Ok, while I understand his religious beLIEfs "prevent" him from voting, does that mean he had to write a song stating there "ain't no use in voting"? Millions of freedom fighters, their children and their children's children would disagree. Present company included.

Secondly, he states that "maybe WE should write a letter". A letter? Really Prince? A letter. And when did he start speaking French? But I digress.

Exactly what would this letter say? Would "we" be using harsh language to get some "assistancy in AIDS"? (which MANY orginizations tirelessly provide for millions living with the disease).

Overall, the fact that the second line in the song contains the words "don't understand", speaks louder more than the song itself.

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At the time when he wrote it he was just as pissed about the war and Bush being re-elected. I do not agree that voting is a waste of time but when you see the system tampered with it can be very discouraging and I think that was the only thing P was saying. You need to put the song in the context of the time it was written.

I think his statement that he doesn't vote completely invalidates any political statement/message he has or ever will make.

Because voting is you getting your say in a very real, and if you don't, then any complaining about the way things are is just that: complaining. It means you're just interested in complaining for the sake of complaining and don't actually care how things turn out or aren't interested in doing anything about it.

I think his statement that he doesn't vote completely invalidates any political statement/message he has or ever will make.

Because voting is you getting your say in a very real, and if you don't, then any complaining about the way things are is just that: complaining. It means you're just interested in complaining for the sake of complaining and don't actually care how things turn out or aren't interested in doing anything about it.

Not at all. By abstaining altogether, one is making the point that they consider the entire system itself to be unsatisfactory.

Pick a team, but if you don't like the game, the rules will never change. That's been Prince's outlook on a lot of recent political lyrics.



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[Edited 1/25/09 11:51am]

Obama didn't get elected by writing a letter?

Umm, the first sentence in the post you quoted acknowledges the time frame. And yes, things were (and still are) truly fucked. However, is that cause for him squander a right many people fought (and died) for, while almost ENCOURIGING others to the same? If he wants to give up, let him. But that is one boat I will not get on.

I agree. It's the political version of "conscientious objection" in the military. Honorable, IMO.

There's very little honor in letting reality pass you by while you do nothing.

The problem with Dear Mr. Man is that it mostly says nothing new.

He throws out trite complaints about welfare being unfair and the US starting a lot of wars without delving into any potential causes or solutions, or even exploring these issues from a fresh perspective. Sentiments like these have been repeated ad nauseum for years and years.

Whereas SOTT used wordplay and addressed the baffling paradoxes of society, Dear Mr. Man is as straightforward a ballad as they come in plainly stating the most general concerns we have.

That alone would have been harmless enough, but his political naivety further hurts the song.

Only a preteen should be foolish enough to ever write that voting is useless.
[Edited 1/25/09 10:57am]

[Flame snipped - Mars23] *meant in the nicest way possible*

Not at all. By abstaining altogether, one is making the point that they consider the entire system itself to be unsatisfactory.

Pick a team, but if you don't like the rules, the game will never change. That's been Prince's outlook on a lot of recent political lyrics.

Obama didn't get elected by writing a letter?

And yet a guy comes along representing the kind of change Prince has been singing about for decades and he doesn't even vote for him.