Where are the Celebrities During the Gulf Oil Crisis?

Where are the Celebrities During the Gulf Oil Crisis?

By Catspirit
AllVoices.com
June 3, 2010

Okay, Oprah, Travolta, Angelina, Bono, Clooney, etc, etc, etc. Where are you now? You were there to bash the Bush administration and FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) for the horrific events that followed one of the nation’s strongest hurricanes to hit ground.

Why aren’t you outraged by the continuing oil spill debacle under BP and the current administration? Is it because Bush bashing was chic? Yes, the levees were archaic – they were also antiquated under the Clinton administration. Where were you then?

For those celebrities that bear the color green – why aren’t you out at the shores with your dish soap; aiding the oil soaked marine life, like you were during the Exxon Valdez catastrophe?

What is the difference?

1. Katrina was an act of mother nature. The handling of supplies, general aid and the reconstruction effort was inadequate. There are still thousands left homeless or in shambles. A catastrophic, human calamity doesn’t begin to describe the devastation of the survivors, the economy and the destruction felt in New Orleans and surrounding areas. Gratitude to the celebrities that rushed to the aid of those in need and continue to share their philanthropic ideals.

2. The BP Gulf Oil Spill, a disaster of unknown proportions, is the product of big business – OIL. The amount of oil gushing into the ocean has already exceeded the Exxon Valdez, two-fold and continues to spew forth the black goo into the life giving waters of the gulf. The current administration has been slow to react and condemned for incompetence in the crisis. Much the same way as the Bush administration when tending to the Katrina crisis.

The similarities

1. Enormous loss of life (human and/or animal), ecological disaster, inability to properly attack the issue at hand, and immeasurable monetary loss.

The inconsistency

1. Where are those that cried foul during Katrina? Why have they chosen to hide during this crisis? Politics makes strange bedfellows. Should a crisis or catastrophe of this magnitude be dependent on the @ss or the elephant?

Cheers to those that have raised their hand in communion for common good. The list is short; James Cameron and Kevin Costner to name two. Raise a glass of oil and toast to the wonders of political divide. I’m sure the ecosystem, water fowl and others that call the gulf their home, will make their vote known at the polls.

The sound of silence is deafening, isn't it?

The whole tone of this article perplexes me. It's as though the author wishes to live in a celebrity nanny state, where the beautiful people enrich the lives of the rest of us. It's also filled with inaccuraces. Many celebrities have so far spoken out, and done what they can in the wake of this environmental disaster. Victoria Principal has donated $200,000 to Oceana and the National Resources Defense Council. James Cameron has offered his expertise with ROVs to the situation. Leonardo DiCaprio has taken the "Save My Dreams" pledge. Kevin Costner has also spoken out publically about a new device that could help clean up the oil, and Stephen Baldwin is making a documentry about this to spread awareness. Robert redford has recently spoken out about environmental reform.

But let's be honest here... this is not really about criticizing celebrities. This is all about criticizing liberals who just happen to be celebrities. This is just another attempt to gain favour with reactionary voters who desise, or envy, those whom they consider more privilaged than them, and to prey on the minds of those who still worship Joseph McCarthy.

You raise some very good points there. It is easy to criticise celebrities, firstly for doing nothing and secondly when they do, for saying they are not doing enough. It is almost as though we expect celebrities to be having something to say about everything, all of the time, and then criticise them when they do.

However that said, there are those who do much and do not make a song and dance about it and then there are those who make sure everybody knows just how much they are helping. Personally I would rather celebrities kept their mouths shut unless they have an expert insight into events. If they want to help, then do so. Give money, set up funds, get out their with your elbow grease... but don't keep telling us about it because it then comes across as though you are doing it for the publicity rather than out of compassion.

My problem with celebrities is the political slant. It's why i don't have respect for them. Most are far left. They act different when their guy is in charge and in another fashion when not.

BP has just bought 32 oil cleanup machines that Kevin Costner developed, after spending $20 million of his own money and buying a patent for it.

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Broadcast/bp-excited-kevin-costners-oil-cleanup-machine-purchases/story?id=10916445

Yeah, i saw that one ABC last night. Looks interesting. We'll see if it works.

According to this article, it's working well. What I didn't know, but should have surmised, I guess, is that BP did "rigorous testing" on it before they decided to order 32, based on how well it worked.

http://blogs.chron.com/newswatchenergy/archives/2010/06/bp_says_kevin_c.html

I saw a piece on this on ABC News last week. Brilliant!