Have you ever heard of someone withdrawing an apology?
Just a short while ago, USA Today did a feature article on the country band The Dixie Chicks. They became infamous in March of 2003, when their leader, Natalie Maines, stated that she was embarrassed to be a native of Texas because of President Bush's decision to invade Iraq. Immediately radio stations boycotted their albums, former fans boycotted concerts, and they were dubbed as unpatriotic cheap shot artists. The starship that had soared to the top of the country music charts abruptly crashed to earth.
When Ms. Maines realized she had stuck her foot into her mouth up to the kneecap, a feeble attempt at damage control was initiated in the form of a half-hearted apology for disrespecting the office of the president. A friend used to offer me this rhetorical question: "When someone steps on your foot and says 'I'm sorry,' are they sorry for what they did or only sorry that they got caught?" Well I'm sorry, I simply cannot give Ms. Maines the benefit of the doubt on this one. I think the apology was an attempt to stop the hemorrhage in the pocketbook and career, not a remorseful act of contrition.
Now we discover the dissenting trio is back with a new promoter, new song portfolio, and hopefully a fresh start. In keeping with the spirit of renewal, the seemingly cocky Ms. Maines now wishes to withdraw the apology made to president Bush after the March 2003 verbal indiscretion. Ever hear of the old adage about letting a sleeping dog lie? Maines would rather go out of her way to kick the dog in the ribs.
Have you ever heard of someone withdrawing an apology? That sounds so infantile, it reminds me of the thoughtfulness and maturity that goes into a preschool children's sandbox tussle over a coveted toy.
Of course everyone has a right to their opinion. Everyone has a right to free speech. Personally I don't care what the Dixie Chicks think, and don't begrudge them the opportunity to say it. Sometimes though, it is how you go about getting your message across that rubs folk the wrong way. To suggest that the Dixie Chicks are courageous is just plain stupidity. They made a calculated risk, or perhaps an impulsive indiscretion, and it cost them dearly. Now, of course, there was no lesson learned about focusing more on music, rather than letting your fame become a platform for politicizing a captive audience.
One thing I find so disturbing about liberals, is that they bend over backwards to give sworn enemies of this country the benefit of the doubt, while at the same time they rush to judgement against their own leaders. That persona was recently epitomized by the father of Nicolas Berg, the man beheaded in a graphic video by the late terrorist al-Zarqawi. Berg said that he was disappointed this terrorist was killed since he could not attempt a reconciliation with him now. As if the two might have someday had a nice chat and a hug on an episode of Oprah. He said he wasn't sure that al-Zarqawi was really dead (or killed recently). He asked the reporter interviewing him if she believed everything she saw and heard. Then he went on the overworked diatribe about Bush being a liar, and so we can only wonder if Mr. Berg himself believes everything he sees or hears that fits his template of reality.
There is a parallel with the Dixie Chicks. One can talk about peace, love, WWJD, stop the atrocities, etc. Then you have a hateful act of withdrawing an apology. What does that really say about someone's graciousness at a personal level?
All this nonsense about people trying to interfere and squelch the group's freedom of speech is out of order. People have a right to speak their minds. Myself and others have the right to voice our displeasure with their public opinions however. As a favor, I won’t try to tell you that the Dixie Chicks have lost a fan, or I quit buying their music. You see, I have never been a fan of the Dixie Chicks, so they won’t lose what they never had.
Personally I wish the Dixie Chicks the best in their new endeavor, though I won't be sucked in out of curiosity. I know they are talented musicians and vocalists. I wish that they and others would stick to what they are good at — or become political columnists.
I am a fan of the MUSIC the Dixie Chicks have to offer, unfortunately, I will never buy their CD, and I switch the station each time I hear them. We all make choices when we decide to speak out on any issue, one of those results is alienating opposite points of view. What the Chicks, Redford, Penn, Streisand, etc., etc, refuse to recognize is how they obtain the opportunity to speak out, they get it from the people who enjoy their work. Without the fan base, these people are nothing. I hear all the time I am against free speech if I ‘blacklist” the Chicks, which is silly. I am simply removing any finacial support to have their voice heard. It looks like Natalie needs another lesson.
The Chicks are talented musicians. I also change radio channels when their music comes on and won’t buy any of their products anymore. My choice. It’s the only way I have to show my disapproval of their politics. Unfortunately, they’ve got plenty of money and have earned a spotlight. Do your small part to whittle away at the spotlight. Don’t listen to their interviews, don’t read articles about them, tell stations to stop hyping them. Ignore them and THEY WILL GO AWAY…if we’re lucky (ala MJ).
Or, as Laura Ingraham put it, “Shut up and sing!”
Gee, free speech DOES work both ways.
They’re free to say what they want and I’m free not to buy their product.
Check out this article on the Dixie Chicks: http://www.liberalcountryfan.com/?p=92. Like most liberals, they love our troops, and should only be criticized based on factual information. To criticize them about opposing the war is fine. To criticize them for not supporting the troops is making an argument based on a lie.
Their music sux any way
dixie chicks!!!!! another element in later history bent on destroying
the United States. These people as with so may of their degraded mental
are a challenged group taking from decent people and giving nothing in ret
They walk on and descecrate the graves and lives the very people whom through their sacrifices created a path for these histrionics
Could you imagine being married to this woman? God!! I couldn’t put up with her for a day! No amount of makeup can cover up her butt-ugly attitude.
I concur that I like their music but won’t give them another nickel – ever. I don’t buy the argument that you can support the troops but not what they do! That is utterly ridiculous. From somone who is a member of a military family )\(4 of 5 children have been in the military), you can’t sh%$ on my president then say you support the troops! I also don’t go to movies from “stars” who speak out against the president or other causes that I believe in. Won’t give them a dime either. For anyone reading this. There are many of us out here that don’t support you! This is a way to speak out against you!
What? You mean “I loathe everything you do and stand for, but I support you” isn’t a valid position? Say it ain’t so!
Why is that we, as Americans, seem to think that if a person or persons
becomes famous doing one thing that they are automatically an expert on
everything? What do movie stars know about? Making movies, if that.
Many of them can’t act any better than the average person, but have stumbled
into a profession through a series of fortunate events. The same is true for
“singers” like the Dixie Chicks. Personally I would rather listen to fingernails
scraping a blackboard than to listen to them and I am quite sure that I
personally know many people who are much more talented musically than
these hyenas. These people are making their living doing such mundane things
as farming, teacher, and working in factories. Nobody but nobody care what
their political views are. So, why, oh WHY is anyone on God’s green earth
concerned with what these very average singers think about politics? Instead
of thanking their lucky stars that a series of fortunate (for them, not us) events
has cast them into the limelight of the world stage, realizing that, and being
humbled by it, they, for whatever reason, think that they are automatically
spokespersons for their millions (then, not now) of fans. How stupid! In so
doing they ruined, or at the very least, sidetracked their promising careers.
For me that was the best thing they could have done because I didn’t think
had any talent to begin with and I would never have spent good money to hear
them in a concert or on a CD. Many thousands of their fans showed good
sense when they boycotted them and quit buying their music. If only the fans
of Susan Sarandon, Tom Cruise, Barbra Streisand, and their ilk would do the
same! I am sick to death of actors and singers thinking they know more than
anyone else about world events and politics.
Come on, my mailman knows more than the current administration about world events and politics.
Also, have you heard the Dixie chicks new album, it’s really good. I don’t usually like country music but this was really well done. To be honest I only bought it to show solidarity with them regarding their political stance, and to stick it to all those trying to bring down their career just because they dared to express dissent.
Anyway, having heard the music I may actually buy more of their stuff now just for the fun of it.