I don't agree with what that COW said... Even to say it in England, our greatest ally... However, she is entitled to her opinion... And I'm entitled not to support the her crappy music anymore...My wife and kids used to like their stuff but not anymore...
So you wear the pants in the house and the CD player. Wow. Does the CD player hang around your neck, Flavor Flav style?
BJ, I started the thread because I thought it was hilarious that an extremely popular Country/Western ban that relies heavily on Texas sales, and good ole blue collar principles/people would say that. I meant nothing in a political commentary. Admit it, you laughed like I did when you saw that front page headline in the chronicle. hehe!!!
I didn't get that impression. Latest poll I found. "The American public, by a 2-1 margin, supports military action against Iraq to remove Saddam, a slight increase in support from recent weeks, according to a CNN-USA Today-Gallup poll out Monday."
I could be wrong but the DC have made LOTS of money and probably don't care if record sales fall off from Bush supporters. On the other hand, I'm off to Sam Goody right now!
I wonder what the two hot ones think about all this? They weren't the ones that said it and now they are facing the consequences. Damn shame, come on people, support the hot ones.
It's O.K. for the moronic Dixie chicks to say anything they want, however they must expect a reaction since they gather an audience here in the United States... They should have known who their audience is....
I don't use the rollyes smilie as I find it as annoying a debate tactic as "I know you are but what am I," but my real eyes rolled to the back of my head on reading your incredibly idiotic post. That's right! Anyone who disagrees with Bush is a damn commie! It is YOU, not me, who should rethink his allegiance to his country. You have ZERO idea what this country is about if you call a sincere dissenter a Bolshevik. As for the other thing, yes idiot, I was talking about England where there is overwhelming anti-war opinion, regardless of their status as our "greatest ally." As it turns out, Blair and Straw are pretty much out there on their own in support of Bush. The English people deplore this war as does most of the world. And, while this may change, support for action without UN support or a broad coalition remains around 50%. Read a newspaper or something before you shoot your fool mouth off, will you? p.s. HP: Wasn't talking bout you. And yes, I did laugh out loud when I read about it.
I know you weren't talking about me...just wanted to make sure you were still laughing out there. this **** is getting bad!
MoBalls: The Dixie Chicks have been around for a few years. Their music is supposed to be blue grass, although it resembles the sound of whiney, puberty-stricken girls that you might hear on the auditions of American Idol. But they do play most of the instruments themselves, so I guess that's the trade-off for their poor singing. Not all humans are capable of doing two things at once (efficiently).
I was watching MTV, and they had one of those news briefs, anyways, John Norris made a joke that had me rolling. He was reporting on the boycotts by Tx radio stations when he finished his report by saying "and all this from people who supposedly want freedom and democracy for Iraq."
High-larious. Actually, I'm hoping there enough morons who'll stop going to DMB concerts to get me better seats this tour!
Why is that funny? Again, what's wrong with listeners also expressing their opinions and voting with their pocketbook (in a way)? Is that not also democratic? Is it not also freedom that allows private individuals and organizations to boycott the Dixie Chicks or whoever else they want to boycott? They have every right to say what they think, and the public has every right to be opposed to that and stop buying their music because of that. A kind-of related article from the LA Times: 'They Don't Speak for Me' * An Iraqi refugee says stars who decry action against Hussein prolong the abuse of a people By Esra Naama, Esra Naama of San Diego is a member of Women for a Free Iraq. Web site: www.womenforiraq.org. I am a refugee from Saddam Hussein's Iraq. When Martin Sheen, Tim Robbins, Susan Sarandon and Barbra Streisand speak about the Iraqi people, they are not speaking about people like me, who are Shiite Muslims -- the largest religious group in Iraq that is nonetheless forced to live as second-class citizens under the Sunni regime of Hussein and his Baath Party. When I was 10, I fled Iraq with my mother and four siblings after the failure of the 1991 uprising against Hussein. My father, a former Iraqi army colonel, was one of the leaders of the uprising and helped organize the resistance forces that fought against Hussein. As a pharmacist with knowledge of military bases in the southern part of Iraq, he took crates of medicine and supplies from army hospitals to the local civilian hospitals. And he attacked every vestige of Hussein's control in my hometown of Al-Diwaniya; he tore down posters of Hussein and restored the old names on the hospitals and public buildings that had been named for Hussein. At that time, we believed that the coalition forces would come to our assistance. But within a few short days, Hussein brutally crushed us. In the months that followed, tens of thousands of my fellow Shiite Muslims were executed. Entire families were killed. Bodies were left to hang on trees and men were tortured in public. These are the scenes that I relive in my nightmares. My father went into hiding to escape execution. My mother had no idea whether he was dead or alive. She knew that if Hussein's security forces could not find him, they would come after her children, and we would be imprisoned and tortured to lure my father out of hiding. When they took away my 18-year-old cousin, my mother decided we had to leave. We set off on a long journey, moving to new safe houses every night, until we finally reached the Rafha refugee camp in Saudi Arabia. The camp embodied all the indifference and cruelty with which Arab dictatorships treat their people. We stayed there for nearly two years. We were lucky. Eventually, my father found his way to the same camp and we were blessed to receive refugee status in the United States on Sept. 17, 1992. My family celebrates this date as our new birthday, the day that we were able to begin our lives as full human beings, with dignity and hope. Growing up in the United States, I often thought about the people we left behind. We lost three relatives. My best friend's father, an army general, was executed for unknown reasons. I have friends who have lost 50 relatives. Like many others, I am dedicated to ending the suffering of the Iraqi people. They are prisoners in their own land and they yearn for freedom and the simple things that we take for granted -- democracy, freedom of speech, the right to vote. America is their model for the future of Iraq, if only America and the world would help them build it. I am an American now, and I have been educated to respect the right to free expression by any citizen, a right no member of my family enjoyed when we lived in Iraq. I know from personal experience that the Hollywood actors who decry action against Hussein are really opposing the liberation of the Iraqi people. I wish they would praise the American troops in the field or just stay silent. There is only one measure of comfort to be found in their statements: When Iraq is finally liberated, these actors will learn that they have never spoken for the people of Iraq.
And something from Martin Sheen: A Celebrity, but First a Citizen * Being famous does not bar an American from speaking out against an unjust war. By Martin Sheen, Martin Sheen plays the president in NBC's "West Wing." I am not the president; instead, I hold an even higher office, that of citizen of the United States. For most of us in this country, citizenship is a birthright. However, this does not cloak the citizen with a life free of responsibility. On the contrary, America comes with a price, often a heavy one, that we should each gladly pay. Though duties pedestrian and noble, from paying taxes to voting, are obvious tasks incumbent upon citizens, often something more is at stake -- as evidenced by the rows of white gravestones near such places as Normandy. It is the obligation of all citizens to participate in the affairs of state. Whether we support or criticize actions taken in our name, we need to lend voice to our findings. When done respectfully, sincerely and soberly, this can be a profound act of patriotism. One need not be a scholar of international law to know that war at this time and in this place is unwelcome, unwise and simply wrong. And although my opinion is not any more valuable or relevant merely because I am an actor, that fact does not render it unimportant. Some have suggested otherwise, trying to denigrate the validity of this opinion and those of my colleagues solely due to our celebrity status. This is insulting not only to us but to other people of conscience who love their country enough to risk its wrath by going against the grain of powerful government policy. Activism by celebrities does carry added responsibilities. Statements, demonstrations and marches that include public figures undoubtedly receive a measure of press, providing access to a stage that others often cannot reach. As a result, we are often called to give voice to the voiceless and a presence to the marginalized. Whether celebrity or diplomat, cabdriver or student, all deserve a turn at the podium. In speaking the truth as we know it, my friends and I have stood proxy for all those yet to join this great public debate. We urge their participation and welcome them to the fray, for in the end, this is not about us but is truly about the matter of life and death. Though I very rarely agree with Mr. Sheen's politics, I do agree with this piece here. I would add to that, though, that his actions do have consequences. That even though he has every right to speak out in whatever way he sees fit, because his job is so predicated on people "liking" him, loudly supporting opinions that differ from your fans can have a detrimental effect on your career. I have respect for Martin Sheen because he will speak out about what he believes, and he does seem always willing to accept those consequences. I don't think you'd have heard Sheen apologizing had he said what Natalie Maines said and saw a similar backlash. I just don't want the whining about a new "blacklist" and crap like that. That's all I ask from the celebrities who speak out. Know that speaking out can mean others who disagree speaking out (and using their economic clout) against your opinion.
It's funny because by boycotting the Dixie Chicks because of what they believe, while legal under our Constitution, to me violates the <B>spirit</b> of the first amendment by punishing someone financially for what they believe. (save me the con law lecture, I realize it's perfectly legal for people to do this, I just think it's a different kind of violation) Not many people would be willing to say something that could cost them millions of dollars, and by discouraging people from expressing unpopular opinions, it is a way of prohibiting someone's freedom of speech in a constitutional manner.
