Nashville Woman Fired for Anti-War Letter (wrote to Charlie Daniels)

Newschannel 5 Nashville ^ | 3/10/03 | staff

[GailA]

Nashville Woman Fired for Anti-War Letter

A woman was fired from her job at Jones Media after replying to an e-mail written by country singer Charlie Daniels.

Tamara Saviano worked for Jones Media Networks and Great American Country on Music row for three years. She was fired last Friday for responding to an e-mail written by Charlie Daniels.

In his e-mail, Daniels blasted Hollywood and the media for protesting a possible war with Iraq. His publicist, Kirk Webster sent the e-mail to people in the music and media industry.

When Saviano got the letter at her personal e-mail address, she wrote Webster and Daniels back outlining her anti-war beliefs.

Webster says Saviano put her company name on her e-mail and that’s why he called Jones Media. But Saviano says it was clear her e-mail expressed her personal beliefs.

Webster says Charlie Daniels had nothing to do with Saviano’s firing.

[Illbay]

That's true, though I think that for the most part, our system has helped keep us out of "unjust wars."

You and I might not completely agree on this point, but it matters little. I think this woman shouldn't have been fired simply because she sent an email on company time, unless there are other circumstances we don't know about (which is possible).

It's just that I can imagine what the responses would be in here, if this were a story about someone being fired for sending an email to, say, Martin Sheen telling him off.

There is a disturbing double-standard in the minds of too many FReepers. We need to keep our eyes on the ball.

[Question_Assumptions]

In your first 9 words you establish the fact that you shot your mouth off before you comprehended the article. It was in her PERSONAL e-mail! Please read more carefully next time and you might have credibility here!

I don't think that's entirely clear from the article, since Charlie Daniels sent it to people in the industry and I find it difficult to believe that he sent it to her home email address. And it is not that unusual to discuss an individual corporate email account as someone's "personal" email address (as opposed to, say, "customer_service@company.com"). Don't expect precision from the press. Just think about how they write about "assault weapons" and "semi-automatics". But perhaps your interpretation is right. If the email was sent to her home email address and she went out of her way to mention her employer, then that's a problem. But that's not the impresion I got from the rest of the article.

[Cooter]

The article didn't say she used company time and resources. In fact, it stated she received the message in her personal email. What got her into hot water was the fact that her reply included her company name, which implied that she was speaking for the company.

[Diva Betsy Ross]

If the comapny pays the bill for the interenet hookup, then it is a company e-mail box, and response from it are company property. If this was at her home e-mail address where she pays the bills, then you are right.

[O.C. - Old Cracker]

So when Klinton was ordering troops into Haiti, Somalia, Bosnia, etc...., am I to beleive that you did not critisize him? Or were you guilty of treason, by your own nazi-like definition?

I always criticized Clinton, it was my duty as a loyal American to criticize our first draft-dodging president. However, I never criticized the efforts of our military while they were engaged in combat. While American lives are on the line, the criticism needs to stop. And since you mentioned it, for what Clinton did in Somalia alone he should be hung. Literally, hung by the neck from a lamppost.

As for your other points, I have already answered similar splutterings in previous posts and have grown weary of the debate. Go ahead, take to the streets and protest once the war has officially started, but you'd better hope that no one like me lives in your neighborhood.

[O.C. - Old Cracker]

You're wrong. They have no responsibility to "keep their mouths shut." In fact, they have the RIGHT to speak out.

Would you like to hear my advice to any protester who is considering taking to the streets after the war has officially begun? You would? It would be something along the lines of, "Dude, watch out for a late model, white Dodge Ram with a reinforced front bumper and some Bondo on the right rear wheel well."

By the time you see me, it'll probably be too late. Peace-out.

[O.C. - Old Cracker]

BTW, just for kicks I'm reading "1984" again.... it's pretty chilling to see the similarities between his book and modern-day Amerika. Orwell was off by about 20 years.

Bwhahahahahahaha! You gals are too obvious.

[SarahW]

It's ENtitled.

And yes, she's entitled to her opinion. What she isn't entitled to is a job, (barring some emploment contract that gave her permission to do what she did and keep her job.)

You want to express you views? Use your OWN computer, your OWN internet service, your OWN mailbox. And you know what...your employer can still dump you if he reads and doesn't like your political views.

It wouldn't necessarily be good business to do so. Sometimes it might be. You want to say whatever you want whenever you want? Just remember that can have consequences you don't like.

[Illbay]

So if they are PEACEFULLY marching or demonstrating--exhibiting the same right of PEACEFUL protest that FReepers often do--then YOU feel like you have the right to injure or kill them because they are saying something that you strongly disagree with?

Do you realize how you sound? Do you understand that it is people like you who give conservatives a bad name?

I disavow you and your attitude. I declare that it is in complete disharmony with the spirit of Free Republic. I vehemently disagree with the message these "anti-war" protestors represent, but I even MORE strongly disagree with the attitude that you represent.

If we are unwilling to defend the PRINCIPLES of the Bill of Rights as they apply to people who hold views opposite to ours, then we should just keep our traps shut when we OUR rights are so denied.

I suggest you seriously rethink your position.

[O.C. - Old Cracker]

I suggest you seriously rethink your position.

I just did a quick cogitate and came up the same conclusions, but thanks for the suggestion.

I realize that I can't be sure about this, but it's possible that you may be suffering from antidepressant withdrawal. Try either changing your meds, or visit this site: http://www.quitpaxil.org/

I hope this helps. Be strong, I'm rooting for your recovery!

[RobRoy]

>>Yes, I know it is stupid but I'd rather cut people a break and give them an opportunity to appoligize or try to make amends than to simply fire them.<<

Nope. Work email is for work, and Hotmail is for the other stuff.

That said, I think this was just the "excuse" she was fired.

[Illbay]

So you seriously think there is "something wrong" with someone who points out that your spitting upon the Bill of Rights is inconsistent with the principles for which Free Republic stands?

Hadn't you better look in the mirror?

[O.C. - Old Cracker]

Hadn't you better look in the mirror?

Thanks for the advice. I just did, and I need a shave.

[Illbay]

Yes. Of part of the Cerebral Cortex, in fact.

[F16Fighter]

"It is easy enough to send out an email from your company address with your company name on it without thinking twice."

All I know is that it is my prerogative to fire an employee if said employee is using my company website to send OR receive offensive email or to/from what I deem to be "inappropriate" websites.

Yes, "inappropriate" may even mean DU, Janeane Garofalo's website, or PETA...

[kegler4]

"Go ahead, take to the streets and protest once the war has officially started, but you'd better hope that no one like me lives in your neighborhood."

Believe me, after reading this thread I'm overjoyed you don't live in MY neighborhood. I assume you even run over the Quaker down the street whose religion doesn't allow him to do anything BUT oppose war?

[SarahW]

The "prinicple" in the bill of rights is that Government can't restrict your speech.

The restraints on the government don't apply to private employers, who can leaglly fire you for any reason not specifically prohibited by law.

Employment contracts can protect employees from certain kinds of firings, too. But if she had an at-will employment contract, that's tough crackers for her.

And nothing in the constitution, not even in principle, is violated by her firing. You have the right to free speech, not the right to keep a job with a specific employer.

[dljordan]

Let me make sure I've gotten this right. If you don't support the war you're a traitor right? I guess she belongs in prison then. That'll shut her up.

[Illbay]

I'm not talking about the "law" I'm talking about "principles."

And further, I wasn't talking about what this woman did, but what O.C. says HE will do if he sees anyone daring to demonstrate against the war: He will run them over with his pickup truck.

I realize that these threads get long, but you have to keep up.

[O.C. - Old Cracker]

Let me make sure I've gotten this right. If you don't support the war you're a traitor right?

You got it, bro'.