Don't whistle "Dixie"

[tvguy]

All kinds of crazy stuff used to go on in our newsroom. Heck, I don't know HOW none of my fellow photogs got slapped with a sexual harassment suit LOL.

Whistling Dixie? Well, my guess is there is more to it than the photog was simply sitting there whistling. At least, I would HOPE there was more to it. Newsroom folk tend to have a fairly thick skin, IME.

Newsroom folk USED to have fairly thick skins. Not so much anymore, and to be honest, a lot of HR folks don't understand the newsroom mindset, so they have fits. During the 2008 election, HR actually put out a memo saying politics could not be discussed in the building. The News Director immediately replied that the policy did not apply within the walls of the newsroom. How do you hold an editorial meeting discussing your Presidential election coverage without discussing the issues?
In the 1970's, one of the middle managers, a woman, had a sign over her desk. "Sexual harassment will not be tolerated......but it will be graded". That kind of summed up the mindset of newsrooms in the 1970's and 1980s.

 

[tvguy]

My DM is a retired elementary music teacher who also gave voice/piano lessons. I learned so many wonderful songs from her in the 60s and 70s that would now be probably be considered "offensive" by some, it just saddens me. She always included the background of the song, the social tapestry of when it was written and what it meant, which really made it come to life for me.

Sigh....

Terri

I took piano lessons from about 1964 until about 1972. When my kids started taking piano lessons in 1996, I got some of my old sheet music out, and my wife was HORRIFIED at the titles and lyrics of some of the songs.

 

[Hisgirl]

Dixie was apparently a favorite of Abraham Lincoln and when General Lee surrendered, Lincoln had 'Dixie' played by the band.

 

[Jennasis]

Newsroom folk USED to have fairly thick skins. Not so much anymore, and to be honest, a lot of HR folks don't understand the newsroom mindset, so they have fits. During the 2008 election, HR actually put out a memo saying politics could not be discussed in the building. The News Director immediately replied that the policy did not apply within the walls of the newsroom. How do you hold an editorial meeting discussing your Presidential election coverage without discussing the issues?
In the 1970's, one of the middle managers, a woman, had a sign over her desk. "Sexual harassment will not be tolerated......but it will be graded". That kind of summed up the mindset of newsrooms in the 1970's and 1980s.

Right after 9/11 (like the day after) everyone in our newsroom were told we were not permitted to wear flag pins or the red/white/blue ribbons that were common. Not just the on-air talent...ALL of us. No flags on crew vehicles. No pins on the photogs or truck ops. We were told it made us look biased.

 

[tvguy]

Right after 9/11 (like the day after) everyone in our newsroom were told we were not permitted to wear flag pins or the red/white/blue ribbons that were common. Not just the on-air talent...ALL of us. No flags on crew vehicles. No pins on the photogs or truck ops. We were told it made us look biased.

That discussion was briefly held in our newsroom.....not the one I currently work in. We were ordered to put flags on company vehicles and anchors had to wear them. I think the mindset was that no reasonable person supported what happened that day, so there was no bias shown by displaying the flag.

 

[pat fan]

Right after 9/11 (like the day after) everyone in our newsroom were told we were not permitted to wear flag pins or the red/white/blue ribbons that were common. Not just the on-air talent...ALL of us. No flags on crew vehicles. No pins on the photogs or truck ops. We were told it made us look biased.

Biased TOWARDS your country??? How is that bias? Please, let's not start on that subject, it is VERY close top my heart and I WILL get points....sigh...

(I'm really not telling you what you can talk about just wishing!)

 

[ShayBells]

I had head phones on Last week at work and started singing Jesus loves me out loud by accident. I didn't even realize it until my cubicle buddy started busting out laughing.

But my face turned red and I basically wanted to die but it happens... Singing whistling humming sometimes not realizing it.

And just to add I now have randy houser's "whistlin Dixie" stuck in my head.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

The song is linked with the Civil War era south, which is kind of funny, since one of the theories is that the original version of the song references a farm called Dixie Land owned by Johaan Dixie in Long Island, NY, who was an abolitionist. The song may have originally been a
African American folk tune.

The song, however, became prominent in minstrel shows starting in 1859. So, that's not good. And, as early as the 1950's, the civil rights movement felt that the song was a reminder of slavery.

I am a white northerner from a mixture of both Mayflower era and post-Civil war immigrants, and since I only step foot south of the Mason-Dixon line for vacation, I have no opinion on the subject.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dixie_(song)#The_origin_of_the_terms_.22Dixie.22_and_.22Dixieland.22

 

[tvguy]

I had head phones on Last week at work and started singing Jesus loves me out loud by accident. I didn't even realize it until my cubicle buddy started busting out laughing.

But my face turned red and I basically wanted to die but it happens... Singing whistling humming sometimes not realizing it.

And just to add I now have randy houser's "whistlin Dixie" stuck in my head.

Oh, there is something I think our managers are very very close to banning, listening to music with headphones while working......unless you are editing. These folks can't hear their phone extension ringing.....can't hear co-workers yelling at them to get their attention..plus most of them turn off the e-mail audio alerts......and I admit, I am NOT beyond throwing a paper ball at them to get their attention. Never heard anyone sing out loud, but more than one has been rocking out, so they CLEARLY are listening to music, no editing.

 

[Jennasis]

Biased TOWARDS your country??? How is that bias? Please, let's not start on that subject, it is VERY close top my heart and I WILL get points....sigh...

(I'm really not telling you what you can talk about just wishing!)

We were all very upset, to say the least.

 

[SLP958]

In high school a kid had his truck horn to play Dixie.

I dont remember anyone being offended.

 

[Disneychick75]

Are any meetings called at The Charlotte Observer if someone whistles a song that demeans women or glorifies sexual assault or drugs?

 

[Laura66]

Sang and whistled it for years - without really paying attention to the lyrics.
When I realized the lyrics and what they stand for - well, I will never sing it in front of anyone again.
I'm not easily offended - and I think people get offended over nothing - but even as a white woman I think its very offensive.

 

[Dznypal]

good grief there are so many many worse things to worry about then a song !!!!

what about all the cops that are being shot at? by thungs? they have long raps sheets --yet *od forbid something happens to them when there doing something they shouldn't be robbing raping shooting at people then everyone protest when the police do what they need to do--

to me that is really something that needs to be worried about and stopped --not worried about the words to a song!!!

this world is crazy!!!!

 

[Gumbo4x4]

In high school a kid had his truck horn to play Dixie.

I dont remember anyone being offended.

Dukes of Hazard made that THE horn to have

 

[luvsJack]

Sang and whistled it for years - without really paying attention to the lyrics.
When I realized the lyrics and what they stand for - well, I will never sing it in front of anyone again.
I'm not easily offended - and I think people get offended over nothing - but even as a white woman I think its very offensive.

What lyrics were you singing? The song, as it is sung 99.9% of the time makes no mention of slavery. It simply sounds as someone who wants to go home to the south. Many people from the south who have been moved from the south just want to return to their home. How on earth is that offensive?

 

[Gumbo4x4]

What lyrics were you singing? The song, as it is sung 99.9% of the time makes no mention of slavery. It simply sounds as someone who wants to go home to the south. Many people from the south who have been moved from the south just want to return to their home. How on earth is that offensive?

I looked up the lyrics of the whole song (Civil War version). There's one line referring to a Native American as "Injun". No reference to slavery or black people, or the war at all.

 

[disney4us2002]

What lyrics were you singing? The song, as it is sung 99.9% of the time makes no mention of slavery. It simply sounds as someone who wants to go home to the south. Many people from the south who have been moved from the south just want to return to their home. How on earth is that offensive?

I guess people from the south cannot be proud or happy to be from the south because years and years ago, there was slavery - no matter if their family didn't actually have slaves, everyone from the south should apparently hang their heads in shame!

PCness at it's most ridiculous!

 

[CPT Tripss]

Also don't whistle the Rains of Castamere in Winterfell.

If you're going around actually whisling Dixie then you're probably doint it to get a rise out of someone.

Good point Bill! It has often been referred to as the "Confederate Anthem." It reflects a desire to go back to the way things were in the antebellum south. In the 50s and 60s, Segregationists sang it when they were trying to drown out a civil rights speech or while attacking or otherwise attempting to intimidate civil rights activists. It's hardly a benign little ditty . . .

 

[Laura66]

What lyrics were you singing? The song, as it is sung 99.9% of the time makes no mention of slavery. It simply sounds as someone who wants to go home to the south. Many people from the south who have been moved from the south just want to return to their home. How on earth is that offensive?

Oh I wish that I was in the land of cotton, good times there are not forgotten . . .

Just this particular line - the south depended on cotton - it was their number one export and their economy depended on it. And the cotton industry was based on the blood, sweat and tears of African slaves. The only good times were for those who were not slaves.
Just my opinion . . .

 

[Laura66]

I guess people from the south cannot be proud or happy to be from the south because years and years ago, there was slavery - no matter if their family didn't actually have slaves, everyone from the south should apparently hang their heads in shame!

PCness at it's most ridiculous!

Of course southerners have many things to be proud of. But this particular song, written in the era it was - was a call to remember the "good times". And those good times were at the expense of humans being owned by other humans.

Look - do I think it should be banned. Oh no I dont. But I do think you need to be aware of how hurtful and disrespectful that song can be to others.