Prince On Prop 8 Stance: I Didn't Vote At All

Prince has spoken out about his position on Prop 8, a month and a half after the New Yorker quoted him as against it. He dodged the subject by saying his religion prevents him from voting at all.

From an interview with the LA Times:

He didn't vote at all. "I didn't vote for Obama either," he explained. "Jehovah's Witnesses haven't voted for their whole inception." The controversy over a recent New Yorker "Talk of the Town" item, which Prince feels implied he supported the gay-marriage ban, has upset him. It's the first thing he wanted to discuss when the Web geeks had gone and we were alone. "I have friends that are gay and we study the Bible together," he said. He added that two sides fighting "only benefit the third person" who instigated the fight.

Despite initially saying he was misquoted, the New Yorker stood by their Prince story.

Comments

[joebiz]

What's worse: being apolitical with common sense issues that affect all Americans or following backwards religious beliefs?

[wilsonf15]

wait a minute Prince is not gay?

[Blue Jay33]

It's interesting that Jehovah's Witness's would not even vote for or against laws they agree or disagree with it, they view that as all political. Hot topics such as Capital Punishment, Gay marriage, Abortion, they have personal opinions on these topics that relate to their faith. But they don't believe in the poltical governments forcing their(JW's) opinions as law on others. Is that a bad thing?
The one exception is if it conflicts with their personal beliefs being violated, then they will go to court.

On the gay marriage issue, personally they are against it, but they aren't ever going to cast a vote against gay people either.

[aloha43]

My first experiences with JW's was when I was about 10 years old. There was a family my parents knew who came to visit around Christmastime. I understood at the time that they didn't celebrate Christmas and I was very open minded about the situation, as my parents taught us to be. The way they taught their children in this instance, in my opinion, was completely wrong. I was shocked.

Their children...both approximately 8-10 years old were so negatively disgusting, I couldn't believe what I was hearing. They were engaged in a Christmas slamming discussion about how horrible it was and how ugly our Christmas tree was, while the parents sat around the dinner table talking down any other religion but their own. They too were insulting our beliefs and our decorations.

The only other experience with them is the annoying knocking on our door and preaching their case. That is VERY annoying. It is disruptive. They should keep their religion to themselves as that should be a private thing, not pushed on others.

I'm sure that all JW's aren't that bad, but some do have terrible attitudes.....and their kids taught to be that way.

Ones beliefs should be private. Period.

[aloha43]

I didn't know that Jehovah's witnesses didn't vote......is that true with all?

And if so.....why not?

[Bitsko]

They believe that the only true government is the one in heaven and the only true leader is you know who. One less religious person voting is alright by me.

[nomobull]

get a grip . he is not the voice of gay issues. he has
an opinion he used his right to express it. and voting is not a commandment it is a right to choose whether to exercise or not. and just because the republicans bought into the bogus double standards of some zealots doesn't mean we should dismiss others right to believe.

[jsaucedo13]

Oh my gosh, Prince really needs to get over himself...

[teacheng]

Wow, a cop-out from Prince. What a disappointment this guy is.

[Baggaratz]

Yes, very disappointing.

[Chicago48]

His religion, as well as many religions (Black Muslims for example) prevent their members from voting. You need to get over it.

[Flagrantlover]

How can you not vote on something like this?

It's time for EQUALITY FOR ALL! Absolutely all! Not just minority races and Gays, but even zoos and animals.

Here's the hilarious flick that is sure to convince you: http://www.comingsoon.cz

Happy New Year!!!

[PaxMundis]

Jehovah's Witnesses don't vote, period.

[Chicago48]

Thank you. Not only JW but Black Muslim were not allowed to vote up until recently. Some religions are like that; nothing wrong with it.

[Lalita]

His religion doesn't believe in voting--the one sure way to restore rights, like the right to have contracts honored, marry whatever race or ethnicity one chooses, start a business, get and keep a job. Curious. It was voters who cleared the way for Prince to have all those rights (including the right to vote) he enjoys while he's sitting in Bible study with his gay friends.

[StillMadMatt]

Fools for Jesus! I hope He never comes back. Religion = Fools

[Pastprologue]

Oh, so it was you Kathy Griffin was talking to.

[drumz]

Right on Matt!

[retrorio]

I still love Prince's music from the 80's and 90's; he's always expressed religious beliefs in his music but also challenged sexual boundaries, so I'd be very surprised if he truly was anti-gay. I guess the less I know about his personal life, the better I like him. I'll always love the music, though.

[XCITIZEN]

I used to work with a woman who was a Jehovah's witness. She was also an extremely frustrated lesbian - I was one of the only people on earth who she shared this with - and she was a real sweetheart - although maybe a little confused - and she was butch as hell. The reason I bring this up is -- maybe Prince is a frustrated lesbian. Make that a lipstick lesbian...

[tcerami]

While I am a Prince fan, I am disappointed that he didn't vote for religious reasons. Prince, you can emancipate yourself from a record label, but not your country. Regrow your brain and save the religion for your sabbath, not the voting booth. There are too many religions for them all to be correct. Therefore, they are all wrong.

Peace be with you...

[Americano]

Reference Tcerami's comment!
You point is well taken! However, leaving one's faith/religious beliefs at the doorsteps (home), is what everyone in the world does. You included! Have you noticed the world lately?????????? It is a six letter word, starts with "Fu," and the next word is "UP."
I've noticed, I cannot tell the good guys from the bad! :)) We can learn a great deal, about love of neighbor, obedience, fellowship, and what the God of the universe expects in the form of action from us "earthlings," from these very humble, God fearing people, Jehovah's Witnesses!

[PaxMundis]

"There are too many religions for them all to be correct. Therefore, they are all wrong."

"There are too many theories about black holes/evol­ution/quan­tum physics for them all to be correct. Therefore, they are all wrong."

Note: I am not saying that evolution is wrong: I would simply point out that there is not universal agreement - Richard Dawkins may not like this pointed out, but many other evolutionary biologists (most prominently Stephen Jay Gould) strongly disagree with him.

[harriettubman]

There were 12 Apostles and each went out and taught Christianity their way. This is how various denominations occurred because some people didn't believe this or that but the basic tenets of religion are found in almost every religion in the world, it may just be explained a different way.

[Hirnlego]

"There are too many theories about black holes/evol­ution/quan­tum physics for them all to be correct. Therefore, they are all wrong."
This is equally poor logic.

[Hirnlego]

"Richard Dawkins may not like this pointed out"
He wouldn't mind. But he would probably like to point out that they're trying to have it both ways which doesn't quite work out.

[Hirnlego]

"There are too many religions for them all to be correct. Therefore, they are all wrong."
That is actually something we cannot know... personally I think they're all human inventions.

[Catamount]

he use to be so hot. alors.