Green Day/Genre Disputes - Politics and Social Justice

Politics and Social Justice

When asked his opinion regarding whether all musicians ought to try to add a social or political message to their work, Armstrong replied that

The only people who should sing about social issues or politics are the ones who aren't full of shit.

American Idiot was released two months before former President of the United States George W. Bush was reelected, and as a result the album became protest art. Created as an anti-war album, American Idiot contains many new-age protest songs, like Holiday which was against George Bush's decision to invade Iraq. Armstrong described the song as a means by which "to battle your way out of your own ignorance".

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