Dixie Chicks ashamed of George Bush!

Voice support for the Chicks in the poll on the right. Rather unexpectedly, the split is almost 50-50 re: their comments...

Glen from Baltimore writes:

Everone is entitled to their own opinion, BUT not to use their position to force it on others. I can't stop her mouth but it won't run on my dime. She can go to hell with the other terrorists.

Speak for yourself. I almost got punched by a fireman in a bar the other night just for saying I was against war.

when my brain is finished erasing itself I will be able to begin laughing at this.

Wow, Ally's boyfriend is mean. ;-) (More seriously -- he sounds like a fuckface to me, though if this was a member of the FDNY [as I assume], he might feel more personally on the matter than most.)

Shakey, I had 3 other friends there, and I still think that with them and you this guy woulda beat the crap out of all of us.

Coast is clear dawg.

Sex clubs across Britain will not approve that motto, Shakey.

And you're not, then?

Oh, and Alex. I commend your constant championing of Killing Joke. Now if Jaz Coleman made the argument that the Dixie lass made, that would be a different/more interesting story. Not sure if you keep up with the world of Jaz, but if you do, has he offered any views on Iraq, etc? On a lighter or heavier note, any word on a new album?

Not for a country artist, it isn't. There are tons of Bush-supporting country folk crying for the boycott of all things Dixie Chick.

Don't get me wrong, Tim. I agree that the Dixie Chicks' music is saccharine and mind-numbingly dire...even by mainstream country standards. I'm merely supporting the lady's right to express her opinion. Moreover, while I don't highly rate the opinions of Dixie Chicks fans to begin with, watching the footage of disgrunted former Chicks-boosters snapping their discs in half just strikes me as pretty laughable, and conjures the "America:Love it Or Leave it!" sentimentality that really puts me off.

I'm not making a case for war by any means, just questioning whether someone should be championed merely for making a political point.

Fair and valid point, actually. There are certainly loads of folks spouting nonsense who clearly are doing it for arguably self-serving purposes (Fred Durst, anyone?) But let's look at whatshername's initial statement: "Just so you know, we're ashamed the president of the United States is from Texas."

This statement in itself needn't be called into question. As a Texan, she's perfectly entitled to express her displeasure at sharing a home state with our current president. Lord knows I would.

Then came their follow-up with: The group released a statement Thursday saying they have been overseas for several weeks and "the anti-American sentiment that has unfolded here is astounding. While we
support our troops, there is nothing more frightening than the notion of going to war with Iraq (news - web sites) and the prospect of all the innocent lives that will be lost." In a separate statement Thursday, Maines said, "I feel the president is ignoring the opinion of
many in the U.S. and alienating the rest of the world. My comments were made in frustration, and one of the privileges of being an American is you are free to voice your own point of view."

Sounds pretty spot-on to me, actually. Do you think she's guilty of some

The fact that she made the statements and then made a point of not retracting them.

Well, why should she retract them?

Now if Jaz Coleman made the argument that the Dixie lass made, that would be a different/more interesting story.

I quite agree, though I doubt Jaz would've worded it in quite the same way. Moreover, Jaz is probably more of the opinion that this war is already predetermined and unavoidable and is simply the fruition of a global cataclysm long-foretold.

Not sure if you keep up with the world of Jaz, but if you do, has he offered any views on Iraq, etc?

The only views on the current situation I've heard are from erstwhile Killing Joke bass player, Raven, who speaks more from the perspective of a gun-toting Libretarian. Jaz has dabbled in Islam in the past (circa the Extremities era), so I'm not really sure what he'd have to say on our current events. He has been strangely quiet of late, all things considered. You'd think he'd be crowing from the top of his lungs: "Here it comes! I told'ja so!"

On a lighter or heavier note, any word on a new album?

The puportedly-titled Death & Resurrection Show is in the process fo being mastered, I believe. In the interim, rumour has it that NMC/Alchemy records (who released last year's No Way Out But Forward Go) is releasing some rare older material sometime in April as a stop-gap prior to the release of the new record.

Alex: I know you're just speculating and my comments are just an aside, but your guess about Jaz Coleman's view reminds me that I think too many people are treating the decisions of the current U.S. administration as being some unstoppable force of nature. When I read about people blaming France for standing in the way of a peaceful solution to disarming Iraq(?), it's like all the people in the U.S. (and British, Spanish, Bulgarian) governments have disappeared, and there's only the hurtling fist of God to be acknowledged.

Well, who will divert its current course of action, then? God's certainly sitting this one out........as usual.

I've talked to people all over the world who are BEYOND frightened about the destruction Iraq and North Korea could cause their countries. Saddam and Kim Jong-il are paranoid freaks who would destroy the world in a whim if given the chance. These are people who don't belong in positions of power. And if they're left unchecked, the world could become a truly nasty place.

I was merely making a correlation between the tepid, uninspired music of the Dixie gal and her like-minded high school caliber political outlook. Her original comment about being ashamed Bush was from Texas seemed like something to whip up the crowd, but her later comments are as pathetic as that "Earl" song.

Anyway, thanks for the Killing Joke update. Man, I'm way too serious tonight.

I'm disapointed by that. She shoulda stuck by her guns.

Clear Channel in setting the agenda shocker!

No more will I call them the Southern Slappers.

http://www.foofighters.com/blackbox/pictures/2003_01_16_auckland/images/FF_2003_AUCKLAND_GALATOS0066.jpg

Wonder why Jaz is wearing the XBOX strap? Wonder as well why he's got the same hairstyle as Grohl. Interesting stuff.

when a popstar makes statements based on the opinions of their audience, that's bad

Also continue to take potshots at rednecks, it makes you all look SOOOOOOO much SMARTER and MORE SOPHISTICATED. Please make comments abt 'flyover country' and related ills that plague the wonderful United States of Coastal Metropolises.

Or alternatively fuck off. Whichever.

http://fla.fg-a.com/1_line_misc_10x.gif

What Lies Ahead

Do you really think this "war" is gonna happen because it is the "will" of the electorate?

when a popstar makes statements based on the opinions of their audience, that's bad

What indicates to you that Natalie Dixie Chick was doing anything other than stating her own opinion (which frankly I wish she'd had the "balls" to stick by, but I can understand being reticent about crossing the people who butter her bread)?

• Former Country Star kd lang comes out of the closet; Nashville Blacklists her. Result: kd lang is never heard on C&W radio ever again.
  
• Former Country Star Lyle Lovett starts to be too clever by half, and makes spooky records reminscent of Johnny Cash in his prime; Nashville Blacklists him. Result: Lyle Lovett is never heard on C&W radio ever again.
  
• Shania Twain shows her midriff on TV once too often; Nashville poobahs get huffy. The issue is sent to committee and is still being debated. Result: undetermined....
  
• Dixie Chick sez Bush Blows; Nashville up in arms. Result: Too soon to tell, Grand Wizards of the Nashville Illuminati still obsessing over Shania's navel.
  

but she didn't recoil in fear - her subsequent comments basically reiterate and expand on the original line.

this all makes me no more inclined to listen to Dixie Chicks records, and I suspect that C&W Nazis will probably be less inclined to. It's a shame when people with sound political opinions don't also make good records.

It's a shame when people with sound political opinions don't also make good records.

You're an idiot.

to clarify for the sarcasm-impaired: the crowd here seems to think that Schroeder and Chirac are doing well to listen to their voters. But if the Dixie Chicks - who are as subject to the whims of their audience as any politician, probably even moreso - take back a statement based on the outcry of the crowd, that gets treated as a bad thing.

I'm just pointing out what I think is bad logic/double standards.

time is running out!
http://killing-joke.com/bomb.gif

But I'm all for their statement. There is a strong populist, leftwing element in Texas if not in Tennessee. Good for them, now stop making records, that would be the next great advance...

maybe you should engage with people's ideas rather than engage in personal abuse. Or perhaps that is beyond your mental capacities.

You're a fucking idiot, DV.

C&W Nazis - people who agree with Toby Keith.

C&W not Nazis - people who agree with Steve Earle.

    Signed,
    Rev. Donald Wildmon.

"As an entertainer I've never felt it was my place to get in the middle of any political debate waged by other celebrities. But with the recent comments made by some of my fellow entertainers I can hold my tongue no longer.

"First, let me state that no one wants to go to war, sometimes it's the only solution to some of the complex situations like we're faced with in today's world.

"I recently spent time with the troops and their families in Ft. Bragg in North Carolina and observed both their dedication and their vulnerability. Hearing negative comments from fellow Americans - especially those in the public eye - is destructive and damaging to the morale of our servicemen and women and to our country in general. Our military men and women are putting their lives on the line for each and every one of us and deserve nothing but our unfailing respect and support.

"Whether or not you agree 100% with the president's decision regarding the situation with Iraq, the fact remains our troops are doing their jobs. They are our fathers and brothers, mothers and sisters, sons and daughters and are fighting to defend our rights and freedoms. Harsh words and half-baked opinions by people in the spotlight helps no one and reflects poorly on us all.

"I am a champion of our First Amendment privileges established by our forefathers. I feel it is one of our God-given rights as Americans to speak our minds freely and honestly. The First Amendment is one of the things that makes our country great. However, in such a fragile time in the world with that privilege comes the need to be responsible and mindful of the repercussions.

"Celebrities have a public forum to voice their opinions, which makes folks think that they are representing the majority, when in fact they represent the minority. Fans ask me all the time what they can do to be heard and I tell them the best way to have an impact is to hit'em in their pocketbook. Don't spend your money on what they're selling, be it movies, magazines or music.

"Country music has a history of being a voice for the working man with a long-standing tradition of being a patriotic supporter of our nation and its military. Just listen to Merle Haggard's Vietnam era song, 'The Fightin' Side of Me.' What held true in 1970 holds true today - 'When they're running down my country; they're walkin' on the fightin' side of me.'"

Pity this essential boils down to something like, "I don't want to punch you in this damn bar we're both in, but I guess I'm going to have to."

The most ridiculous thing I saw this past weekend were some opinion pieces masquerading as news stories, saying that the U.S. should attack Iraq soon just for the sake of the troops' morale!

And honestly I don't think the troops would be so dismayed by the protestors if there weren't so many elements in the culture telling them they should be.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/2972043.stm

So, is this just reverse-backpedaling? Interesting EW cover, dontcha think?

And I don't think it's backpedaling at all. Neither Maines' supporters nor detractors were convinced by that coerced apology she issued a few days after the incident.