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I do not like the Dixie chicks, nor do I care if they are a fan of the president. The fact that saying anything considered "anti-bush" or "anti-war" can turn the entire country against you is ridicules. How long will it be before celebrities who speak their opinions are banned from the industry all together? Anyone see the hypocrisy as well? This is the "land of the free" correct?

 

Sure you can say what you want, but there are consequences for that. And if you said something publically that was not in line with what my views and approach were for my business or company, Id suspend your *** too.

 

Thats hitting the nail on the head! Sure we have freedom of speech, but why bite the hand that feeds you?
Who was that, Sir Issac Newton, that said......
"For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction"

 

YOU have the right to not listen to them or dislike them because of what they said. I do not believe it is fair for a radio station to boycott their group because of something one of them said while in a different country....and I definitely don’t believe those Djs should have been suspended for playing their music...its not like their music is anti-bush. These poor women received death threats and the like because they don’t agree with the president... no one sees anything wrong with that?

It’s like the old "The king has no clothes" story, saying so will land you in trouble

 

I like to listen to the Dixie Chicks. If a radio station owner wishes to boycott their recordings, that's his/her choice. That's America people, we have choices. If the owner chooses to suspend a DJ, then that's a wrap folks, it's over. The DJ knew where the owner/GM stood on this issue and chose to violate it, hence the consequences. If we don't like it, we can stop listening to the station. CHOICES! Glad I've got'em, I use them everyday!

 

those choices will start to disapear thanks to the "patriot act", the patriot act 2 (that will really be a shocker), and the "home land security act." I think everyone should take a good long look at those documents side by side with the constitution and the bill of rights... eventually we wont have the "right" to chose what we think is right or wrong.

 

Excellent point...


Freedom of Speech is nothing more then for one to have a right to say what they want PERIOD.

It does NOT protect them against “death threats” (hmmmm what about that persons “freedom of speech”) I do not agree with death threats, but if someone is going to get pissy about someone’s “freedom of speech” then it means EVERYBODY!

It does NOT protect them against “being fired” , or being called a “Moron, bitch, idiot” etc.

It does NOT protect them from people shutting them out and running them out of town “Hollywood” types.

I could go on but you get the point. Freedom of speech is just that SPEECH, saying something, writing something etc.

 

As Americans, we have the Right to Free Speech. We also have the responsibility to live with the consequences of our speech. When the Dixie Chicks made the choice to say what they said, they opened the door for repercussions.
As Americans in a Free Enterprise society, we have enormous power. If we don't like something, we don't have to buy it. If enough people don't buy something, it will soon go away. That's how the Dixie Chicks should be handled IMO. They will never get 1 cent of my hard earned money. Nor will they receive any money from anyone in my family. We will not listen to a radio station that plays their music, watch them on TV, or buy their music. Death threats and other threatened viloence (besides being moronic and stupid) give the Dixie Chicks what they crave, PUBLICITY. Every second of airtime puts money in their greedy little pockets. I refuse to increase their bank accounts.
The radio Station has the right to play whatever music it wants, it also has the right to discipline any employee that goes against it's policies. Those DJs are lucky they weren't fired outright. If you disagree with the suspension, contact the radio station and voice your grievance. If you don't get your desired response, excercise your power and change the tuner on your radio. Most businesses listen to their customers, if they don't, they won't have customers, and no more business.
My apologies for being so long-winded about this, but I feel very strongly about this subject. I am currently deployed to the Middle East where me and a buch of my buddies are fighting to ensure you and people like the Dixie Chicks keep the right of free speech.
If you disagree with this post, I'm ready to hear it. If you agree, thank you for listening. either way:

Have An Outstanding Day!

 

All current granted freedoms are ONLY valid if it does not infringe on another's rights. That’s why there are law suites for "slander" and "public humiliation." Look in to it; you CAN NOT say whatever you want. You CAN express an opinion, a death threat is NOT an opinion. That directly infringes on the individuals right to privacy and threatens their life. What the singer said on stage is 100% her right, and it’s your right to judge her for it if you like. You can not however interfere with her life because you disagree with her opinion. Many news networks and papers tainted the publics view on what she said before she could even defend her self. They accused her of “not supporting our troops” , and not being “a true American.” Think about all the other celebrities that have been cast as “un patriotic.” They are the real patriots; they stand for their rights and don’t give in to group ideology.


as for the statement about them craving publicity.... you have to be joking. No one wants death threats, they have plenty of money as it is. Fact is, people dont like it when you go against the "group ideal"...which is a pro-war "follow the leader" type of mentallity that I my self detest.

 

The fact is Liberals can't stand it when people don't do as they like. Liberals love "freedom of speech" as long as it is THEIR speech and no one else's.

The Hollywood moron's against the war are getting what they deserve!!!!

These were the same MORON'S that were FOR WAR when Clinton wanted to go to Iraq, problem is Clinton had no ***** he was ALL talk, and some cigars as well...

People are seeing some of these Hollywood type who first think its GREAT to go to war when Billy Boy wanted to go, but yet completely change their mind because now the man with ***** actually does it.

The other fact about Liberals is they can NOT stand when someone actually does what they say.

It is action NOT WORDS that makes things happen.

It is the ACTION of the BRAVE military people who make it POSSIBLE for all of us to say and do as we do. It is NOT the liberals, if they had it their way their would be NO military, there would be beds of flowers for everyone to make love not war.

FACT is, if the liberals really had there way America would no longer be America but rather just another **** @ss country like France or Germany...

The Dic*ed Chicks are GETTING THEIRS!!!!!!

There is a lesson to be learned, OPEN your mouth and if most people don't like or believe in what you say YOUR OUT!!!!!


QUOTE:

"Think about all the other celebrities that have been cast as “un patriotic.” They are the real patriots; they stand for their rights and don’t give in to group ideology."

They are UN-PATRIOTIC, there are a part of I HATE AMERICA crowd, if they don't like how they have been treated TOUGH SH*T they can always MOVE OUT.

That group of people have NO "ideology" because they have NO clue in what they believe in. For them its all FEEL GOOD and politics. If Algore had been in office they would have all been for WAR that is a FACT. They are a bunch of coward moron's, hopefully soon to be UN-employed...

 

I agree with what Konig has to say.

Living in a democracy gives us freedom of speech (which we often take for granted)

If we use the war as an example...
Even though I agree with the way it was handled, some of my die-hard liberal friends do not. I respect their right to have their own opinion, just as I hope they respect the right for me to have mine.

I think it's absolutely ridiculous to start any sort of hate campaign against those who do not agree with us. (speaking in the broad general sense)
Has anyone ever had a strong opinion on something during your life, that most people didn't agree with?
I dunno fellas, the world is a messed up place as it is, there's no point making it worse and being our own worst enemies.
One day it might be one of us who have an opinion that doesn't comply with what the majority believe.
When that day comes, I sure want to have the right to hold my opinion, and not be afraid to voice it because of potential consequences from people who can't see the big picture. (I hope nobody takes this the wrong way)

If people can't voice their opinion without being afraid of "UNJUST" consequences, then what's the point of having a democracy in the first place?

Habibi

 

wow, the "like it or leave it" comment always seems to come out of the most "educated" people.


if they didnt have ideals then they wouldnt have said anything at all, they just dont share in the "lemming" version so many people seem to share. Why would they support war with Al Gore and not G.Bush? People who believe in peace dont EVER support violence. "THAT IS A FACT" as you put it.


Habibi: Exactly... the uncompromising group mentallity is what scares me the most

 

No, I'm not joking about their craving publicity. Publicity is what sells records. Why else did they pose nude on the magazine cover? I totally agree about the death threats. Hopefully the people who made the threats will be caught and will have to face the consequences. That is just plain wrong!
As for going against the "Group Ideal", well, that's how change gets made, and what allows are country to thrive. Going against the group ideal is what makes our country the greatest on the planet. When a society stifles individualism, and going against the grain, innovation dies. Look at countries that truly oppressed "going against the Group ideal" - Soviet Union, China, North Korea etc..... We are a far cry from there.
As far as "The Real Patriots" remark, well, we'll just have to agree to disagree on that.

 

Forgive me my fellow F150online members, but I think you all have gone the same route as the press on this issue. The issue as a whole has been totally blown out of proportion as it relates to 1st Ammendment rights. Let's re-examine the facts.

1) While on foreign soil during time of war, Natalie did execise her freedom of speech to express her opinion(s), which she is entitled to do. She did not however exercise good ole common sense and intelligence, because in expressing her opinion about the war, she personally attacked our president (vote for him or not, he is our president). The least bit of comon sense would have told her that was a bad idea and would generate repercussions for her and her group.

2) Natalie's apologetic statement after the fact simply falls into the 'damage control' category, and had nothing to do with how she really felt.

3) Radio stations are 'for-profit' businesses and will always follow the opinions of their listeners. As such, taking the Dixie Chicks off the air was simply a business decision (i.e. not a 1st ammendment issue).

4) Radio stations, like any other business, have the right to impose rules on their employees, and if those employees break the rules they suffer the consequences. Again, no 1st ammendment issues here either.

Personally, we all need to chock this one up to a very dumb young lady exercising incredibly poor judgement in making an inflammatory statement that she has had to endure negative responses for.

We all have the right to freedom of speech, but one has the responsibility to execise that right along with a little common sense. That's really what the issue is here.

Take care.

-Mike-

 

Outstanding evaluation of the situation. However, it seems you missed the point that we were having fun debating the topic, spoil sport!