Why would I, or anyone else, for that matter? When I perform in front of an audience, any audience, they didn't come to hear me sing or talk about politics or societal woes. In fact, they came for just the opposite - they came to hear the songs they love to hear and dance to, they came to get away from the day to day humdrum, they came to forget about the problems of the world as we know it, they came to have fun.

I came to entertain them, not educate them, or enlighten them, based upon MY views. That's not what I'm there for and not what I'm being paid to do. Anyone that thinks otherwise should, IMO, find another avenue to portray THEIR PERSONAL beliefs. If I were the owner of a nite club, restaurant, bar, assisted living center, retirement community, etc..., and hired a musical entertainer that decided that he or she was going to do that, I would fire them on the spot!

If YOU want to be an activist, DO IT! But, don't screw with show biz and use that as YOUR platform to convey YOUR BELIEFS to the masses. Do it right - run for political office, institute legislation, get that legislation passed by the masses (the voters), and you can sing your heart out from the political platform, polling locations, and any other such location.

The stages of the world are there for creative artists to display their talent and artistry - not political activism or to make a political statement. Sorry Russ, but this is one of those things that I feel deeply about and this topic should quickly be moved to THE BAR!

Gary