justbenice00

[justbenice00]

The fact of the business is that I generally don't like to speak ill of anyone. However, regarding Donald Trump, there's just no way around it. The idea of having that cat back in the White House scares me tremendously. As I've often said before, I don't do political parties. This isn't about Republicans versus Democrats. This is about protecting the democracy and values that this country purports to stand for, which Donald Trump has shown to be a threat towards. With that said, however, Donald Trump... Well, for better or worse, he basically has the Republican Party wrapped around his little finger. I should've seen that Nikki Haley didn't have much of a chance of defeating him in the primaries. While he is currently on indictment of many charges, there is... well, the very real possibility of him being able to... I can't even finish that thought. I'm a lot older than I look. I've been alive for almost a whole century, now - and I definitely remember the Richard Nixon trials. However, I can still state that the current Donald Trump situation has been unprecedented in all my years of living. So to my lovely fans, friends, and followers... if you are eligible, please be sure to get out and vote by the time November comes. The well-being of this country... and the world, in fact... really depends on you.

Jimmy Reed, On Donald Trump and 2024 US elections

[justbenice00]

Jimmy Reed: On Donald Trump versus Nikki Haley

Question: So, Jimmy, I presume you plan to vote for Nikki Haley in the Republican Primaries? And how do you feel about Ron DeSantis dropping out? Jimmy Reed: You are absolutely right, my lovely. Nikki Haley would be our best bet of preventing another Donald Trump presidency. As for Ron DeSantis, I can't say that I'm too surprised he dropped out. That cat scared me just as much as Donald Trump still does.

[justbenice00]

Oh, so you don't hate me because I'm black? You hate me because I'm American, instead? And as someone who is both black and American, you think that's supposed to make me feel any better?! Gimme a doggone break!

~ Jimmy Reed, when even he has his limitations

[justbenice00]

Jimmy Reed: On Republicans

Question: How stupid and ignorant are Republicans? Jimmy Reed: Now look-a here, buddy! Exactly how do you expect me to answer a loaded question like the one you just asked? I just don't believe in making generalizations about a political group without... uh, considering the diversity of perspectives that people who affiliate with that party hold. We need to consider that Americans as individuals are very complex and diverse to be divided neatly into, uh, two major flawed political parties. So, yeah, that is my take on this.

[justbenice00]

Jimmy Reed: On George W Bush

Question: Who would you say is the last Republican US President that you respected? Jimmy Reed: Well, my lovely, I think I'd go with George W Bush. Now, I understand that he did have some very controversial policies - and I'm not sure if I would've voted for him. However, unlike Donald Trump, he's also maintained a professional demeanor - and he never engaged in any sort of vulgarity to his political opponents. He actually was willing to work across party lines and look for compromise, something that cannot be said of Donald Trump.

[justbenice00]

Jimmy Reed: On Joe Biden

Question: Fuck Joe Biden! Jimmy Reed: Well, I'm a happily married man... and I don't swing in that direction... and I couldn't do that to his wife, anyway... so I think I'll pass.

[justbenice00]

Jimmy Reed: On Avenged Sevenfold and Ideology

Question: I don't believe it's acceptable even to suggest that people shouldn't like Avenged Sevenfold because one of the members used to be a Republican. Not only should we recognize change in people, but there is also separating the art from the artist. Jimmy Reed: I don't dispute that at all, my lovely. In fact, I have been friends with Avenged Sevenfold from back when M Shadows was still a Republican. So being a Republican really is not a deal-breaker for me. Being a white supremacist, on the other hand, would be. I think the point that the other question asker was making, though, is that it is a bit more understandable to object to others enjoying a band based on ideological grounds than on the grounds of "perceived quality" of a band's music. It's possible to understand the motivations behind one's attitude without excusing or justifying it, after all. It's a little thing called "nuance".

[justbenice00]

Jimmy Reed: More on Guilty Pleasures versus Problematic Faves

Question: Hating Avenged Sevenfold because M Shadows was once a Republican? Okay, fair enough. Granted, I would still disagree with the assessment - but I'd much rather be told that it's wrong to like Avenged Sevenfold on those grounds than be told that it's wrong to like Avenged Sevenfold just because their music doesn't meet some subjective quality standard. Jimmy Reed: Well, my lovely, you make a very good point. I think this also goes to illustrate the primary difference between "guilty pleasures" and "problematic faves". Enjoying a band's music despite disagreeing with one of the members on ideological grounds would quality as a "problematic fave", while enjoying a band's music dispute some perceived lack of quality" would be a "guilty pleasure". As it is, I never saw any point to the latter.

[justbenice00]

Jimmy Reed: On Guilty Pleasures versus Problematic Faves

Question: Would you say the more traditional "guilty pleasures" are on the decline, giving way to the concept of "problematic faves"? Jimmy Reed: Well, my lovely, that is a very good question. Indeed, in recent years, there does appear to be a significant push back against elitism in art and entertainment. Conversely, there is a growing attitude concerning the importance of recognizing morally problematic elements that exist in art and entertainment. So, with that, many are starting to rethink the validity of "guilty pleasures". I might have a dog in the fight, admittedly - since some have criticized my music as not being "true blues" - but my views on this go deeper than that. I always have contended that there is no need to feel guilty about liking things that are not morally wrong. So, yeah, I would say that many are starting to reject "guilty pleasures" in favour of "problematic faves". On a more personal level, there are some songs that I've written and recorded back in the day... which includes Shoot My Baby... that I've since rejected. I no longer perform those problematic songs live - and, when I have control over compilation albums of my music, I make sure not to include those songs. I didn't mean any harm at the time - but, nonetheless, I have since become aware of the potential harmful attitudes that the songs could promote. So it wasn't "cancel culture" or any sort of "woke mob" that led me to make that decision. It was strictly a case of self-reflection on my end that led to the decision.

[justbenice00]

Jimmy Reed: On Joe Biden

Question: What are your thoughts on Joe Biden as the US President overall? Jimmy Reed: Well, to be honest, he definitely does have his flaws. At the same time, however, just about anyone is better than Donald Trump... or Ron DeSantis. Now, I'm not in the habit of disparaging other people - but there really is no way around it. These two individuals are known for their extremely divisive policies. I would've been fine with John McCain being the president in 2008, even though I'm happy that Barack Obama won - as, unlike Trump and DeSantis, McCain was known for being a respectful person who believe in unity over division. I was really upset when Trump bashed McCain for "being captured", when it's obvious that that happened due to McCain selflessly putting his life on the line. Also, Joe Biden is not widely regarded as a cult of personality in the way that Trump is. We don't need to broadcast our devotion to him, when we can simply go out and vote for him - which is what is most important.

[justbenice00]

Jimmy Reed: On Donald Trump versus John McCain

Question: What do you think about Donald Trump's comment about preferring people who weren't captured in reference to John McCain? Jimmy Reed: Well, my lovely, there's no way around it. It was a very tasteless comment, to say the least. This also goes to show that Trump doesn't care as much about soldiers as he professes. Now, I have a lot of respect for John McCain - and it was very disgraceful, to say the least, for Trump to regard him in so little light. Ditto for when he refers to people who lost their lives in war as "suckers". In general, I believe in treating those who hold opposing views with respect - but, when it comes to Donald Trump, his hateful and divisive rhetoric is not at all conducive to a healthy society. I'm definitely voting again, next year - as the thought of either Donald Trump or Ron DeSantis in the White House scares me.

[justbenice00]

Our government would be much better off controlling the gun ownership of their citizens instead of their healthy or unhealthy food intake.

Jimmy Reed, On Gun Control versus Nanny Statism

[justbenice00]

Nanny statism isn't 'liberal' or 'leftist'. It's authoritarian.

Jimmy Reed, On Nanny State and Authoritarianism

[justbenice00]

Some think that I shouldn't call myself a "feminist" because I'm a man. I fully understand the sentiment, and that matters not to me. All that matters to me is that I support women having all the same rights and freedom as men do. I think we should all be judged by the content of our character alone, after all - not by our gender, race, sexual orientation, nationality, or anything like that. So, yeah, injustice anywhere is injustice everywhere!

Jimmy Reed, On Feminism and Equality

[justbenice00]

Jimmy Reed: On Anarchism and Socialism?

Question: Would you consider yourself more of an anarchist or more of a democratic socialist? To be honest, you don't seem to quite fit the profile of an anarchist. Jimmy Reed: Well, my lovely, you make a fair point. In fact, I have gotten that quite a bit. I believe that gradual changes would probably work better in the long run. While I do dream of, one day, having a... a world without states or borders - trying to implement that overnight could be very chaotic. So I... I think democratic socialism would be a great middle step. So that where I stand, essentially.

[justbenice00]

Jimmy Reed: On Political Parties

Question: Do you agree or disagree: Black people don't have to be Democrats? Jimmy Reed: I... agree to a certain extent. I myself do not affiliate with a particular party, so I would not call myself a Democrat. However, I also disagree with any promotion of the Republican Party - which I understand is how Candace Owens sees it. I think Ms. Owens is... too dismissive of inequality issues that continue to persist. So that's my take on this.

[justbenice00]

Jimmy Reed: On Wokescolds and Cults

Question: Would you say that wokescolds are a cult? Jimmy Reed: Well, not exactly. I would say that they typically engage in cult-like behaviour, yes - but I actually wouldn't go so far as to describe them as a full-fledged cult. I believe it's quite important to recognize nuance in certain concepts. We can discuss ways that certain types of behaviour can be harmful, but if we make... rash extreme judgements... it can really be counterproductive. For example, many of us can contend that neither slapping people in the face nor stabbing people should be socially acceptable - but, at the same time, one is objectively worse than the other. I believe it's vital to recognize degrees of harmful behaviour, while not condoning any of it.