what liberties?
I wonder how many theatres are going to refuse to show the documentary Shut Up & Sing. Just as country radio stations across the country refused to play the Dixie Chicks's music after Maines spoke her political mind during a concert in 2003 I can imagine theatres doing the same with this documentary. It's a shame that the thing we're supposedly fighting for in Iraq - freedom/liberty/inserttalkingpointhere - isn't even realized here in the good 'ol U. S. of A. (Or are you going to try and tell me that a radio station's refusal to play their music is also a "freedom of speech"?)
Some of you will argue that celebs should keep their mouths shut when it comes to politics. I get that. I get that because there are people who I wish wouldn't speak on matters of faith. But in the end, we should realize that we can't and shouldn't force people to keep quiet.
Will you give Shut Up & Sing a look? Let the discussion begin!
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posted by jch at
8:03 PM
10 Comments:
I think people will speak like they did with their album. Me I'm going to see "Keeping Mum"
I believe that the whole debacle is freedom of speech at it's finest! Natalie is always free to say what she wants -- she wasn't imprisoned or rebuked by the government in any way -- and the music stations are free to not play her stuff. That's free market! Yay! for free market!
I haven't heard of Shut Up and Sing, but I doubt it will be on my "must see" list.
Why praise the Chicks for speaking their mind and condem the radio stations for their action of not playing the Chicks music?
I'm not praising Maines in my post. She could have done a more eloquent job at criticizing US foreign policy. What I am criticizing is the reaction of the media.
Toby Keith sings a song in which he says "we lit up your world...you'll be sorry that you messed with the U. S. of A. 'Cause we'll put a boot in your ass It's the American way" and we applaud and buy it at such a rate that it hits the top of the Billboard.
No, Maines wasn't locked up literally but she was metaphorically. Powers greater than her sent the message loud and clear: Talk about kicking Iraqi ass and we're cool. Talk about your problems with foreing policy and we're not. Or in other words, Shut Up & Sing.
I am inclined to see it. I always like a good controversy and was probably one of the people who bought their album then that would not have if it hadn't been for the issues at hand. I understand what everyone else is saying about the free market and the free press, and whatnot, but not playing their songs on the radio in so many markets is tantamount to censorship. I do find it rather disconcerting that Natalie Maines (who I do agree with, but who, yes, could've been more tactful) has been villianized for her anti-Bush, anti-war, anti-etc. comments while other songs heralding violence are blasted over the airwaves.
I believe the "powers greater than her" that sent that message are the American people that buy CD's -- or not. You said yourself that the American people are the ones who put Toby Keith's song at the top of the charts -- and it's the American people who didn't want to hear from Natalie when she was disparaging. Again, I believe that to be free market at it's best. You say things that people don't want to hear, and your bank account loses out. I don't care if she shuts up and sings or makes political speeches all day long, but people not buying what you're selling is a consequence of saying things that people don't like. Does she want to live with the consequences or sell CD's? She gets to choose! It's a free market! Yay! for free market!
I heard they had death threats, people threatened their kids, etc. That is scary and while I am not a country music fan and therefore wouldn't know Dixie Chicks' song from another band, I think it's wrong to intimidate people they criticize the government.
I do think it's kind of chicken of them that they bashed the US while abroad and would have admired them more had they done it in the US but it was still brave of them.
The law regarding radio allows a certain percentage of "the market" to be in one persons hands. So if you live in a little town and there are only 14 stations, one person could own up to 5 of them. They're allow to say/play whatever they want. That's nearly half, so if a few owners don't like The Dixie Chicks, it isn't really the people deciding but the radio people. And perhaps they're getting pressure from sponsors not to promote their music and let's say the sponsors have government ties . . . you see where I'm going with this.
The Dixie Chicks sales were overwhelmingly positive for this last CD. The American people are saying that they want free speech. There is a huge controversy right now that I believe may be a dividing point in churches for the next 5-10 years...are you Republican or are a Democrat? Somehow the country music industry is now backing what many of our churches are backing....Republican...no matter what. That is not free speech. The place that people get the most heated about politics...religious circles...what is wrong or right about that picture? I am hearing Christians get more upset and passionate about political leaning than about Jesus...What is that? I believe that as a country and as Christians we should be able to say when we disagree with our president. It was okay as Christians to condemn Clinton but it is not okay to condemn this horrific war or think that our president might not be smart enough for the position that he is in. Just like some people are upset that Lauren Winner spoke at Zoe...she is a Democrat and she admits it. I didn't hear her bashing anyone...just making statements about where she stands...why can't her voice be credible and be a Democrat?
Sorry, this whole subject has been bothering me lately and I am sure that we haven't seen the end of this debate.
And for the record....I preordered 5 of the new Dixie Chicks CDs last spring in support of free speech. I understand that some don't like what they said but I for one want to keep my right to voice my opinion.
I guess it depends on how you define "media" and "powers that be." If you mean the country media, sure, the Chicks weren't well received after all this. But I think the Chicks and Maines became media darlings, and for what? For making some, "super-intelligent" statements: "I'm embarassed he's from Texas" or whatever and in the documentary, I read the quotes where she drops "f-bombs" about W. I have no problem with anyone speaking their mind about the president, but she didn't come off very knowledgeable or intelligent. In my opinion, she came off as a country singer shooting her mouth off.
And as far as knowing your audience. To me, it would be like Madonna saying "you know I think gay marriage is bad and every state should ban it." Does she have a right to say it? Yep. Would she be surprised when a lot of her fan based was upset with her? I would hope not.
"Freedom of speech" does not mean being able to say whatever you want without anyone critiquing you. The Dixie Chicks have not been silenced. They were not put in jail. People were not prohibited from purchasing their CDs. The Dixie Chicks had and continue to have every right to speak what they believe about this country and about the president. And radio stations, movie theatres and other privately-owned organizations also have every right to play what they want. This is a far cry from countries where there truly is no freedom of speech--where someone can be imprisoned for speaking against the country's leader, or the established religion. The Dixie Chicks are a perfect example of the freedom and liberty we have in this country: you are free to call the president a fool and say you are ashamed of him. The "consequences" they have experienced are the result of country music fans having the freedom to disagree with them. I agree that it's unfortunate when a song like Toby's Keith's shoots to the top of the charts, but that makes me lament more the state of opinion of the people in this country, not the state of our freedoms and liberty.
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