"Freedom Of Speech" - Dixie Chicks

I know this is an old subject but i just picked it up when i was watching an old show from Oprah concerning Dixie Chicks and how one of the members had said some things about how she disagree with Bush's decision sending the army to Iraq. After that concert in Great Britain and Dixie Chicks returning to the U.S. they received a letter threatning one of the members that she will play on their next concert. Also many people came to demonstrate telling them that they had no right to talk freely about the war epsacially not on foreign soil! Now I have always herd that America is a country where everybody can speak free, also called "The Freedom Of Speech"... My concern is why so many people got so angry when it is okay for them and for all american citizens to say what they think...! And now when Dixie Chicks got big and made an international hit I was wondering if people are still angry with them, or íf nobody is??

Glenn

Freedom of speech is about being legally protected when you talk. The public can hate you all they like and deliver as much social backlash as they please. The dixie chix had the legal right to say whatever they wanted, and their fans had the legal right to say whatever they wanted back. Frankly, I think that getting angry at an artist for political views is stupid, as I listen to their music and not their opinions.

Glenn said:

I know this is an old subject but i just picked it up when i was watching an old show from Oprah concerning Dixie Chicks and how one of the members had said some things about how she disagree with Bush's decision sending the army to Iraq. After that concert in Great Britain and Dixie Chicks returning to the U.S. they received a letter threatning one of the members that she will play on their next concert. Also many people came to demonstrate telling them that they had no right to talk freely about the war epsacially not on foreign soil! Now I have always herd that America is a country where everybody can speak free, also called "The Freedom Of Speech"... My concern is why so many people got so angry when it is okay for them and for all american citizens to say what they think...! And now when Dixie Chicks got big and made an international hit I was wondering if people are still angry with them, or íf nobody is??

Glenn

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Who are the dixie chicks?

FreeThinker said:

Who are the dixie chicks?

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Some 'chicks' that work at a Winn Dixie? :mrgreen:

I agree rathi, it is like concerning yourself with what Tom Hanks political opinion is. What makes that guy more qualified than me on the subject. In fact, I would listen to most DP posters over entertainers, since most DP posters research stuff independently. I have a double Major in History and PoliSci, what was Hanks in? Or Oprah? Or Sean Penn? :lol:

It wasn't very polite to go to another country and insult their country's presedent in front of a bunch of foreigners at a non-political event, so people thought they were an embarressment.

They shouldn't have been threatened, though, that was sick.

There are a lot of entertainers, sports figures, and even novelists who do not use their popularity to blather about things for which they have no particular standing.

If the Dixie Chicks or Barbra Streisand or whoever want to talk about something about which they have some expertise, I'll listen. Otherwise, no.

And, yes, I do avoid certain productions because I don't want political indoctrination when I'm supposed to be entertained.

I was in a college psychology class years ago and the professor started on a political rant. After a few minutes I started gathering up my books and he asked me what I was doing. "I'm paying for a class in psychology. I'm not getting my money's worth." Most other students were shocked, a few applauded, and the professor said we'd move on with the class.

Why should we pay to listen to people blather?

No one ever stopped, or does stop, the Ditzes from flapping their lips. That is their option. I've seen people get up and walk out of a restaurant because they started a chicks song.
Now? Good luck. The manager is a friend of mine and stated it is a lot easier to not play a song and keep a customer than to play it and lose one. (The customer in question was a loyal one. Still hasn't returned.)
Yes, they have the right to say what they please. Fortunately, we, the citizens, do as well. The chicks are in a service industry. If they make their fans happy, they sell more records and sell out concerts. Piss them off, and then the country fans will simply quit buying your products.
One thing about country fans. They are very patriotic, by and large. And have long memories. They crossed a line, that is not going to be easily bridged.
I still haven't heard a chick song on the radio around here, because it is a money decision, and the radio stations are not willing to lose listeners, as that costs them money.

Right to free speech or not, the fans still have the same responsibilities as everybody else in exercising freedom of speech, which in my opinion should never excuse death threats and the ilk, which is a far leap from disagreeing.

Glenn said:

I know this is an old subject but i just picked it up when i was watching an old show from Oprah concerning Dixie Chicks and how one of the members had said some things about how she disagree with Bush's decision sending the army to Iraq. After that concert in Great Britain and Dixie Chicks returning to the U.S. they received a letter threatning one of the members that she will play on their next concert. Also many people came to demonstrate telling them that they had no right to talk freely about the war epsacially not on foreign soil! Now I have always herd that America is a country where everybody can speak free, also called "The Freedom Of Speech"... My concern is why so many people got so angry when it is okay for them and for all american citizens to say what they think...! And now when Dixie Chicks got big and made an international hit I was wondering if people are still angry with them, or íf nobody is??

Glenn

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I've always hated the Dixie Chicks music, but after they had the balls to put our dunce president in his place I went out and bought a few cds of theirs to give to all my friends. I have a great admiration for TRUE AMERICANS who are not afraid to speak their minds. Their problem is that most of the country-music fanbase has the IQ of a PEANUT, which is why they have acted like such fascist fools and tried to silence them -- of course that stupid idea back-fired and made the Dixie's MUCH more rich and famous than they'd ever imagined!

THEY RULE!! I just wished I could have seen the look on the idiots faces who protested against them after learning how poorly their plan backfired!

:rofl

Blue Collar Joe said:

No one ever stopped, or does stop, the Ditzes from flapping their lips. That is their option. I've seen people get up and walk out of a restaurant because they started a chicks song.
Now? Good luck. The manager is a friend of mine and stated it is a lot easier to not play a song and keep a customer than to play it and lose one. (The customer in question was a loyal one. Still hasn't returned.)
Yes, they have the right to say what they please. Fortunately, we, the citizens, do as well. The chicks are in a service industry. If they make their fans happy, they sell more records and sell out concerts. Piss them off, and then the country fans will simply quit buying your products.
One thing about country fans. They are very patriotic, by and large. And have long memories. They crossed a line, that is not going to be easily bridged.
I still haven't heard a chick song on the radio around here, because it is a money decision, and the radio stations are not willing to lose listeners, as that costs them money.

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But in this case, losing their foolish country fans was the best carreer move they could have ever made -- which just makes them that much better in terms of business women. HAHA! I'm glad the fool who decided to take his whining frustrations out on a business owner stays at home now. I can tell you that if I were there and saw a person throw a tantrum and walk out because of a SONG on the jukebox, I would forbid him from ever entering my business again and tell him GOOD RIDDANCE! That can only help business by keeping such infantile customer's away from sane and rational customers. If the business owner has a brain in his head, he'd put a lot MORE Dixie chicks songs on the jukebox to weed out the idiots. I certainly would!

Glenn said:

I know this is an old subject but i just picked it up when i was watching an old show from Oprah concerning Dixie Chicks and how one of the members had said some things about how she disagree with Bush's decision sending the army to Iraq. After that concert in Great Britain and Dixie Chicks returning to the U.S. they received a letter threatning one of the members that she will play on their next concert. Also many people came to demonstrate telling them that they had no right to talk freely about the war epsacially not on foreign soil! Now I have always herd that America is a country where everybody can speak free, also called "The Freedom Of Speech"... My concern is why so many people got so angry when it is okay for them and for all american citizens to say what they think...! And now when Dixie Chicks got big and made an international hit I was wondering if people are still angry with them, or íf nobody is??

Glenn

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The main problem people had was they criticized their own country in a foreign country, pandering to anti-american sentiment in the UK. Many people in the US took the way they did it as unseemly, self serving, and cowardly.

rathi said:

Freedom of speech is about being legally protected when you talk. The public can hate you all they like and deliver as much social backlash as they please. The dixie chix had the legal right to say whatever they wanted, and their fans had the legal right to say whatever they wanted back. Frankly, I think that getting angry at an artist for political views is stupid, as I listen to their music and not their opinions.

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I just simply amazes me how some get their panties in a bunch when a celebrity gives their opinion. Does anyone in their right mind take celebs seriously?

I take Barney seriously.

Rick said:

The main problem people had was they criticized their own country in a foreign country, pandering to anti-american sentiment in the UK. Many people in the US took the way they did it as unseemly, self serving, and cowardly.

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That's because the people who took it that way are shallow and ignorant. Because the Dixie Chicks didn't ONLY insult our village idiot in the UK, they also insulted him in America too, which proves they didn't do it at all to 'pander' or to 'self serve'. I respect their patriotism by saying what is on their mind and sticking to it no matter how unpopular an opinion it might be. The problem is that too many Americans are just blind conformists, who've never had an original thought in their entire lives, and have bought the BS that the media has painted about Bush and his miserable administration. If an American is PATRIOTIC, he will stand up to the tyrannical Bush admin who's nearly cost us our entire country!

chevydriver1123 said:

I just simply amazes me how some get their panties in a bunch when a celebrity gives their opinion. Does anyone in their right mind take celebs seriously?

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EXACTLY! I always wondered what in Gods name was going through an Americans head who would sit and WHINE about which celebrity had which political opinion! Idiots with that much time on their hands need to GET A LIFE (or at least a JOB).

hypgnostic said:

That's because the people who took it that way are shallow and ignorant. Because the Dixie Chicks didn't ONLY insult our village idiot in the UK, they also insulted him in America too, which proves they didn't do it at all to 'pander' or to 'self serve'.

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OK - give a reference to a credible source that shows they publicly did it before they went to the UK.

If an American is PATRIOTIC, he will stand up to the tyrannical Bush admin who's nearly cost us our entire country!

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He cost us our entire country??? What??? :shock:

Rick said:

OK - give a reference to a credible source that shows they publicly did it before they went to the UK.



He cost us our entire country??? What??? :shock:

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They have bad-mouthed Bush in just about every show, according to your OWN sources! What difference does it make which country they're slamming the monkey in office? How does that make it any worse or better? If I were them, I'd slam the president in front of EVERY audience -- you see, in the US there is an ideal called 'FREEDOM OF SPEECH' -- if you would like to read about it, read the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, if you have a problem with the Dixie Chicks exercising their freedom to bitch about Bush, DON'T BUY THEIR RECORDS.

Bush is the worst president in our nation's history -- and though that is my opinion, several Pulitzer prize winning authors AGREE. He's declared more war than any other president in history, we've had more terrorist attacks under his watch than any other president and still with no end in sight, Americans are dying in his blood for oil charade at an exponential rate. We've lost the entire city of New Orleans under his watch, one of our greatest engineering monuments when his goons destroyed the WTC, and even after that, not a SINGLE one of his extended family has even set FOOT in the military -- except for his grandfather who had the 'Trading with the enemy Act, named after him when he funded the Hitler's rise in Nazi Germany.

Bush SHOULD be imprisoned and eating 3 square meals a day in GITMO, where he SHOULD have been sent after getting the A$$-kicking he SHOULD have got after his THIRD, DUI. If you can't see that we've got a man guilty of treason running our country, then you've got a lot more to worry about than the DIXIE Chicks -- you need your head examined!

hypgnostic said:

They have bad-mouthed Bush in just about every show, according to your OWN sources!

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Answer the question - when/where did they do it before the UK?

What difference does it make which country they're slamming the monkey in office? How does that make it any worse or better?

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Because it's cowardly pandering to an anti-american audience for commercial gain. Why can't you get it? I would NEVER criticize any dem president in a foreign country.

If I were them, I'd slam the president in front of EVERY audience -- you see, in the US there is an ideal called 'FREEDOM OF SPEECH' -- if you would like to read about it, read the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, if you have a problem with the Dixie Chicks exercising their freedom to bitch about Bush, DON'T BUY THEIR RECORDS.

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Also in the US, there are the concepts of cowardice, backstabbing, and pandering.

Bush is the worst president in our nation's history -- and though that is my opinion, several Pulitzer prize winning authors AGREE.

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Oh, you form your opinions around votes by "authors"? :lol: Fascinating!

He's declared more war than any other president in history,

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Nooooooo.........

we've had more terrorist attacks under his watch than any other president and still with no end in sight, Americans are dying in his blood for oil charade at an exponential rate.

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Noooooooo............

We've lost the entire city of New Orleans under his watch,

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Hurricane Katrina was a neocon plot, right? :lol:

one of our greatest engineering monuments when his goons destroyed the WTC, and even after that, not a SINGLE one of his extended family has even set FOOT in the military -- except for his grandfather who had the 'Trading with the enemy Act, named after him when he funded the Hitler's rise in Nazi Germany.

Bush SHOULD be imprisoned and eating 3 square meals a day in GITMO, where he SHOULD have been sent after getting the A$$-kicking he SHOULD have got after his THIRD, DUI. If you can't see that we've got a man guilty of treason running our country, then you've got a lot more to worry about than the DIXIE Chicks -- you need your head examined!

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OK, psychotic rant, time for me to tip toe to the exit....

One problem with the multimedia world we live in is we the viewers are subjected to everyone's political opinions. For me I could care less about veryone elses opinions if I don't know them. The rock music world and the hollywooders are two sections of our cultrue that are at best are an embarrassment if not a disgrace in some cases. Their opinions should be muted.

Rick said:

Answer the question - when/where did they do it before the UK?



Because it's cowardly pandering to an anti-american audience for commercial gain. Why can't you get it? I would NEVER criticize any dem president in a foreign country.



Also in the US, there are the concepts of cowardice, backstabbing, and pandering.



Oh, you form your opinions around votes by "authors"? :lol: Fascinating!



Nooooooo.........



Noooooooo............



Hurricane Katrina was a neocon plot, right? :lol:



OK, psychotic rant, time for me to tip toe to the exit....

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What kind of backwards reasoning is it any better or worse whose country one is in when they insult a fascist leader? They obviously slammed Bush without even CONSIDERING what it would do to their ratings -- if they were worried about that, they wouldn't have said a thing.

BUT -- since they're freedom-lovers who aren't afraid of speaking their mind (which in my book is one of the truest forms of Patriotism), it's very apparent it was not the ridiculous 'pandering' 'backstabbing' or 'cowardice' that you speak of -- if they were COWARDS, they would say whatever would get them the most fans like every OTHER backwood's hick singing country music (if you can call Country 'music')..haha!

And please explain since you have some insane idea that it is an act of cowardice to slam a pres. in another country, how YOU can get away with it when you're slamming a pres. ONLINE? --> You're already SPEAKING to the entire world by being in this ONLINE FORUM!

The Dixie Chicks were free to say anything that they wished. However, they have to be ready to accept the consequences of their actions. When the American puplic decided not to buy their albums or DJs didn't want to play their songs they were also exhibiting their 1st amendment rights.

Bell30656 said:

The Dixie Chicks were free to say anything that they wished. However, they have to be ready to accept the consequences of their actions. When the American puplic decided not to buy their albums or DJs didn't want to play their songs they were also exhibiting their 1st amendment rights.

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Yes, you're absolutely correct. The thing I find so hilarious about this case in particular is that the idiots who decided to boycott and whine and complain TRIED to end the careers of the Dixie Chicks but their plan backfired and now the D.C.'s are more popular than ever before. Because now they've got political credibility. If I were the DC's, I'd be RELIEVED that the sniveling fans who criticized them STOPPED buying the records -- I wouldn't want such feeble-minded fans, which is why despite the 'boycott' and incessant whining and villification that the redneck cons threw, the Dixie Chicks are even MORE popular!

You GOTTA LOVE AMERICA for that reason ALONE!!!

I only wished I could have seen the looks on the faces of the 'fans' that whined when they realized their boycott back-fired and they were made into FOOLS. I'm sure that SOMEONE wrote an article about that!

:rofl

hypgnostic said:

Yes, you're absolutely correct. The thing I find so hilarious about this case in particular is that the idiots who decided to boycott and whine and complain TRIED to end the careers of the Dixie Chicks but their plan backfired and now the D.C.'s are more popular than ever before. Because now they've got political credibility. If I were the DC's, I'd be RELIEVED that the sniveling fans who criticized them STOPPED buying the records -- I wouldn't want such feeble-minded fans, which is why despite the 'boycott' and incessant whining and villification that the redneck cons threw, the Dixie Chicks are even MORE popular!

You GOTTA LOVE AMERICA for that reason ALONE!!!

I only wished I could have seen the looks on the faces of the 'fans' that whined when they realized their boycott back-fired and they were made into FOOLS. I'm sure that SOMEONE wrote an article about that!

:rofl

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You are way off the Dixie Dicks lost millions as radio refused to air their music and sponsors dumped them. Large concert promoters moved on to greener pastures. Granted the dicks came out with a big selling albumn a year after they ran their mouths but they lost mega bucks.

Of course these girls werent under legal pressure. They were under other sorts of pressure.
Im curious however, why did so many of you guys get so het up?

If some Brit pop star for example went to Germany and said 'I hate the Queen or I hate Tony Blair' no one in the UK would care. Whats the beef with you guys?