I don’t agree with Waters’ positions and viewpoints on many things. However, he can call out American Imperialism and "war crimes" (perhaps an overstatement if you are American but not if you were an Indian when we came in and slaughtered them to take their land or an Iraqi when we bombed them, knocked out their government and let Iran move in under false pretenses). Is he wrong? Perhaps not as we understand the term, but perhaps in a broader sense.
I love my country and I think Waters does too. I live with our country’s past, present and future and, based upon all of it, believe we are the greatest, most well intentioned and beneficent country in the world. That doesn’t mean Waters cannot speak of undeniable facts that are part of our history and provide an artist’s viewpoint as disagreeable or overstated or even wrong as it may be. He has a viewpoint that is unorthodox on certain issues. But he is very insightful on other issues. Most importantly, he is an artist who makes great music (sometimes) that comes from his heart and mind and I go to his concerts to listen and watch.
Van Morrison has turned into a bit of an old cranky, nutty boy. I disagree with him on many things. But I like him as a singer. So I continue to buy his albums and go to his shows.
If someone doesn’t like Waters--do you think he cares? If someone doesn’t like Springsteen because of his politics, do you think he cares? If someone doesn’t like Lee Greenwood, Kid Rock or Ted Nugent because of their viewpoints, do you think they care?
Well they know what they are doing and they are prepared to lose a part of their audience for it-- and if you don’t like it ---then I’m sure as far as they are all concerned, you can go to the bar and do whatever..
