Where do we find the apology?
Posted on 03/14/2003 7:53:16 AM PST by ewing
Email recieved this morning from Lipton to FR protestors: (re: Dixie Chicks Sponsorship Tour and Lipton Foods)
Thank you so much for writing!
We are writing in response to your comments regarding the Dixie Chicks 'Top of the World Tour.' We certainly apologize and are grateful you have chosen to share your thoughts.
As a manufacturer we feel it is a major responsibility to provide our friends and customers with the most creative and entertaining means of sponsorship possible.
We have a long history of presenting 'tasteful' advertising, promotional and sponsorship efforts to the public. We certainly do not wish to offend anyone. In developing our promotional efforts, Unilever and its agencies may not always anticpate all possible implications of a specific campaign.
We will certainly forward all of your comments to our marketing staff.
(Excerpt) Read more at lipton.com ...
Yes.
Do you believe that the enemies of the United States are not comforted by the words and actions of the Dixie Chicks? Do you believe that the Dixie Chicks have not, by their actions, aided (and even emboldened) our enemies?
Please, I'd like to hear your explanation.
While am not an expert on the Constitution, I do not believe speaking against the war – or in this case against the President – constitutes either aid or comfort. Clearly, they are not “levying war again” the United States. And I would argue that “giving them aid and comfort” describes what “adhering to their enemies” means. I believe that it is talking about material “aid and comfort”, not moral support. In addition I doubt that our enemies care what the Dixie Chicks say or think.
That being said I think it was a stupid thing to say, I find it offensive, and am glad there is backlash. Treason is an extremely serious charge, not everyone who disagrees with the position of the United States (even if we take as a fact the United States is correct) is guilty of treason.
PaMom
I don't share your view that he does not find aid or comfort in the words and actions of the Dixie Chicks.
I rather think that if I were to see a popular Iraqi entertainer speaking out about Saddam I'd view it about the same as he views this instance. I'd be damn glad.
It's a curious thing, isn't it, that the Dixie Chicks only spoke about George Bush and the US and had nothing to say about Saddam's role in this. Any ideas about that?
I'm no constitutional scholar (a good thing when you think of all the trouble they've caused), but I don't think the courts are the place for this in any case-- although I think it would be useful to test the notion. That being said, if the courts were the precise arbiter of right and wrong, OJ would have been convicted and executed, and Clinton... well, I hope I live long enough to water the flowers at his memorial.
We as a people owe it to ourselves and to history to be clear about what is and isn't the truth in our time, and what is and isn't right and wrong. I don't share your charitable view of the Dixie Chicks. I think this would be a better country if they were met at the airport and imprisoned. There's no place for seditious behavior, and theirs is the worst kind: it is unprincipled and pandering.
The troubles this country faces are, in my estimation, part and parcel due to some of us not being able to recognize, speak, or acknowledge the truth-- and worse when faced with untruth-- turning our backs.
Truth is not rocket science. It only looks that way when we allow people who do not have our interests in mind to tell us what the truth is.
In my post #80 I outlined what will and should be punishment for the Dixie Chicks. They'll take it in the shorts. Yay for our side.
But there's an aspect to this that your post brings up that is disturbing.
We and our point of view have been taking our lumps exactly because we haven't spoken up. Lately I've heard reference to a 'silent majority'. We can no longer afford to be silent. Our very survival depends on it... and in the middle of the night sometimes I am convinced we're too late. I think our enemies are within, and have the means to destroy us.
We haven't had the courage to call treasonous speech treasonous (as clearly in this case it is ), because we've been cowed into thinking that people have a right to do things like the Dixie Chicks have done. That's what Clintonspeak has wrought. In another era they'd have pelted with tomatoes or worse. More's the pity that they are celebrated today.
Freerepublic is as close to a groundswell of grassroots conservative thought as you will find, and we ought to compel each other to use it. Read what I wrote back in post 80, consider it, and at least send an email to their sponsors.
Others on this thread may have better ideas. Mine would tend toward donating them to a worthy cause and taking a write off.
You could try Lipton's 800 number and measure what your outrage can get you in terms of a refund. That might actually be a good bet.
You could contact your credit card company and have the charge suspended on the basis of 'fraud', although since your beef is with the band and I suspect you actually bought the tickets from the promoter you wouldn't get far with this.
Scalping is an option...
I dunno, lonestar may have some ideas....
Where do we find the apology?
Secondly, no one outside FreeRepublic is going to remember it was Lipton six months from now (or less)
I like this idea. Put some responsibility on Lipton for sponsoring the DC tour--or, whatever they do.
Otherwise, I'd advertise in the paper or donate to some charity.
Yeah, they are morons.
I don't share your charitable view of the Dixie Chicks. I think this would be a better country if they were met at the airport and imprisoned.
On what charge?
In my post #80 I outlined what will and should be punishment for the Dixie Chicks. They'll take it in the shorts. Yay for our side.
I could not agree more.
we've been cowed into thinking that people have a right to do things like the Dixie Chicks have done. That's what Clintonspeak has wrought. In another era they'd have pelted with tomatoes or worse. More's the pity that they are celebrated today.
They are not being Celebrated. They are potentially in danger of loosing their careers. At my last count they had already clarified their statement once and, later, apologized to the President. While the motives for this apology are questionable it was an apology.
Read what I wrote back in post 80, consider it
I have read it, and economic retaliation is the best strategy.
The Dixie Chicks, or more accurately, Natalie Maines, made a stupid statement; it probably had little or no thought behind it. While this is frustrating, aggravating, and even infuriating it is not treasonous, or even criminal, action. Remember, this country is strong, and has been strengthened by dissent. In the past – although not this time – the dissenters have been right. If we ban unpopular or even stupid speech we run the risk of banning what turns out to be the truth.
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