The Dixie Chicks Denounce President Bush

[WilmaBud]

Willy J and Brenda, this is a bit off topic, but I have to address what you said about the military receiving a pay raise under Bill Clinton. That means nothing - it was nothing more than a normal cost-of-living raise. Bill Clinton had no regard or respect for the military, and the feeling was, by and large, mutual. With George Bush, the military has a Commander in Chief they can look up to, and a Commander in Chief who respects them and cares about the jobs they do and the sacrifices they make.

As for the Dixie Chicks, they have a right to their opinions. But we have a right to express our disagreement and/or displeasure with their opinions, too. One way to freely express that displeasure is to refuse to buy or play their music. So, those people who try to defend Natalie Maines' right to free speech while criticizing the American music consumer's right to free expression is being hypocritical, IMHO.

I couldn't care less about the Dixie Chicks as it is, but Natalie Maines chose the wrong forum in which to air her views. I personally hope it bites her in the butt.

 

[TwinMom7]

Thanks Saphire.

 

[Jenzebelle]

I think that comment and the Yoko years were John's downfall

his downfall? He still had a very successful career when he was murdered, and is still a beloved musician by many even over 20yrs after his death.

I don't understand when his downfall was

 

[TwinMom7]

PERFECTLY said Wilmabud!!

 

[Pete's Mom]

From http://www.dixiechicksfans.com/

Statement from London
"We've been overseas for several weeks and have been reading and following the news accounts of our governments' position. The anti-American sentiment that has unfolded here is astounding. While we support our troops, there is nothing more frightening than the notion of going to war with Iraq and the prospect of all the innocent lives that will be lost." Maines further stated, "I feel the President is ignoring the opinions of many in the U.S. and alienating the rest of the world. My comments were made in frustration and one of the privileges of being an American is you are free to voice your own point of view."

When in Rome.......

 

[WilmaBud]

Thanks, TwinMom7!

 

[AirForceRocks]

Willy J and Brenda, this is a bit off topic, but I have to address what you said about the military receiving a pay raise under Bill Clinton. That means nothing - it was nothing more than a normal cost-of-living raise.

Actually, most of our payraises under President Clinton were well above the annual increases in cost of living, something that we didn't get under either Presidents Reagan or Bush. My first payraise under President Reagan was 2.2% - whoop-di-doo. Add to that the fact that my variable housing allowance was cut in half, and I ended up making $50/month less than I had before my "generous" pay increase.

And if it was simply a cost of living increase, then I guess that President Bush shouldn't get any extra credit for it either, should he?

I'm happy to say that President Bush has continued to give us good payraises, but to imply that the better raises began with him is incorrect.

Bill Clinton had no regard or respect for the military, and the feeling was, by and large, mutual.

Maybe among the people you know, but that certainly wasn't true of the people that I was stationed with.

 

[glo]

Hey, they have a right to their opinion, as wrong as I think it is. I take it all with a grain of salt, they are entertainers, afterall.

 

[caitycaity]

So, those people who try to defend Natalie Maines' right to free speech while criticizing the American music consumer's right to free expression is being hypocritical, IMHO.

just to clarify, i personally think it is stupid to boycott them, and will tell people so, but i NEVER said people couldn't or weren't allowed to. of course you are.

and just as you are "allowed" to voice your opinion of her opinion, so am i.

i don't think that's hypocritical.

 

[TwinMom7]

The only way that we can show these enterainer's that they should not use their money and notoriety to put down our leaders and our country is by refusing to go to their movies or buy their cds.

As the mother of a Marine sitting in the sand of Kuwait, it really irks me to have him hear the stories of these war protestors. How demoralizing it has to be for these men and women to feel unappreciated, while these "stars" drive around in their limos, live in their mansions, flaunt their millions and then vocally support Saddam Hussein and the Iraqi people. My son has sand in his food and went three weeks without electricity or a shower, so I'm sorry - but I feel no compassion for Natalie Maines and her freedom of speech right now. My son is giving her that freedom of speech and he and his "boss" deserve our respect.

And with that....I'll get off my high horse.

 

[caitycaity]

As the mother of a Marine sitting in the sand of Kuwait, it really irks me to have him hear the stories of these war protestors. How demoralizing it has to be for these men and women to feel unappreciated, while these "stars" drive around in their limos, live in their mansions, flaunt their millions and then vocally support Saddam Hussein and the Iraqi people.

whoa! hold on there. i think you (or your son) are jumpiung to INCREDIBLE conclusions.

i am a war protestor. i agree with natalie maines. but where the heck did you get that she (or i, or other celebrities against war) support saddam hussein?!? i most certainly do not. i would bet that natalie maines doesn't either.

i do support the iraqi people...in their quest for self-determination and to get rid of saddam.

and, btw, even with the opinions i hold, i am 100000000% behind our troops. i have even sent trrops care packages.

maybe i shouldn't have if they were so unwanted from someone who is so "demoralizing" and pro-saddam.

 

[AirForceRocks]

Whoa Nelly!!!!

People have the right to free speech, period. We may not like what they say, we may not agree with what they say, and we may even hate them for saying it.

But they have that right, a right that is PROTECTED by many, but GIVEN by no one. No soldier, sailor, airman or Marine has ever GIVEN the right to free speech to ANYONE!!! They may fight and die to PROTECT it, but they don't GIVE it. To imply that they do is to imply that they can also take it away, and that is unacceptable, at least it is to me.

TwinMom, I appreciate what your son is doing, and I appreciate what he is going through to protect all of our rights. I have no doubt that he doesn't like to hear what protesters are saying, but the fact that he is where he is demonstrates that he is willing to die in order to protect their right to say it...

Now I'll get off of MY soapbox as well...

 

[Jenzebelle]

Excuse me?

As the daughter, wife, granddaughter, niece, and great-granddaughter of men who have served this country in each war since WW1, I find it pretty offensive for anyone to insinuate that because I am opposed to this war , I support Saddam.

that is a huge and irrational conclusion.
I am 10000000000000000000000% behind our troops and I am very proud of the fact each generation of my family has been in the military since we arrived in this country. I am even sending care packages to our troops.

These people are out there defending our right to free speech and free thought. Don't cheapen what they are doing by disallowing people to exercise that right. One can be supportive of our troops and still be opposed to the war. Hell! I know people that are over there now that are opposed to the war.

 

[DonnaS]

Originally posted by AirForceRocks
Whoa Nelly!!!!

People have the right to free speech, period. We may not like what they say, we may not agree with what they say, and we may even hate them for saying it.

But they have that right, a right that is PROTECTED by many, but GIVEN by no one. No soldier, sailor, airman or Marine has ever GIVEN the right to free speech to ANYONE!!! They may fight and die to PROTECT it, but they don't GIVE it. To imply that they do is to imply that they can also take it away, and that is unacceptable, at least it is to me.

TwinMom, I appreciate what your son is doing, and I appreciate what he is going through to protect all of our rights. I have no doubt that he doesn't like to hear what protesters are saying, but the fact that he is where he is demonstrates that he is willing to die in order to protect their right to say it...

Now I'll get off of MY soapbox as well...

Very well said!

By all means, don't buy their CDs if you are that upset, but the reality is that they were probably asked a question and gave their honest opinion. Maybe it would have been better PR on their behalf if they had declined to answer, but it is not like they held a press conference to discuss their views on the war. Personally, I'm sick and tired of the media asking questions like this. As if an entertainers opinion is going to influence my opinions...

 

[TwinMom7]

Whatever...

I believe my son's superior officers know a little more about this issue than you, and they informed us via email that we were never to inform our soldiers as to the protesting going on at home. His Major told us that some of the soldiers have heard the stories and the morale has dropped because of this.

As far as they are concerned, if you don't support our President and his staff, you are not in support of the job that our military has been sent there to do.

I have some WONDERFUL DIS friends who don't necessarily agree with war, but they don't post negative threads about our President. Luckily those are the one's who adopted my son in regards to CARE packages.

As to whether or not you support a soldier with packages is no concern of mine.

 

[TwinMom7]

...and by the way, Sean Penn has verbally supported Saddam Hussein.

 

[DonnaS]

Originally posted by TwinMom7
...and by the way, Sean Penn has verbally supported Saddam Hussein.

If that is true, then he's an idiot IMHO. But again, why should his opinion matter? Because he's famous?

 

[Kirk]

Originally posted by DonnaS
Very well said!

By all means, don't buy their CDs if you are that upset, but the reality is that they were probably asked a question and gave their honest opinion. Maybe it would have been better PR on their behalf if they had declined to answer, but it is not like they held a press conference to discuss their views on the war. Personally, I'm sick and tired of the media asking questions like this. As if an entertainers opinion is going to influence my opinions...

It really didn't sound like a question from the media at all! In fact, it sounds like the comments were made to an audience in a concert setting.

Maines told the audience earlier this week, "Just so you know, we're ashamed the president of the United States is from Texas."

Chicks Bash Bush!

 

[binny]

Ive said before and Ill say it again...

Just because youre rich it doesnt make you smart.


Im not saying that because I disagree with her statement ( I do but thats another point) Im saying it because I really doubt it will be good for her career or her life.





Does she have the right to say? Yes you bet.

Do I have the right be angry that she said it? You bet!



Being a "star" does not give her anymore rights to freedom, it just makes her LOUDER!

Think of everyone you know who feels the same way... are they being persecuted? Are they being slammed in the media? Nope, like I said she is just louder than the rest.

 

[binny]

btw I tried to access the website that was posted earlier for their message board and they are mysteriously down.....