Don't confuse the right to free speech with the right to force your speech on others or the right to require that your speech be heard. Just as they have the right to free speech (and I'm glad they said what they said), the music stations have the right to choose what they play.
It *is* unfortunate and it *is* stupid that these radio stations have chosen to pull these songs for that reason, but it is very much within their right. It has nothing to with a "witch hunt". It's not as if anyone went out and made up stuff about the Dixie Chicks. No one denies that they said what they said, and these radio station managers have chosen to make their ridiculous policies based on that. Now, you, just like they, have the right to choose as well... and so you should choose not to listen to those radio stations, and make that fact be known.
This is not, in any way, a free speech issue. Purposely being misleading on such things doesn't do much to further your own cause, and makes you look like you don't understand the issues - which I know you do.
Mike
At 04:33 PM 3/14/2003 -0800, Ian Andrew Bell wrote:
Is there a witch hunt on in America? Obviously.
I'm no Dixie Chicks fan, but shouldn't they have the right to free speech? And don't media outlets have the responsibility to uphold this right?
-Ian.
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http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/nm/20030314/en_nm/ leisure_chicks_dc
Dixie Chicks Pulled from Air After Bashing Bush
1 hour, 22 minutes ago
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By Jon Herskovitz
DALLAS (Reuters) - There are a lot worse things in country music than your wife leaving you or your dog dying. There's stations not playing your music because you done gone and said some things against the president.
Music superstars the Dixie Chicks (news - web sites) are finding out that criticizing President Bush (news - web sites)'s plans for war in Iraq (news - web sites) can cost you air play, big time.
Country stations across the United States have pulled the Chicks from playlists following reports that lead singer Natalie Maines said in a concert in London earlier this week that she was "ashamed the president of the United States is from Texas."
Station managers said their decisions were prompted by calls from irate listeners who thought criticism of the president was unpatriotic.
The group, which got its start in Texas, was one of the darlings of this year's Grammy Awards. The three-woman band that blends blue grass and pop hooks has spawned legions of fans who embrace the ideals of strong women celebrated in some of the trio's songs.
One station in Kansas City, Missouri held a Dixie "chicken toss" party Friday morning, where Chick critics were encouraged to dump the group's tapes, CDs and concert tickets into trash cans.
OFF THE AIR
Houston country station KILT pulled the band's records from its playlist -- at least temporarily -- after 77 percent of people polled on its Web site said they supported the move.
"We've got them off the air for right now," said Jeff Garrison, program director at KILT, which is owned by Viacom's Infinity Broadcasting Corp.
"People are shocked. They cannot believe Texas' own have attacked the state and the president," Garrison said.
Lead singer Maines said in a statement she felt the president was ignoring the opinions of many in the United States and alienating the rest of the world by pushing for war with Iraq.
"We've been overseas for several weeks and have been reading and following the news accounts of our government's position. The anti-American sentiment that has unfolded here is astounding," Maines said.
One of the country stations in Dallas that helped champion the Chicks when they were scraping by in that city playing gigs on street corners for tips, "99.5 The Wolf," said they are listening to the listener's views but do not think it is right to immediately jump on the bandwagon and stop playing the Chicks, said program director Paul Williams.
Williams said it is too early to tell how strong a backlash may develop against the Chicks. He said the comments touched a deep nerve in Texas because they came from one of the biggest country groups to come out of the state and were directed at a president who calls Texas home.
"The listener outlash is probably bigger here than anywhere else," William said.
The Chicks have the number one country album in the United States on the Billboard charts called "Home" and the No. 1 single with "Travelin' Soldier," which is about a U.S. soldier who fought in Vietnam. (With additional reporting by Carey Gillam in Kansas City and Matt Dailey in Houston) ___________________________________________________________ FoIB Mailing List - Bits, Analysis, Digital Group Therapy http://www.ianbell.com
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