The Weinsteins Whistle Dixie

Isn't free speech a wonderful thing?

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What's to be surprised about? If you want political music then you expect it from Dylan, Seeger and others. Having the Dixie Chicks who were liked for their pop/country, non political tunes suddenly turning political is a recipe for disaster. On top of that the fact that their fans were the country music crowd which as a rule wears their patriotism on their sleeves and you will have the hostile reaction you got. Their latest album, like this documentary movie, will find an audience with the NPR,PBS liberal crowd. It's the same folks who hyped their latest album and who are hyping this 'documentary'.

And of course you know that 'free speech' doesn't mean free from consequences or free from reactions by people who don't agree with what you have to say. You can say what you want but don't expect everyone to agree or cheer what you have to say. The lack of airplay and the cancelled concerts for the Dixie Chicks after their turn to the political is an example of the free speech and free expression of thousands and thousands of people who didn't agree with their comments. And you don't have to be a Captain Obvious to notice that free speech is a wonderful thing.

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1.) What fan of country music does NOT know that Willie Nelson is a BIG DOPE SMOKING HIPPIE WHO DOESN'T LIKE GEORGE BUSH OR THE WAR ON TERROR?

Answer? NO ONE!

And yet do they Boycott him? NO!

2.) The Dixie chicks got they're ass in a sling because they had their main fan base convinced that they were mainstream according to their own personal values - and then pulled the rug out from under them in one fell swoop.

If the Dixie Chicks had had the integrity and strength of character an artist like Nelson does to begin with, they wouldn't be where they are today. It's NOT rocket science!

Also - I saw a similar comment over on the Movie Blog today about how "Shocked" he was to see the public reaction to what they said...

*Gasp!*

*Swoon!*

Lawzy Mizz Scarlett I don't know nothin' 'bout birthin' no babies!!

You mean the fans are actually allowed to have their own opinions and (God forbid) REACT to what celebrities and other public figures say!?

Oh the Horror!! Hide me! Hide me!

Needless to say I am shocked to see people be "Shocked" that the peasants in this country (in THIS COUNRTY of all places) feel like they have the right to voice their own opinions too. All to often people believe that public discourse may only be deemed "Civil" when it defined by a lack of debate.

While everyone has the equal right to voice their opinion, nobody has the right to have their opinion be considered "Equal" or "As good" as anyone elses.

It's called freedom. You can't bottle that sh*t up.

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@Gilbert

I was actually refering to the free speech of the country music crowd that decided to stop purchasing the Chicks and requested the radio stations to stop playing them as well. I think its great that the Chicks have been forced to cancel shows because they can't even get half capacity in some venues.

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i swear the right wingers have staff members going around to various blogs

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@akaison

So this statement -- "all because she decided to speak her mind and be truthful" -- by the poster must mean that the poster is a left wing staff member as well, correct?

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Captain Obvious,
You obviously don't understand Hollywood free speech. It means you support, I say something that offends you, doesn't matter, you still have to support me.

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It wasn't JUST Natalie's statement in France on the eve of our war with Iraq that has turned country music fans against this group. It does have to do with timing...I doubt very seriously that Natalie would've made that same statement to a concert crowd in Texas. She knew she would've been boo'ed out of the concert hall. All that aside, the childish behavior that Natalie portrayed with her own little "war" with Toby Keith afterward was simply stupid on her part. Even when Mr. Keith tried to call a "truce" to their silly little feud, she persisted in her antics. Couple that with the fact that the Chicks have spoken out against country fans that "just don't get" their latest music...and the fact that they don't want "the type of fanbase that listens to Reba" to enjoy them as well...well, they are definitely entitled to their opinion. What I take issue with is the fact that they weren't voicing this opinion when they were "up and coming" artists, and the "Reba-listening" folks that bought their CDs and concert tickets and helped them to reach their level of success. NOW they say so! Well that's fine, but no matter how talented this trio is, I will never buy another CD or ticket to see them in concert. Although it seemingly used to be, my money's not good enough for them now.

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@ChixieDicks

I understand liberal free speech all too well. Free speech for anyone that agrees, no speech for anyone else. Free speech for Susan Sarandon and Johnny Depp and Natalie Maines, no free speech (to stop purchasing products) for the movie going or music listening public.

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Loved the comments - I believe in free speech - freedom of expression - but some people have larger venues than others, and the danger is that when the Hollywood group speaks their minds, they get a much larger audience than the average person. I'm personally sick of hearing what the Dixie Chicks, Sean Penn, George Clooney think about anything!!! Used to be fans of all of them, but am now using my freedom (which our country is trying to protect, by the way) to not support their careers by buying anything that they are in or involved with. Maybe they can sell their movies & CD's overseas.....

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While I believe in anybody's right not to listen, I also believe that everybody has the right to rebel, protest, petition, rally, etc. Indeed, to remain silent in the face of actions that do not represent the USA well in a global community flies in the face of what REAL patriotism is. The right to protest was built into the constitution that I served in the military for 7 1/2 years to protect.

While I might not agree with Ms. Maines' timing with respect to her comments on Mr. Bush, I defend her constitutional right to have spoken.

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Just a quick correction for Jennifer. Natalie Maines did not say anything about George Bush in France. She said it in England. That's the same England that sent its soldiers to fight and die alongside American soldiers who are fighting and dying in Iraq. Natalie Maines had this crazy idea that it's better not to have soldiers fight and die if there's any was to avoid it. There was a way to avoid it in Iraq, but it was too tough. Bush would have had to tell the truth and not make up all the lies he did to justify going to war.

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I stand corrected by Ed on the exact location of Natalie's anti-Bush statement. My point is, she made the remark OUTSIDE of U.S. SOIL, and the rest of my comments should suffice for MY opinion on Natalie Maines. I don't think a statement like "I'm ashamed our President is from TX" = "I don't want people in the military to needlessly die." Maybe I'm wrong. Has anyone forgotten that shortly after her statement got out and she found out that folks were upset by it, that she apologized? Of course that apology was later recanted. But why apologize in the first place? Good Grief! I know I will not change Ed's opinion of her or President Bush, and I seriously doubt anyone will change mine, so there's no use in any further response. Opinions are like belly buttons - everybody's got one! ;)

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I spent 20 years in the USAF to defend everyone's rights as decreed in the Constitution, including The Dixie Chicks. They have the right to free speech but not when I'm paying to hear music. I spend money for concerts to hear music, not political comments. If she (Maines)had spoken in an interview instead of onstage in a foreign country--no groundswell. They (Dixie Chicks) were/are a representative of America when they are on the concert stage in foriegn countries. Sing and make music--not political comments.
I STILL will not buy anything of the Dixie Chicks and ask the radio stations not to play them. That's MY right under the Constitution.

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I didn't know about the film until I heard about the ad ban. I am heading straight to U Tube to try to find it. Then I will check to find a showing. Everything works out. You can try to stop free speech, but it gets harder and harder. with so many networks and the internets.

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