[Defender2]

Note to Dixie Strips formerly Dixie Chicks: This 27 year and continuing to serve veteran have not bought any of your
music materials. After what Ms. Maines said about our president overseas, I don't even listen to their music on the radio. Ms Maines, you and the "strips" will not ever see any of my money!!!!:-(

[Im Your Huckleberry]

F.U.D.C.

[CyberAnt]

I will say this again. This statement was said by Maines in order to sell more CD's. The audience was not pro-America - this statement was one way to make the audience relate to them. For Maines to say the statement - go home and apologize for the statement - go to Austrailia and say the same statement again.

I think her "patriotic" statement is just as phoney as the rest of her.

[husky ed]

We never in a million years knew people were listening to what we said," said Maines

I know I don't. Except when the fat bitch starts running down the country.

[mtbopfuyn]

Yes, I do understand the meaning of free speech. The question is do the DC's understand their ex-fans also have that same free speech; read buying power. Do they also understand the meaning of shut up, put your clothes on, and go away?

[McGavin999]

Does America understand the concept of free speech? Apparently, the actions of the Dixie Chicks and America mean "No" to all of the above.

Yes, America does, apparently the writer of this article is the one who doesn't.

The Constitution is a very quick read, I'm amazed at the small number of people who have actually bothered to read it.

[Godfollow]

"Will artists continue to speak their mind? Does America understand the concept of free speech? Apparently, the actions of the Dixie Chicks and America mean "No" to all of the above."

Does America understand the concept of free speech??? Whada f'ing idiot... Dixie Chicks make an incredibly dumb statement while on tour, try to back-peddle and end up with egg on their face, and America doesn't understand the concept of free speech. Shows you how vacuous these libs are and their lack of common sense understanding about anything.

[Proud Legions]

My wife (June Cleaver) and I are sooooo embarrashed right now that this is the home town newspaper from where we grew up (Manfield, Ohio). It used to be a good paper...oh well.

[gcruse]

when Dixie Chicks singer Natalie Maines
exercised her first amendment right to free speech,

• Maines made her remarks in London.  The Bill of Rights stops at the national boundaries.
• The First Amendment protects speech from government, not consumer reaction .
• So much silliness, so little time.
  

[Redcloak]

"Just so you know, it's kinda hard singing with Toby Keith's boot in my ass."

[FourPeas]

Maines still just doesn't get it. And this "chick" has the same right to vote as moderately intelligent people. Scary.

Then again, it seems a large percentage of the media doesn't seem to understand that these clueless "artists" right to free speech has not be infringed, nor has the right of the rest of us to not financially support those same "artists".

[chainsaw]

Does America understand the concept of free speech?

It is obvious the DC's do not. As we, the american public also have the same right to speak our minds and guard our pocketbooks. We may donate freely and we may purchase freely. The right extends to the reverse also.

<sarcasm> The nude magazine cover, and the "F.U.T.K" T-shirt shows the american people and the country music fans in particular, that the DC's, have real class. </sarcasm>

In my opinion they have demonstrated they are nothing more than trash. Hopefully they will spend some of their ill gotten millions to purchase some couth, because they have none at the present time.

[xm177e2]

Does America understand the concept of free speech?

These boycotts are stupid, but they are part of free speech. Free speech does not mean you can say anything you damn please and then expect nobody to get upset and censure you with speech of their own (or with economic sanctions, such as not buying their CDs).

If I walk up and down main street with a big sign that says "Jews are Subhuman, we will finish the job Adolf" and then people on the sidewalk glare at me, that is not a violation of my free speech rights. If I put that sign up over my store, and people choose not to buy from me, that's my problem. People are free to interpret political speech how they want--people are free to be offended by anything they want. This is a free country.