Is Green Day receiving more criticism now for their views on Trump than when they released American Idiot?

[stories and songs]

I don't think Green Day fans should be surprised or offended by the band's political views. This band has been liberal from the start and has never been afraid of making their views known. I understand that not all their fans are liberal, but I just don't understand how saying things like "fuck racism" is divisive. If a person voted for Trump for purely economic reasons or whatever, then they surely have the ability to recognize that this man does also give validation to many different types of hatred, even if you didn't vote for him for that reason. If you've been reading their interviews, you'd see that they actually have a very nuanced view of why people would've voted for Trump. But they simply can't accept how big the negatives are that come along with him, and use those points as a rallying cry during concerts. I don't see that as a bad thing whatsoever.

This band has always been about reaching out to people who feel marginalized. Trump supporters have been validated and accepted by the nation. Green Day is here to look out for those who now feel threatened and without hope.

[Second favourite son]

I wasn't really around to see how big the political criticism was back when AI was released, but it would make sense that it's larger now.  This election has been one of the most polarised presidential elections that I've heard of, and when elections this polarised are this close people will step in aggressively to defend their candidate, sometimes going to extreme lengths to do so.  

The fact that they backed Hillary may have a little to do with it, but it really shouldn't - they (at least, Billie) backed Sanders.  When Sanders was no longer electable, the only sensible thing to do was to vote for the only person capable of keeping the person they didn't want (Trump) out of power - the lesser of two evils.  

Facebook and Twitter and the comment sections have made it so that people can more comfortably voice their political views, often vociferously, without fear of real-life repercussions.  This has to be a good thing, even if I personally believe that a huge amount of what gets said is absolute toxic bullshit - it's better that people feel safe expressing their views, I just wish they weren't so dumb.  Unfortunately, a consequence of this is that it's also much easier for people to attack my favourite band and be seen doing so.  Whether the quantity of criticism has increased or not, it's certainly more viewable worldwide.  Twelve years ago 2 people could have criticised Green Day over text, in a bar, even on a message board, and those that weren't members of that conversation wouldn't know about it.  Now I can see what a guy in East Texas thinks of the band without having to leave the band's Facebook page, or even their YouTube video.  We get notified if Green Day are trending - we are literally just being informed that lots of people are talking about them - whether that be for a good or bad reason.  Whether you think that Green Day received more criticism now or for AI, it's undeniable that today's criticism is far easier to find, and harder to avoid.

[End Of The World]

I'm happy with anything that is about GD.

I like it when people criticize and hate them as well as when they love them. The important thing is that the world talks about GD, in any way, to support their relevance.

Of course we're in 2017, where the media's influence is HUGE compared to 2004, so I think that criticism is greater now.

But, again, I'm completely fine with that.

[T.C]

On 22/01/2017 at 9:09 PM, Second favourite son said:

I wasn't really around to see how big the political criticism was back when AI was released, but it would make sense that it's larger now.  This election has been one of the most polarised presidential elections that I've heard of, and when elections this polarised are this close people will step in aggressively to defend their candidate, sometimes going to extreme lengths to do so.  

The fact that they backed Hillary may have a little to do with it, but it really shouldn't - they (at least, Billie) backed Sanders.  When Sanders was no longer electable, the only sensible thing to do was to vote for the only person capable of keeping the person they didn't want (Trump) out of power - the lesser of two evils.  

Facebook and Twitter and the comment sections have made it so that people can more comfortably voice their political views, often vociferously, without fear of real-life repercussions.  This has to be a good thing, even if I personally believe that a huge amount of what gets said is absolute toxic bullshit - it's better that people feel safe expressing their views, I just wish they weren't so dumb.  Unfortunately, a consequence of this is that it's also much easier for people to attack my favourite band and be seen doing so.  Whether the quantity of criticism has increased or not, it's certainly more viewable worldwide.  Twelve years ago 2 people could have criticised Green Day over text, in a bar, even on a message board, and those that weren't members of that conversation wouldn't know about it.  Now I can see what a guy in East Texas thinks of the band without having to leave the band's Facebook page, or even their YouTube video.  We get notified if Green Day are trending - we are literally just being informed that lots of people are talking about them - whether that be for a good or bad reason.  Whether you think that Green Day received more criticism now or for AI, it's undeniable that today's criticism is far easier to find, and harder to avoid.

But when did they determine that bigotry is worse than war mongering? And let's not kid ourselves, Hillary has bigotry on her record too, from making anti Semetic comments to a senator in the 70s and referring to African Americans as 'super predators' in the 90s. 

This isn't me defending Trumps words and actions because they have been pathetic and he has to live with the opposition and protests for the next four years. I just find it weird that GD and other celebrities will support a liberal at all costs, even if that liberal happens to be a vile piece of shit like Clinton. 

Even if they criticised Clinton a lot before deciding to vote for her anyway, I feel that would match their principles more. But when you have Billie saying bs like 'Just because she comes with baggage, and it's not even big baggage' you know you're dealing with a bit of ignorance.

[Second favourite son]

9 minutes ago, T.C said:

But when did they determine that bigotry is worse than war mongering? And let's not kid ourselves, Hillary has bigotry on her record too, from making anti Semetic comments to a senator in the 70s and referring to African Americans in the 90s. 

This isn't me defending Trumps words and actions because they have been pathetic and he has to live with the opposition and protests for the next four years. I just find it weird that GD and other celebrities will support a liberal at all costs, even if that liberal happens to be a vile piece of shit like Clinton. 

Even if they criticised Clinton a lot before deciding to vote for her anyway, I feel that would match their principles more. But when you have Billie saying bs like 'Just because she comes with baggage, and it's not even big baggage' you know you're dealing with a bit of ignorance.

It just happens that they believe Trump to be worse - I think it would be a stretch to say Green Day like Hillary!  Just out of interest, when did the baggage quote come from?  I've not heard it before.  If it was from before the election, then it makes sense because Billie was trying to achieve his desired result of blocking Trump's entry to the White House by encouraging people to vote for Hillary.  If it was after the election, then I totally agree with you.

[T.C]

9 minutes ago, Second favourite son said:

It just happens that they believe Trump to be worse - I think it would be a stretch to say Green Day like Hillary!  Just out of interest, when did the baggage quote come from?  I've not heard it before.  If it was from before the election, then it makes sense because Billie was trying to achieve his desired result of blocking Trump's entry to the White House by encouraging people to vote for Hillary.  If it was after the election, then I totally agree with you.

https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/green_days_armstrong_what_makes_hillary_clinton_the_only_right_choice.html

 

He tells Beats 1: "There's only one choice for me and that’s Hillary Clinton. What a lot of liberals need to understand is there's never been a candidate that has come this far that has had this much of a liberal and a progressive agenda.

"Just because she has just got this baggage that comes along with her, and it's not even really baggage, compared to Donald Trump she is basically a school teacher."

 

That first paragraph is cringeworthy, especially since he previously backed Sanders who was a true progressive. 

I think he's just ignorant really, he probably thinks the only baggage Hillary has is Emails and he has no idea with her bigoted past and how war hungry she is. 

 

Side note: I love this site and how we can discuss political views without personal attacks from either side. Just thought I would let y'all know that. Other websites are so divisive. Much love ❤️ 

[Hermione]

7 minutes ago, Jake69 said:

Why can't they just put on high energy exciting shows and take all the politics out of it? 

Because they're a punk band and speaking about what's important in their music is at the core of the scene they come from and who they are.

[Billie Hoe]

8 minutes ago, Jake69 said:

Why can't they just put on high energy exciting shows and take all the politics out of it? The chants are pointless and cringeworthy. It makes feel isolated who have different views than Billie. Just cause you're famous, not everyone is going to agree with you. It's really annoying that he thinks his opinion has that much influence. People are going to believe in what they believe. Take all this nonsense to Instagram.

This is where we disagree. I love his speeches, I live for them. Do you know how hard my heart was racing when I saw the video in Krakow? I think it was amazing. Not because it was the most brilliantly written speech but because it was very emotional - emotional not in a 'I'm going to make you cry' way but in a 'I care about this topic a lot' way. And there are many many people who felt the same way.

You have to remember that Billie isn't just a musician, here to entertain you, but also a citizen who cares a lot about his country and who leads or represents it. He has a huge platform and he uses it which is a good thing. You want people to know how you feel about certain topics and especially for a band like Green Day who have been political for a long time it's important. They have always been loud with their disdain for Bush, if they were quiet now, people would call them hypocrites. Even more so because Trump is much worse than Bush. They speak up, they're hypocrites, they shut up, they're hypocrites. They can't win.

Also to say that his speeches in the AI era were more subliminal is just not true. He didn't just empower the crowd, he openly attacked Bush too. "My name is George W. Bush, actally my name is asshole", wearing a mask of Bush's face with "IDIOT" written on the forehead and these are only the times we know about. Of course they're attacking the president more now but the president is much more polarIzing and hate mongering and dangerous.

It's important to take a stand.

[End Of The World]

My point of view:

I don't give a shit about politics, Trump or Clinton and things like that. The only reason why I listen to Green Day is their music. I think you can understand it, since I'm only 15 and I don't want to get involved in that.

But if politics can help Green Day in being more famous and relevant... Ok, it's good.

I'm happy for them. But I just don't care that much.

[End Of The World]

1 minute ago, Jake69 said:

If they only use politics as a way to stay relevant, it's really going to make them look desperate. With all this stuff they've been saying about trump, they've been getting so much criticism and people really just see them as a joke now. The majority don't really care what they have to say. I say, make a really good album to stay relevant. 

I agree. That's why I just care about music.

[Hermione]

3 minutes ago, Jake69 said:

If they only use politics as a way to stay relevant, it's really going to make them look desperate. With all this stuff they've been saying about trump, they've been getting so much criticism and people really just see them as a joke now. The majority don't really care what they have to say. I say, make a really good album to stay relevant. 

They just did . Do you really think they're only talking politics to stay relevant? Come on. I think it's clear they're genuinely passionate about it. And I don't think they really care if not everyone likes it.

[Steven Seagull]

3 hours ago, stories and songs said:

Trump supporters have been validated and accepted by the nation. Green Day is here to look out for those who now feel threatened and without hope.

Wtf did I just read? People who are against Trump are acting like they are so much better than everyone else and here you're saying that Green Day are standing up for the minority?

[Hermione]

2 minutes ago, Steven Seagull said:

Wtf did I just read? People who are against Trump are acting like they are so much better than everyone else and here you're saying that Green Day are standing up for the minority?

You haven't heard anything Trump has said about minorities? You don't think any minority groups have a reason to feel threatened?

[Nowhere Man]

1 minute ago, Hermione said:

They just did . Do you really think they're only talking politics to stay relevant? Come on. I think it's clear they're genuinely passionate about it.

I think it's only Billie Joe who is really passionate about politics.

Tré looks like he just wants to have fun and beat the shit out of drums.

[Steven Seagull]

5 minutes ago, Hermione said:

You haven't heard anything Trump has said about minorities? You don't think any minority groups have a reason to feel threatened?

Who for example? Illegal immigrants?

[Hermione]

11 minutes ago, Steven Seagull said:

Who for example? Illegal immigrants?

Immigrants, LGBT+ people, non white people, women (although not a minority), take your pick. Do you really not think Trump or the people he's chosen to work with him (and by extension some of the people who support them) have said or promised anything that might make these groups feel threatened?

[Steven Seagull]

1 minute ago, Hermione said:

Immigrants, LGBT+ people, non white people, women (although not a minority), take your pick. Do you really not think Trump or the people he's chosen to work with him (and by extension some of the people who support them) have said or promised anything that might make these groups feel threatened?

Illegal immigrants deserve to be deported and nothing else has been done against any other groups. If you listened to his inauguration speech, he said that he wants to give power back to the working class. He never said anything about only including white people or men. These groups feel threatend because they make stuff up. They have this idea in their head that Trump is racist and sexist and who knows what else, so of course they start overreacting about everything he says or does.

[Billie Hoe]

5 minutes ago, Steven Seagull said:

Illegal immigrants deserve to be deported and nothing else has been done against any other groups. If you listened to his inauguration speech, he said that he wants to give power back to the working class. He never said anything about only including white people or men. These groups feel threatend because they make stuff up. They have this idea in their head that Trump is racist and sexist and who knows what else, so of course they start overreacting about everything he says or does.

Holy Christ, do you actually believe everything this man tells you? That's naive. I at least thought you had some more convincing reasons to support this guy, but this? Sorry, this is just delusional.

 

[Steven Seagull]

1 minute ago, Billie Hoe said:

Holy Christ, do you actually believe everything this man tells you? That's naive. I at least thought you had some more convincing reasons to support this guy, but this? Sorry, this is just delusional.

 

I think it's more delusional to believe that in 21st century there's a treat for LGBT groups and people of color just because a president you don't like won.

[T.C]

5 minutes ago, Hermione said:

Immigrants, LGBT+ people, non white people, women (although not a minority), take your pick. Do you really not think Trump or the people he's chosen to work with him (and by extension some of the people who support them) have said or promised anything that might make these groups feel threatened?

Deporting criminal illegals is what Obama has been doing throughout his presidency. 

Trump is pretty pro-LGBT for a republican. What bad things has he really said about them apart from disagreeing with Gay marriage (which he's fine with now) 

Non white people - True, I have still yet to find a quote as putrid as 'Super predators' and 'f*cking Jew' though 

Women - Can't really argue against this one. Although Hillary has a bad track record here too, smearing a raped victim back in the 70's and threatening Bills alleged rape victims (the latter hasn't been proven though, hence alleged). 

[Billie Hoe]

3 hours ago, Steven Seagull said:

I think it's more delusional to believe that in 21st century there's a treat for LGBT groups and people of color just because a president you don't like won.

Trump

- pledged to repeal the Affordable Care Act and with that the protection LGBT (esp. trans) people have from discrimination in accessing health care
- has chosen a VP who is a supporter of "conversion therapy" [torture of LGBT children to make them straight]
- administration has deleted all mentions of LGBT rights from the White House website
- has never released a plan for LGBT issues or HIV/AIDS
- has pledged to protect "religious liberty" aka. the First Amendment Defence Act, meaning allowing people to deny services to LGBT people on the grounds their "religious beliefs"
- is anti-abortion and anti-choice, and therefore for forcing women to carry out a child they do not want (even if they have been victims of rape), a child they cannot afford (especially not if he plans to repeal the Affordable Care Act)

Killings of LGBT people have risen since 2007. Transgender women, LGBT and HIV-affected people of color and transgender people of color have been at greater risk of homicide than others. 43% of the victims of anti-LGBT violence are Latinx, 23% are black, 5% native american. Transgender people are 1.7 times more likely to experience discrimination, 1.8 times more likely to experience sexual violence, 6.2 times more likely to experience police violence. The list goes on and on and on.

You have no idea how wrong you are. You're ignorant if you think that just because gay marriage is now legal in the US, we're not in danger. 

[stories and songs]

The band supported Bernie Sanders, then went with Hillary when it became clear it was her or Trump. They were just being practical, not giving her a glowing endorsement.

Kinda shocked anyone thinks they talk politics to stay relevant. They're obviously passionate about it as people, not just when it comes to music. 

[T.C]

7 minutes ago, stories and songs said:

The band supported Bernie Sanders, then went with Hillary when it became clear it was her or Trump. They were just being practical, not giving her a glowing endorsement.

Kinda shocked anyone thinks they talk politics to stay relevant. They're obviously passionate about it as people, not just when it comes to music. 

Billie did give her a glowing endorsement. See what I referenced a page back 

11 minutes ago, Billie Hoe said:

Trump

- pledged to repeal the Affordable Care Act and with that the protection LGBT (esp. trans) people have from discrimination in accessing health care
- has chosen a VP who is a supporter of "conversion therapy" [torture of LGBT children to make them straight]
- administration has deleted all mentions of LGBT rights from the White House website
- has never released a plan for LGBT issues or HIV/AIDS
- has pledged to protect "religious liberty" aka. the First Amendment Defence Act, meaning allowing people to deny services to LGBT people on the grounds their "religious beliefs"
- is anti-abortion and anti-choice, and therefore for forcing women to carry out a child they do not want (even if they have been victims of rape), a child they cannot afford (especially not if he plans to repeal the Affordable Care Act)

Killings of LGBT people have risen since 2007. Transgender women, LGBT and HIV-affected people of color and transgender people of color have been at greater risk of homicide than others. 43% of anti-LGBT violence are Latinx, 23% are black, 5% native american. Transgender people are 1.7 times more likely to experience discrimination, 1.8 times more likely to experience sexual violence, 6.2 times more likely to experience police violence. The list goes on and on and on.

You haven no idea how wrong you are. You're ignorant if you think that just because gay marriage is now legal in the US, we're not in danger. 

Just a little thing I would like to comment on. It's still not proven whether Pence supports conversion therapy 

http://www.snopes.com/mike-pence-supported-gay-conversion-therapy/

 

Still a reprehensible man though. 

[Steven Seagull]

You know that when the country gets a new president they replace the old website with the new one and the old one is put in the archive. That's why there are so many issues still missing because they are still adding them. 

https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/issues/civil-rights
https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/

[Billie Hoe]

4 minutes ago, T.C said:

Just a little thing I would like to comment on. It's still not proven whether Pence supports conversion therapy 

Still a reprehensible man though. 

Directly copied from his website:

Quote

Congress should support the reauthorization of the Ryan White Care Act only after completion of an audit to ensure that federal dollars were no longer being given to organizations that celebrate and encourage the types of behaviors that facilitate the spreading of the HIV virus. Resources should be directed toward those institutions which provide assistance to those seeking to change their sexual behavior.

It's nicely packaged, but in the end homophobic and transphobic parents decide to admit their children to these institutions