Before you read this know that I am not a Taylor Swift fan, I never really have been. I don't know anything about her or her life or her beliefs, so you don't have to tell me I know nothing about her because I'm aware.
Taylor Swift recently released a new song called You Need To Calm Down, as far as I can tell Taylor released this song to support Gay Pride Month. Now, Taylor, you can do what you want and support what you want and your fans will follow you and listen to every word that comes out of your mouth. So honestly, standing ovation to you, for using your platform for what you believe.
But.
Here is where you have failed. You have fans who don't support gay marriage. Does that mean they hate people who are gay, no. Does that mean they are terrible people because of their beliefs, no. Here's the issue with what Taylor Swift sang in that song - she has fans who are from all walks of life. Fans who are a part of the LGBTQ community, fans who are Christians, fans who are liberals, fans who are conservative and she took the time to write a song that targeted the fans who have beliefs opposite of her own.
What does that say to the 14-year-olds who are listening to her music? Despite where you stand politically, that is not okay. We teach our children to love one another and we punish kids who bully, but we are praising Taylor Swift for not on writing, but producing a song that tears down people who don't agree with gay marriage.
Taylor, you said "And control your urges to scream about all the people you hate," but that is exactly what your song is about. Telling people to calm down just because they don't support something. How can you look at your fans who have loved you through your country turned pop years and gone to your concerts and bought your merch and music and tell them that what they believe and support is wrong? Are you saying that if their beliefs align with yours then it's okay to be mean about it?
Have your beliefs and stand true to them, but don't drag others down doing it. I am glad that she is using her platform to share something that is close to her heart and support people who do get a lot of hate, BUT there is a much better way to go about it than tearing down the other side.
There is a lesson here that each side of the political spectrum can learn - we have absolutely no right to judge the other side. We have no right to write songs tearing each other down, we have no right to do what I'm doing and call the other side out, we just don't have that right because, in all honesty, we are all wrong at some point on some subject. There are better ways to tell people what you believe than tearing other people down.
