OPINION: Scoot: Backlash over Garth Brooks performing for Joe Biden

 


Country music superstar Garth Brooks agreed to perform at the inaugural swearing-in ceremony of Joe Biden tomorrow in Washington, D.C. Brooks joked, he could be “the only Republican at the ceremony.”

In the deeply divided atmosphere in America, the idea of a Republican performing at the inauguration of a Democrat who won what President Trump and many Republicans falsely claim was a stolen election seems like a betrayal on the part of the Republican. But shouldn’t it be viewed as a uniting gesture rather than support for the enemy?

An entertainment critic wrote, “Garth Brooks playing the Biden inauguration as a Republican, putting a new spin on ‘friends in low places.’” “We’re divided because people like Garth Brooks were willing to be divided when they were told to be,” wrote another person upset with Brooks.

There are reports that some of Garth Brooks’ fans have banned him and his music from their social media sites.

The backlash over Garth Brooks performing at the inauguration illustrates how politics has turned into an ideological battle rather than a process of allowing citizens to vote for the candidate of their choice.

During a zoom call about the news that Brooks would be performing at the inauguration, Brooks said that the violence he saw at the U.S. Capitol on January 6th was “disturbing and sad.” The idea of bringing people together is what motivated Brooks to accept the inauguration gig and said his decision is not about politics.

Entertainment Tonight, which was on the zoom call reports that Brooks said, “I’ve played for every president there is, since Carter, with the exception of Reagan. This is an honor for me to get to serve - and it’s one of the things that, if my family is around, no matter who the president-elect is, it’s an honor to be asked.”

However, Brooks did not perform for the inauguration of Donald Trump in January of 2017, saying there was a scheduling conflict and not about politics.

Is it that hard to believe that a performer like Garth Brooks would agree to perform at the inauguration of a president-elect from the other party because he is an American? No doubt, many country music fans are thrilled that Brooks will perform, but the backlash explains how tribal politics has become.

A general call for unity is being heard from both sides, but there is still too much interest in protecting political territory to expect unity. While it is unrealistic to expect political harmony in America, we should demand that the spreading of false information in the name of taking a political stance cease.

The practice of rejecting a musical artist over politics further proves that many Americans put their political views above all else.

https://www.radio.com/wwl/news/scoot-backlash-over-garth-brooks-performing-for-joe-biden

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