Can music, politics coexist?

Everyone has a political opinion that they take to the polls and use to support their candidate or party of choice.

Everyone also has an alternative way to support their political objectives, as well.

They can work on campaigns or write strongly worded letters to their legislatures as a way to participate in the political process, but what about musicians?

Famous musicians have a power that your average Joe doesn't, and that is the ability to widely share their political ideals.

I can't create a hit song that speaks about my personal political philosophies and have it go multiplatinum like "P!nk" has with her song "Dear Mr. President."

Nor can I just talk to a newspaper about what policies I support and actually have someone listen to me as some artists have.

Those who are in the limelight and constantly in the public's eye have ample opportunity to tell the world want they think and have it reach the masses.

However, with great fame comes responsibility.

While musicians are entitled to their voice and opinions like every one else, they have to be careful about how they present themselves and how educated their opinion is.

If their opinions are extreme and people follow to a point that it is dangerous, it is an issue.

If they don't back up their opinions and say they like someone because he has a cool tie, they will be heavily scrutinized and the rest of the media will most likely have a field day telling everyone just how uneducated they are.

They also are obligated to have their facts straight and present educated opinions. Artists can use their fame for a lot of positive things like MTV's Rock the Vote campaign, which used celebrities to encourage the younger generation to get politically involved and participate in their civic duty.

The organization encouraging voter registration, called Americans Coming Together, also had musical help from Bruce Springsteen, Dave Matthews, John Mellencamp and a variety of other artists who were glad to help support political causes.

There are other ways they can be politically active like Missy Higgins who has taken a stance on gay rights policy and Rob Thomas who has also taken that stance and called those who were against gay rights bigots.

Granted, it was either on a webcast or Twitter, but that does not matter as much as the content.

I find their arguments valid in that they are eloquent and educated and can support themselves.

As far as I am concerned, Higgins saying that fighting over sexuality rights is stupid when we have bigger issues to attend to, like trillions of dollars in debt and millions of jobless Americans is a valid argument.

As is Thomas saying that if you don't believe in gay rights you are a bigot because while you are entitled to your own views and opinions, you are also taking away someone else's rights in the process, and that is not OK.

These artists are entitled to say what they want the same way we are, and while they have a responsibility as influential characters in our society, we also have a responsibility as a general public to form our own opinions that either agree or disagree with our favorite singer or songwriter.