Dixie Chicks and Freedom of Speech

Stephanus

"A right to speak freely is not the same as a right to be heard" Discuss.

rebel8

Are you talking about the time when one of the band members said she was ashamed President Bush is from Texas? I don't keep up on country music so I don't know if there was another incident or not.

Anyway, IMO, the backlash that woman got was insane.

(1) It is a pretty mild comment to make. Much, much stronger statements are made every day and no one even blinks. For example, I was recently at a Black Eyed Peas concert and they had photos of Bush and his cronies morphing into photos of monkeys, while singing their song that opposes the war. I don't know of anyone even bothering to comment about that.

(2) Wasn't the Dixie Chick about 19 years old when she made that comment? I guess I don't understand why anyone would be shocked that a teenager would make a blunt comment. (I don't understand why anyone would be shocked by an adult of any age saying that, but you get my point....)

(3) Wars are controversial. People have strong feelings about war and voice those feelings. Why that is horrible, I don't know. Heck, we have broadcasters paid millions of $ to say this stuff....and we all tune in to hear them say it.

Warlock

You can say what ever you want, where ever you want to say it, IF you are willing to accept the consequences.

Warlock

Stephanus

If I refuse to buy the cds or concert tickets of someone who's said something I find offensive, am I practicing censorship, or am I merely exercising my own rights?

If the backlash was extreme and wrong, how would you address the problem? Force the former fans to keep buying cds and concert tickets? Force radio stations to play stuff the fans aren't listening to anymore? If such force were applied, by Congress, for example, would the net result be more freedom, or less, in the USA?

Gerard

Wasn't the Dixie Chick about 19 years old when she made that comment?

Actually, I don't think any of those chicks are younger than 30. They messed up bringing politics to a non-political musical concert.

lovelylil

If the ONLY reason you refuse to buy their cd's is because they SAID something you do not like - so you want to send them a message NOT to say anything like that again - that is a form of censorship. As you are putting "a condition" on their right to free speech.

In other words - You are saying they can have "free speech" as long as they don't say something we do not like. If you do, you will have reprecussions. Than the "free" is not "free" if it comes with attachments.

One issue has NOTHING to do with the other. Whether they like Bush or not - if they have talent, people should buy their cds. If you don't agree with them not liking a certain politician - ignore them and vote for that person anyway.

This is the same arguement I used on the other thread and I stick by it. Unless someone else can prove that my view of "free" is wrong? Lilly

Stephanus

Whether they like Bush or not - if they have talent, people should buy their cds.

How do you make "people" buy those cds, without denying those people their freedom to spend their own dollar? How do you determine that people who stopped buying the cds did so because of politics, without being intrusive in people's lives to the extent of a KGB or Gestapo? How is the cause of freedom better served by such sweeping denials of freedom?

lovelylil

Stephanus,

I could not "make" anyone do anything. That is a different issue entirely. I am not saying force people to buy the cds.

But - those who are not buying the cds are doing so to FORCE the Dixie Chicks into changing their speech towards Bush. These are the same ones who at one time bought the cds and loved the Chicks. They are doing to the Dixie Chicks what you are saying should not be done to them? (forcing) See what I mean?

I am only saying if (Individual) Americans want to say that our country is the land where "free speech" is allowed, they have to be more open minded and not get all bent out of shape by every stupid comment someone makes. And then start boycotting what that person is trying to make a living by selling. Do you understand? If they do this - they are taking the "free" out of free. Free means your choice is free from any reprecussions at all.

Lilly

Stephanus

I am only saying if (Individual) Americans want to say that our country is the land where "free speech" is allowed, they have to be more open minded and not get all bent out of shape by every stupid comment someone makes.

On the same note then, should ABC have capitulated to all the complaints about the Clinton references in "The Path to 9/11"?

BlackSwan of Memphis

They messed up bringing politics to a non-political musical concert.

I read this on the other thread as well.

This is interesting. Because then we'd have to look back at The Beatles, George Harrison and countless other musicians that have used music and their popularity to express their political and social stand.

As for not buying their records because of what Natalie Maines said/did, that is that person's freedom as well. To completely ban them from radio stations is going a little far and does reach into censorship territory. But for the individual, it's their money, and they can decide how they want to spend it.

Dixie Chicks and Freedom of Speech

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