no, unfortunately, everybody does NOT hate W. There are still a right-wing fascists in this country who support this government, despite the endless encroachments on civil rights and all the other crimes of the last 7 years. And that includes a lot of people in positions of power. Like decision-makers at AT&T, for example. Meaning, it's still absolutely necessary for people to speak up. So, maybe you should wake up and give your obvious dislike of Pearl Jam a rest.

Comment by Jason Josephes

Jason Josephes — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 16:07:07 -0800

Maybe or definitely? Make a stand like your boy did!

Seriously, attacking a guy with an approval rating in the mid-20's is hardly revolutionary. I think the only reason anybody noticed was he slipped his bold jab into an old hit. If it'd been wrapped up in one of their new songs, no one would have noticed or cared.

Comment by BillyCorazon

BillyCorazon — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 16:07:11 -0800

Don't listen to the humorless Jason.

Okay kids, we can all agree: CENSORSHIP BAD!
However: Those "freestyled" lyrics are just goddamn downright EMBARRASSING, and, for my money, there NOTHING more damaging to a political statement than saying it in a way that makes you sound like a mildly concussed 8 year old with the downs syndrome. E.V. is "laying down some science" here that is yards worse than even the most wince inducing "indignant stoner hippie / postcard punk" rhyming dictionary abuse.

Hell, maybe AT&T is actually totally anti-Bush and they just didn't want the rest of us to sound that goddamn stupid (just kidding! I know that little comment will bring on the march of the literalists in force)

Either that or they are TOTALLY right wing and they knew no one would even notice a lefty sounding that dumb unless they drew attention to it by bleeping it. What about THAT? Huh? Huh?

The mind recoils.