'Chick' has right to speak mind

Arizona Republic ^ | Apr. 28, 2003 | Susan Lanning

[presidio9]

Somebody be angry that one of the Dixie Chicks has to apologize for giving her opinion. Here. In this country. Where we've just waged a war for freedom!

Are we lying about that? Was the war really for the oil? Are we a country of hypocrites who say we want one thing but act with a completely different set of rules? Are we a people who spout off empty words?

[ColdSteelTalon]

Hey she has the right to speak her mind...

And I have the right not to buy her stuff...

Nuff Said

[presidio9]

And you also have the right to suggest to others that they not buy her stuff. And to tell them why.

[GB]

Going back and looking at the photo, you're absolutely right. I can't believe I didn't notice it. I mean, even if Natalie Maines lost weight, she's still short and dumpy, it would be physically impossible for her to have a figure like that. Plus the sister with the semi-crossed eyes just had a kid and unless she's gone on a starvation diet, it's doubtful she looks that svelte so soon after spawning.

You know, there have been liberal actors whose work I've enjoyed (Martin Sheen is a thoroughly disgusting human being politically but giving Satan his due, he's a hell of an actor), liberal musicians whose music I've enjoyed (I think Leonard Bernstein was so far left he was about ready to fall off the planet, but when I need a pick-me-up I always put his late '50s version of "Rhapsody In Blue," which IMHO is the definitive version of that classic, on the CD player and it always works). So I've been able to disassociate folks like that from their politics, even when they've been vocal about them to the point of obnoxiousness, and just enjoy the entertainment they provide me.

And since they came on the scene I've kind of respected the Dixie Chicks' abilities as pickers ... at least the two sisters are excellent instrumentalists, I think Natalie knows about 3 chords on the guitar and has a horribly grating voice (not as bad as Alanis Morissette, LOL!), she's pretty much there just for image.

But there's always been something about that group that I didn't like even before they dissed President Bush at the inaugural and started pontificating on political issues that far transcend their negative-integer IQs. Even before this, the quickest way to get me to change channels on the radio was for a Dixie Chicks song to come on.

[Jack of Diamonds]

She has the right to say what she chooses, too many men have died giving and maintaining that freedom for me fault it. The right of free speach also includes that the speaker is responsable for his words. Others have the right to disagree and hold the speaker accountable for their statements. A speaker may have to pay a high price for what he says, be he a politician or a singer.

[CFC__VRWC]

This kind of vapid, clueless, soccer-mom tripe passing for thought is what fills me with despair for the future of this country. I'll bet you my next paycheck that if you asked this woman what she thinks of Rush Limbaugh, she would say, without a moment's hesitation and without ever having listened to his show, that he peddles "hate speech" and that the federal government should throw him in jail for it.

[Rockiesrider]

To my knowledge she hasn't apologized. Just tried different spin, once,twice or three times. All to try and stop the downward spiral of the "Chicks" record sales. She told Diane Sawyer that she should have worded things differently. Doesn't sound like an apology to me.

[narby]

This would come from some idiot in Prescot Valley. The only anti-war demonstration I saw were some long hair scuz balls riding bicycles in downtown Prescot yelling and being general idiots. The war was almost over by then, and no one was paying attention much. They got a one-finger salute from me.

[NFOShekky]

Was this from a COLLEGE newspaper? I'm sick of these folks that don't have a clue as to what "freedom of speech" means! Maybe we should start teaching the basics of OUR Constitution in high school again!!!

Amendment I of the US Constitution: CONGRESS (!!) shall make no law. . . abridging the freedon of speech. . ."
This has been held to apply to state governments as well and means that you are free to speak without GOVERNMENT restriction (with some exceptions).

Purely private parties are generally free to "punish" you for what you say.

[fabriclady]

Natalie Maines can speak her mind, sing to top of her lungs.
Travel the world, she is nothing but a little twit with a voice. So what. I will not buy a thing with her name on it, don't want to see her interviews with the fake tears. If the tears ever get real, it is only because she don't see her name on the charts. Lipton goes out the door with her. Freepers are powerful, "NO MORE LIPTON PRODUCTS".
Let's let Lipton knw what we think of their statement.
Below is a copy of products I copied from another post.

Bertolli Olive Oil
Hellmans
Knorr
Ragu
Lawry's
Birds Eye Frozen Foods
Breyers Ice Cream
Lipton Tea
I Can't Believe Its Not Butter
Becel Spreads
Snuggle Fabric Softener
Suave Beauty Products
Thermasilk Hair Products
Dove Soaps
Lux Soaps
Vaseline Brand
Ponds Skin Care
Slim-Fast
Mentadent, Aim, Close-up Toothpastes
Calvin Klein Fragrances

[SerpentDove]

Dear Arizona Republic,

I will exercise my First Amendment right to tell Natalie Mange to go to hell.

[Austin Willard Wright]

A "right" to do something and whether it should be done are two different things entirely. I, for one, am sick and tired of primary, secondary, and tertiary boycotts wher against Dr. Laura, South Carolina, or the Dixie Chicks. Such boycotts only produce a society of weenies who can't speak their mind. Yes....yes....people have a first amendment right to do this if they wish.

[Jay D. Dyson]

Quoting from the editorial:

Somebody be angry that one of the Dixie Chicks has to apologize for giving her opinion.

Oh bull. The Ditzy Chick Maines did NOT have to apologize for her remarks. She could have stuck to her remarks...but instead she saw that she had completely outraged her prime consumer base and saw the dollar loss and -- like any idiot -- sold out her stance for the Almighty Green.

Will the Left PLEASE stop propping up the Ditzy Chicks, Tim Robbins, Susan Sarandon and the rest of their ilk as some sort of "victim"? They're still got their right to free speech, for gosh sakes! The only problem they have is that EVERYONE ELSE is exercising THEIR freedom and taking their disposable income to more pro-American celebrities.

What...do they honestly think that only the anti-American cretins have the right to free speech?? Give me a farging break.

-Jay

[45Auto]

People like the 'Chicks' need to understand that they are in a service business; she forgot that and stupidly "bit the hands that feed her". Too bad, but this is the only country in the world where no-talent bums can make a lot of money by spewing out wretched music. Piss off the consumer, and you're back to scrubbing toilets, baby!

[Major Matt Mason]

So did Jimmy the Greek & John Rocker.

I hope you're not comparing Santorum to those two, because there is no comparison. Santorum was making a reasoned statement about a controversial subject, while Jimmy the Greek and Rocker were just shooting their mouths off.

[King David]

She STILL has the right to speak her mind. Isn't that great? Nothing she said or did would ever jeapordize that right. It is spelled out in the Bill of Rights. God bless this country, where anyone can say what's on their mind. Freedom is a great thing.

I think you're confused with "speaking your mind" and "disagreement". When the Chicks excersized their right to speak, many people excersized their right to disagree. Nobody can force us to agree with assinine comments.

[MikeAtTheShore]

"This woman didn't spout pornography. She didn't ruin the economy. She didn't maim or kill anyone or commit any kind of felony. She just spoke her mind."

And her fans just spoke their minds.

Why do liberal artists insist that they can say whatever they want and we still have to buy their stuff.

Very Clintonesque, the notion that how you behave should be separated from what you do.

[Saundra Duffy]

I'm not standing up for the Dixie Chicks.

Damn liar.

[FloridaBoy]

At the tim,e of her "free speech" we were at war. She was in another country critizing our president. Her actions at the time we completely wrong. I grant her free speech but at the right time and the right place. She was (and is) totally out of line and the way to teach her this is to stop buying her records and cd's. Hurt the pocketbook. Maybe in the furture she will be more careful at what she says and when she says it. Lesson learned.

[Moby Grape]

I, too, am tired of the whinning of the left, and the spit spew of "FREE SPEECH" everytime one of them gets some heat for something STUPID that they say...Yes, it is her right of free speech, and it is OUR right to label what she said for what it is: STUPID!!!! The girl is an idiot...the girl doesn't have a frickin' clue what she is talking about...and it is OUR FREE SPEECH RIGHT TO SAY SO...and our free speech right to NOT buy her STUPID music.

[VegasCowboy]

I'm a CPA. If I start shooting my mouth off about politics to my clients, I risk having them dump me as their service provider. Thus, I keep my mouth shut and do what I'm paid to do. The so-called professionals in the entertainment ought to consider the same strategy.

If a client is in my office, and I say, "Bill Clinton makes me ashamed to be an American," and that client gets pissed and goes to another CPA, has my right to free speech been infringed upon? Absolutely not. These people make me giggle.