The FREEPER strategy on responding to Dixie Chicks manager's comments

Cincinatti Enquirer ^ | 3/19/2003 | jagrmiester

[Stop Legal Plunder]

.....bump

[Squantos]

I kind a like to have my ducks, in this case chicks, in a row when I quote someone so when and where did their manager say this about the fans. I pass it along but I don't listen to them, never have never will, but I will pile on their sponsors for supporting the big itches.

Stay Safe !

[JakeINJoisey]

Good Lord...now you've gone and done it...we're up against (gulp & cue ominous music)

The Firm

[TPartyType]

Here's a long quote (sorry) from Federalist #1 that describes, implicitly, the temperament required of a free people. I think those who participate in a conservative forum should cherish the wisdom expressed here.

---

It seems to have been reserved to the people of this country, by their conduct and example, to decide the important question, whether societies of men are really capable or not of establishing good government from reflection and choice, or whether they are forever destined to depend for their political constitutions on accident and force. . . . This idea will add the inducements of philanthropy to those of patriotism, to heighten the solicitude which all considerate and good men must feel for the event. Happy will it be if our choice should be directed by a judicious estimate of our true interests, unperplexed and unbiased by considerations not connected with the public good. But this is a thing more ardently to be wished than seriously to be expected. . . .

So numerous indeed and so powerful are the causes which serve to give a false bias to the judgment, that we, upon many occasions, see wise and good men on the wrong as well as on the right side of questions of the first magnitude to society. This circumstance, if duly attended to, would furnish a lesson of moderation to those who are ever so much persuaded of their being in the right in any controversy. . . . nothing could be more ill-judged than that intolerant spirit which has, at all times, characterised political parties. For in politics, as in religion, it is equally absurd to aim at making proselytes by fire and sword. Heresies in either can rarely be cured by persecution.

And yet, however just these sentiments will be allowed to be, we have already sufficient indications that it will happen in this as in all former cases of great national discussion. A torrent of angry and malignant passions will be let loose. To judge from the conduct of the opposite parties, we shall be led to conclude that they will mutually hope to evince the justness of their opinions, and to increase the number of the converts by the loudness of their declamations and the bitterness of their invectives. . . .

In the course of the preceding observations, I have had an eye, my fellow-citizens, to putting you upon your guard against all attempts, from whatever quarter, to influence your decision, in a matter of the utmost moment to your welfare, by any impressions other than those which may result from the evidence of truth. . . . My arguments will be open to all, and may be judged of by all. They shall at least be offered in a spirit which will not disgrace the cause of truth. . . . In the progress of this discussion I shall endeavour to give a satisfactory answer to all the objections which shall have made their appearance, that may seem to have any claim to your attention.

---

Let us emulate our Founding Fathers. Let us not disgrace our cause or our forum by engaging in uncivil discourse. Let us recommit ourselves to being a free people, "filled with patriotism, virtue and wisdom," so we are fit for liberty and qualified to be its protectors. We must help make this a forum for what John Jay called, in Federalist #2, "calm and mature inquiries and reflections which must ever precede the formation [and perpetuation] of a wise and well-balanced government for a free people."

[LibertarianInExile]

You forgot the subtitle: Blix, Nicks Sick ROFL...

[jagrmeister]

I want to thank everyone for helping put this together and taking action. Activism is an important part of furthering the conservative cause. Any time you ask people to hear the call, you will have those who rise to the challenge and those that sit on their hands. The latter inevitably justifies their sloth by belittling the stated purpose of the initiative. I don't let it get to me. I've politely asked the defeatists here to curse the merits of activism elsewhere and to the extent they cannot take a hint, I've refused to dignify their statements. The people who are writing e-mails and making phone calls on behalf of a just cause don't need to be lectured to by curmudgeons who claim to be "true believers" but whose lack of commitment signifies otherwise. To use a quote from Lord of the Rings, "I have not passed through fire and death to bandy words with a witless worm." Activists should be proud, we are having an impact.

[WellsFargo94]

Several things come to mind when I read your replies. The first is that yes Natalie Maines' is entitled to her opinion, and this is why President Bush didn't throw her in jail, and torture her (unlike the Iraqi regime, along with other such countries in the world).

However, we too have the right to be offended at her remarks, AND speak out against them as that is our right. Consider the KKK have thier rights of free speach, I, as well as others here, (especially) Democrats have been offended and have spoken out vehemently against the KKK's point of view. Unless a law is broken the KKK have their right to free speech without being arrested, let alone tortured. And we have the right to tell this group to pound salt.

Another point that I would like to make is that I recently heard a comedian comment that he is offended by actors and artists using their media access for political stances because (as an example) The Chickie Dicks are entertainers, not foriegn relations experts to be taking their point of view to the public stage (literally - and especially on foreign soil). "When was the last time you drove through a McDonalds and hear the person taking our order saying, 'okay you'd like a #3, with a Coke, and I personally feel that we need to free the oppressed Iraqi people from a brutal regime.'" You don't hear a McD's employee saying this, as it would be offensive to the "fans" of the restaurant and would turn patrons off and they would boycott their products.

An intelligent person always considers the source. Unfortunately that are many young people who form their opinions solely on entertainers and psudo media outlets. I once had a hairdresser tell me that she catches up on the news only by watching Jay Leno. Now I enjoy Jay's show, but it is just scary to consider his show as the sole source of their news and thus opinions formed from this source. I am sure the very same is true for many young teens and adults, and also some older adults. This alarms me to no end.

As far as the other websites and papers making disparaging comments regarding the vivid, lively, emotional, and many times tongue-in-cheek humor, or some of the posters "humorous catch phrases" (like "commies") that are posted here at Freerepublic. A responsible journalist considers the source and trys to be informed of the opposing perspective. These articles mis-quoting FR do so because they don't understand the people at this site and thus they are completely taken out of context, misunderstood, taken too seriously, or are due to lurkers who only do so long enough to find the negative ammunition to further devalue our site and provide so called "proof" to add credibility to their own story and agenda. Also, interesting to note, the originators of PC invading our society at many levels, feel the need to resort to refering to us as uneducated hicks. Nice, especially coming from the touchy feely crowd.

One needs to consider that the wonderful beauty of this website is that it is at various times; serious, humorous, knowlegable, as based on the many Freepers professional input and expertise. Most are highly educated either formally, or by keeping up with current events in a knowledgable way (not through Cosmo magazine), and we share interesting philosophies, intense knowledge or experience in particular areas. Sure you get the occasionally inappropriate comment, or sometimes we are either misunderstood by other Freepers, or we are completely misinformed or wrong about an issue and thus we get "Flamed".

Very often we are just passionate about an issue and get carried away, in a high school fashion. That's is the challenge and beauty of Freerepublic. What an invigorating and welcoming diversity of members we have.

And no, we don't tolerate liberal excuses, pandering, double talk, or worse - selective ethics that are so evident from the Democrats and their allies. We don't because this is our bastion of conservatism in an increasingly politically correct, liberal biased, media biased world.

I hope that you can lighten up and enjoy the high brow, and many times the low brow humor that is shared here. I don't like people or philosophies that take themselves so seriously - most "intelligencia" are not. In fact the most annoying people to me are the young NYC liberal dwellers who are soooo serious that they are boring and narrow minded. But just ask them why they are "enlightened" it is due to their liberal indoctrination at college, and because of where they live (how many times I've heard NYC folks say that other people are jealous of where they live - NOT me!) However, if you ask these same people where they are originally from they will tell you they are from every salt of the earth, podunk town outside of "The City". I know this to be a fact because I have family and friends living there, as I once did. It's not enjoyable to listen to the crap that they espouse, as they rarely have any original thought or plan. Here at Freerepublic we don't always have the regurgitated responses or beliefs that is so prevelent for the liberals, and as a result we are crude or crass. This is the beauty of free speech and original thought.

your points of view although may or may not be misunderstood, are your opinions and you are responsible for opening up a lively discussion as a results. Thank you.

[Dont Mention the War]

all freepers named and/or quoted in Simon Renshaw's email should contact a lawyer and file a libel lawsuit. He called them violent, racist homophobes. That's a great way for him to end up paying out millions of dollars in fines and damages.

[jagrmeister]

Squantos- here is the sum of it. Renshaw characterized those who called their radio stations to complain about the Dixie Chicks as the product of a "far right" group (Free Republic). As you can see in his e-mail, according to him, this group's messages are often "homophobic", "violent", and "racist". He also used the term "weasels".

The email is here: http://www.mail-archive.com/foib@ianbell.com/msg00075.html">http://www.mail-archive.com/foib@ianbell.com/msg00075.html
The webpage is here: http://enquirer.com/editions/2003/03/18/tem_tvpix18.html

[my_pointy_head_is_sharp]

Renshaw's comments categorize patriotic Dixie Chicks fans who had a legitimate grievance as "radical" "weasels" (his own words) with an agenda

Absolutely right. Your agenda is to completely destroy the Dixie Chicks' careers. Why don't you just give it a rest? They made their comments; you've boycotted their CDS, etc. Isn't that enough? Do you intend to totally destroy their careers? Is that the ultimate aim of all this?

[Squantos]

OK Thanks...BTW the e-mail links don't work but the last web page link gave me all I need.

Stay Safe !

[Dont Mention the War]

A new MUST-READ thread on the latest dirty tricks the Dirty Chicks are pulling to try to save themselves and smear anyone that dares speak out against them!!!

[jagrmeister]

Read the following message: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/869284/posts?page=86#86 . You have the wrong thread.

"America is ushering in a new era of responsibility" - President George W. Bush

[jagrmeister]

You hit the nail on the head. What began as a mild transgression has blown into a full scale PR war with Dixie Chicks/Sony Music aiming to humilliate and marginalize any patriotic American who had a legitimate problem with the band's divisive comments. In the process, they are demeaning country music fans as the "flag-waving set" (code for uneducated bumpkin), describing the efforts of protestors as "laughable", and singling the few radio stations which had the decency to take DC off the airwaves temporarily as engaging in a "publicity stunt". Leave alone that the Cincinatti newspaper piece and Renshaw's email characterizing conservatives (and Free Republic in particular) as hateful, "violent", and racist.

[Roy Tucker]

I pledge never to buy a Blixie Chicks album or attend any of their concerts.

[ALOHA RONNIE]

...Freerepublic.com's successful Anti-Dixie Chicks campaign was lauded tonight on Southern California's ..'The RIGHT Brothers'.. Talk Radio Show on KPLS 830 AM ..'Radio on the Right.'

...This was during it's Irag War Coverage.

...Way to go Freepers.

[floriduh voter]

You are right on. There are times where it's helpful to carry signs with FR's url on them. In this case, why let some Sony exec get everyone "off message" by making this about FR or whoever?

This is about Natalie M. stating that she was ashamed that the President was from Texas. That's how this all began and like most liberals, when they paint themselves into a corner, they like to change the message to get off the hook. That method did work during the Clinton years but we have higher standards these days.

Let me state for the record that the following entertainers are supporting our troops and the USA: Charlie Daniels, Travis Tritt, John Travolta, ZZ Top, Ted Nugent, Michael Jackson, Ricky Martin, Bruce Willis, all the USO entertainers who are visiting the troops, and others. I'd like to see a list of entertainers WHO STAND WITH PRESIDENT BUSH AND THE TROOPS. Those are my contributions.

[floriduh voter]

So, according to Renshaw, there are 30K FR registereds? I wonder what the actual count is. Somebody freepmail me the actual number of registereds at FR. Why tell lurkers with disruption on their minds?

I think it's appropriate to give membership numbers when we are doing freepathons and while we move up the list of popular sites but not on this thread.

[floriduh voter]

#38 LOL. She had actually improved her looks recently but then she botched her career. She proved without a doubt that she's no Eliza Doolittle. She got her own bloomin arse in trouble.

[floriduh voter]

You, go. It's not about being personally offended. Nat offended my President, the State of Texas and thus, THE ENTIRE DANG COUNTRY. And, WE ARE AT WAR. fregards, fv