Dixi Chicks
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Dixi Chicks
I was wondering where you all stand with this whole Dixi Chicks controversy? I have liked them for a long time and I love listening to their music and Yes, I still listen to there music. I realize the lead singer said something she shouldn't have but haven't we all? I also realize she is in the public eye and she should have thought a little harder about what she was going to say but sometimes we all stick our foot in our mouth...don't we? What about all the actors and actresses that have been bad mouthing the war, they are still getting jobs.
I feel really sorry for the Dixi Chicks and I just wanted to vent a little.
I don't want anyone getting mad at me about this whole thing I was just wondering how you all feel.
Not a big fan of the Dixie Chicks, but I think they are alright (musically). I disagree with what Natalie said, but I'm not mad at her. They have the right to voice their opinions. I think it was a bit inappropriate to do so in another country, but I don't think they deserve the death threats and stuff. I mean come on, she didn't think before she spoke. If we all received death threats every time we did that I know my mailbox would be full.  And I agree they have been singled out, because many people in the entertainment business have said things. I think the whole thing is silly. I also think it sucks that the whole group is being hung out to dry over one person's comments.
Here's a link to an article about it, in case anyone isn't sure what Andi is referring to: www.stltoday.com
IMO, her remark was not constructive criticism of the war and decisions related to the war, which I, nor anyone else, would ever have a problem with. It was a plain and simple sarcastic insult directed at the President of their own country made publicly and internationally by someone taking advantage of their fame. If they choose to use their popularity this way, then I assume they did so with full knowledge of and acceptance of the consequences.
I have to say, I'm up to here in irritation at people who go around feeling that they have a "right" to say whatever pops into their head to whomever they wish whenever they wish and then think they should be able to walk away with absolutely no negative consequences. Compare this to a social acquaintance who greets you at a party with, "Oh my, I wouldn't be caught dead in that dress you're wearing." OK. They were HONEST. They were expressing their TRUE FEELINGS. They were exercising their FREEDOM OF SPEECH. You have to give them all of that. But in a civilized society, a person doesn't go around just blatantly insulting people and then scooting off without suffering some sort of consequence. This is their consequence. They FREELY chose it.
They could have just as easily gotten their message across by saying, "For the record, we do not agree with the decisions our President has made." They would have made their point and probably suffered zip ill effects.
I dont feel the least bit sorry for any of them. They have the right to say what they feel but they need to understand that actions have consequences. They brought this on themselves.
I agree with most of what you guys have to say but my feeling is they are getting the heat for what everyone is saying. All the actresses and actors that had something to say about the war arent getting death threats and there DVD's and Video's arent getting smashed. The movie theater's are not going to stop showing their movies.
I just feel like this has all gone way to far I agree the Dixie Chicks said something they shouldn't have but I also think this has spiraled out of control.
JMO
Andi, I have been wanting to post on this for a long time. I'm glad you did.
I was so dissappointd when I first heard hat she said. I felt, like Bubbels said, it was not constructive in any way. I was truly dissapointed that she chose to voice her opinion in another country and in such a sarcastic manner.
I have tickets to their upcoming concert. I am going with 7 other women and two of us were torn about what to do. Had she made the statement prior to my purchasing the tickets I would NOT have gotten them. I didn't mind what she said it was where and how she said it. I fully understand that people have their own opinions and I don't think I have any business expecting them to belive the way I do, I was just plain ol' dissaponited in her. I was not looking forward to the concert and I almost bailed out. Whenever I heard the "Traveling Soldier" song I thought what the he** does she care about our troops and this war.
That all being said I have turned around completly and I am so glad I have. Here is what I think now
I think she got caught up in her own emotions. I don't think her statement was an educated one (like say Susan Serandon or Richard Gere who know their stuff and have strong opinions) I feel she just plain ol' stuck her foot in her mouth and chomped down hard. She was being sarcasric and obnoxious about it, playing the crowd. She only knew what we "everyday normal CNN watchers" knew She was talking out of fear for her children and their future. I for one can totally agree. While I support the war and our troops I too was absolutely terrified when it began. I totally understand her fear. I don't think she thought for one moment "I am a celebrity, I need to use my popularity to influence others"
Okay, this is getting too long.
I watched them on Diane Sawyer and I am so glad I did. That is where I came full circle. That is where I realized she wasn't being someone who was taking a strong stand against the war. I still do not agree with what she said. I feel like she is paying a severe price, I hope she learned her lesson, but I doubt it. I also think her comment has been made into a huge MOUNTAIN and that is unnecesary. It was just bad timing. I listen to country music and it is a very patriotic group. I think that may be why they are getting hit so hard. I'm hoping that people will realize that she really was just being stupid and needs to be forgiven for that.
I am proud to go to the concert now. I want to show them that I believe they screwed up, but deserve to be forgotten and accepted. Before I thought about crossing the "picket line" (if there are any protestors) with a heavy heart, now I will do it proudly.
This is all my own opinion. I welcome any others who disagree to enlighten me
I think this is all nonsense. She didn't say anything that half of America was and is feeling. And lets be honest here. They get paid to sing........... Not to think or share their opnions. No one in the real world cares what those women think. And I think that to be aloud to do to them the stuff that has been done is criminal. They sing. Listen to them or not. But to sit there and try to jump on an anti Dixie Chicks band wagon is a waste of time. Why not direct that anger at something worth a darn... Like stopping discrimination, child molestors, ect...... The effort put towards messing the lives of these girls up is a waste of time.... And I would go to their concert in a heart beat. And I do not know a single person that has not stuck their foot in it... Like I said WASTE of time.....
i love the dixie chicks. i also love president bush. i think he's a great president and i'm really happy with what he's doing while in office. i personally don't care what the dixie chicks say or think.. they have a right to their opinion.. but when you give your opinion you have to be willing to take the consiquences if people don't agree or like what you say. a lot of actors and actresses lost jobs over their thoughts on the war.
you have to own your opinions and i respect them a lot more for being honest with theirs then someone like madonna who changed her video because of what everyone did to the dixie chicks.
even if i don't agree with the comments that the dixie chicks made, i still like some of their music. but the photo of them with some of the very vulgar words on them was stupid.
This has been a hot topic in my house for months now and my opinion has not changed. I believe in the Freedom of Speach and as a couple of you mentioned there have been other celebrities who voiced their opinion, but the difference was they did it here, not on foreign soil. We as Americans can bicker and disagree among ourselves, but I believe, especially in a time of war, that we must have a united front. Americans need to stand together and to insult our president on foreign soil was insulting all of us.
I agree Shannon. Also, DH and I feel VERY strongly, that as long as we have ONE American military person on foreign (and mostly hostile) soil, we need to present a united and supportive front to the rest of the world. We may voice our concerns amongst our friends and family, but to the rest, we must be 100% behind our troops. JMHO
Shannon and Hol, the problem with not voicing concerns publicly is that it then gives the impression that everyone agrees with what a particular administration does. I understand what you are saying, and your concern about our troops overseas, but I think that it is important that people be able to dissent publicly if they disagree with what is being done or the reasons for doing it. Hol and Shannon, I know you are new to the board, and might not know (and it shouldn't make any difference in your opinions), but I demonstrated publicly against the war on Iraq, both before and after it started, on the 4th of July, and will probably demonstrate again as opportunity presents. And, at the same time, I support our troops over there and in other parts of the world. I think it is possible to do both. I think one of the strengths of this great nation is that when people dissent it is almost always peaceful, our government doesn't send soldiers in to throw tear gas at dissenters, and life, in general goes on. There are a whole lot of places in the world where dissent can be fatal.
I don't agree that a united front should be presented, at home or to the rest of the world, even if military personnel are on hostile soil, if there is dissent against the policy or decision that sent our troops "whereever". It was the constant demonstrations against the war in Viet Nam that finally resulted in the President declaring victory and bringing our troops home - without such strong, long lasting and public dissent - who knows, we might still have U.S. troops fighting there.
The whole Dixi Chicks thing, I think, was blown way out of proportion. They are free to say what they want; people who don't agree with them are free to not buy their music and to express their opinions, including picketing. Threats are illegal and should (a) not happen and (b) be stopped by law enforcement. (And, from articles I've read since the initial incident, I don't thik they have suffered financially or in having venues in which to perform since it happened.)
And, I agree that one should not speak of the President in insulting terms - it is entirely possible to express strong disagreement with what a President does without being personally insulting, and I do think it is important to show respect for the office. But some of that, I suspect, is a "generation gap". There is a lot said in public these days that I would never say even in private, and if I did I suspect my dear father would rise up from his grave and wash my mouth out with soap.
Ginny, when I first read your response I wasn't sure what to say. I respect your opinion and I think the biggest difference in our opinions is the fact that I was for the war. I hate that our soldiers have to do it and I know there are many women who are waiting for their husbands to come home, but I agreed that it was something we had to do.
Living in Crawford (home of the President) I am no stranger to protest. There has been a protest just down from my house every weekend since the President has been home. I don't have a problem with it when done peacefully ( which to my knowledge has always been the case here) I just believe that to the rest of world we should appear united in order not to appear weak to those countries who may want to cause harm to Americans. Misconceptions could be made to those who don't understand our country. In other countries where freedom of speech is not allowed and demonstrations,like we have, are not permitted, they nothing more than chaos and weakness within their goverment. Freedom of speech and the right to assemble is a wonderful right but must be respected.
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