[Guest]

Here we go again,, another celebrity using there status to open mouth and insert foot!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Radio stations nationwide are boycotting the Dixie Chicks, even though Maines publicly apologized for telling a London audience last Monday: "Just so you know, we're ashamed the president of the United States is from Texas."


Maines is a Lubbock native.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

well at least she will learn her lesson the hardest way possible,
hitting in them in the checkbook!


doesn't Mianes ryhme with Jane , as in Jane Fonda..

sound familiar,,? worked great for Jane..

 

[Guest]

Who cares?

No, really...

We are not paying musicians to mouth off on these subjects.

I don't give a rat's... about what most musicians have to say about politics. I'm not going to boycott their music just because they say something controversial outside of their songs.


Are you really going to attempt to destroy someone's career just because you don't agree with their opinions?



I am getting really tired of musician's having opinions...

Tim McGraw's Father Is Hospitalized

D'Angelo Settles Civil Suit, Pays $500 Fine

Jay-Z And Beyonce Done?

Dixie Chicks Pulled from Air After Bashing Bush

EA Says NBA Game Soundtrack Goes Platinum

Durst Says He Wrote Borland's Bizkit Parts


Its at an all time low with music news, hopefuly by tomorrow we'll get good headlines, like:

Avril Pregnancy Gets "Complicated"

Lance Bass: "That #### Wouldnt Have Happened If I Were In Charge Of That Shuttle"

Dixie Chicks Ashamed Theyre From The Same State As Dixie Chicks

Fred Durst: "Wes Who?"

 

[Guest]

Here we go, they've apologized and the boycott continues...

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tm...8&u=/ap/20030316/ap_on_en_mu/natalie_maines_3

DALLAS - Natalie Maines, lead singer of the Dixie Chicks, is finding out that sometimes saying you're sorry doesn't make much of a difference.

Radio stations nationwide are boycotting the Dixie Chicks, even though Maines publicly apologized for telling a London audience last Monday: "Just so you know, we're ashamed the president of the United States is from Texas."

Maines is a Lubbock native.

In her apology Friday, Maines said: "As a concerned American citizen, I apologize to President Bush (news - web sites) because my remark was disrespectful. I feel that whoever holds that office should be treated with the utmost respect."

The words didn't carry much weight with listeners in Maines' home state and elsewhere.

"We've had a huge listener reaction and movement against the statements," said Paul Williams (news) of KPLX-FM in Dallas-Fort Worth, the nation's fifth largest radio market.

In Kansas City, Mo., WDAF-AM set trash cans outside its offices for listeners to toss their Dixie Chicks CDs. Its Web site displayed more than 800 listener e-mails, most of them in support of the station's boycott.

After more than 250 listeners called Friday to complain about Maines' comments, WTDR-FM in Talladega, Ala., dropped the Dixie Chicks.

"The emotion of the callers telling us about their fathers and sons and brothers who are overseas now and who fought in previous wars was very specific," said Jim Jacobs, president of Jacobs Broadcast Group, which includes WTDR.

The Dixie Chicks are in Europe promoting their recent release "Home," which won a Grammy last month for Best Country Album. The group is scheduled to kick off the U.S. leg of its "Top of the World Tour" on May 1 in Greenville, S.C.

 

[Guest]

I'd cry about it, except, I hate the Dixie Chicks. I didn't like them before, then they butchered Fleetwood Mac.

 

[Guest]

Agreed Richard ol' buddy ol' pal! If I listened to them, I MIGHT give a crap, but either way, they BUTCHERED Fleetwood Mac, which is blasphemy.

And I agree with what Steven said, I don't really CARE what they say or what their political agenda is, if I like a band/artist's music, I will listen to them anyway. If they have something to say about the war or about their sexual preference or whatever, fine, say it, I don't care. Just keep doing your job and putting out good music, and I'll still buy your cd.

Personally, I think those people out to boycott the Dixie Chicks are stupid. Sorry if some of you here follow that camp, but COME ON PEOPLE!!! When you bought your brand new Dixie Chicks cd, you bought it because you liked their music, right? You plunked down your hard-earned cash to buy a cd for the MUSIC. And now, when one of them(not all mind you)says something bad about the President, you are quick to toss it in the trash? What's wrong with you, huh? Did that Chick's statement change the music on that cd? Nope. You might as well have taken that $17.99 and tossed it in the trash can, or heck, send it to me, I'll put it to good use.

 

[Darin Chappell]

It's a question of principle. I believe that I have the money I have as a matter of stewardship, and it is my duty to spend it as best I can in ever facet of the idea wrapped up in "best."

That does not just imply frugality. It also includes shopping at one convenience store over another because it refuses to display pornography where small children see it easily, and its competitors all have the skin mags right a three-year-old's eye level. It includes patronizing at a filling station, even though the one accross the street is cheaper, just because the one I buy from is the ONLY one in town that did not raise its prices on 9-11! It means asking myself if I want to support a company so that it can continue to do all of the things it does with my money. I cannot always make a choice in the matter. Sometimes, it is a choice of a lesser of two evils. Sometimes, I am just plain ignorant about a hidden issue, and I have to make changes in my buying habits once my ignorance is uncovered.

Now, I don't listen to the Dixie Chicks, and I could not even tell you of a single song they sing. However, if I wanted to get the attention of an artist/group, the one thing I can guarantee you they will listen to is a drop in record sales! Also, throwing those cds in the dumpster WILL get their attention.

The point has been made that it was only one of the group that said anything at all. True, but where were the others? Why didn't they step forward and say, "She doesn't speak for us"? No, they made that statement, because they thought it would play well in London. Maybe it did. They made the statement for financial gain, and I think they should lose financial gain here where their statement is viewed as being entirely inappropriate.

This is a free country, in which people have the right to say whatever they may. However, common courtesy and patriotism demands that all criticism ends at the borders. You cannot run your mouth over in another country for public acceptance and then be shocked when it backfires on you here at home.

ESPECIALLY when you are a country band . . .DUH!!!!

 

[Guest]

Darin you are so right,,, you summed the point up perfectly...!

 

[Ken Harbart]

There's a few things about the Dixie Pigs that don't sit well with me.

The first, of course, is the comment made while overseas.

Then, we have the insincere apology. Do the Pigs think that their fans are really that gullible?

On top of that, they are now claiming that the boycott of their music is a vast right-wing cyber conspiracy, and not the natural consequence of their own actions.

Finally, if that isn't enough of a reason to dislike the Dixie Pigs...

They're in bed with PeTA.

 

[Guest]

Don't get me wrong, I am no fan of the Dixie Chicks anymore than I'm a fan of Yoko Ono, but I still don't get the point of trashing their cds or burning them or whatever people are doing.

There are alot of musicians and bands that I listen to and actors and actresses I watch in movies and tv. And I don't agree with alot of their views and activites. John Travolta is a Scientologist. Does that make him a bad actor or will keep me from seeing his movies(unless of course he makes another Battlefield Earth, and then it's boycott time)? NO, because his personal views and take on things are completely meaningless to me as a consumer.

Marilyn Manson exposes himself in public, cross dresses, and is just a general freak. But you know what, I still like his music depsite his distorted self-image and antics. So though I disagree with him, I will still buy his cd for the fact that I like his music.

My point is that, although the Dixie Chicks(or whoever you want to focus on) made a comment not many people agree with. That instant, did their music go sour and sound horrible(it was never good to me, but country isn't my thing) to those who liked them? As crass as the comment about Dubya was, they are entertainers. I don't agree 100% that one of them should have gone with THAT particular comment, but they were entertainers doing their job, playing up their audience. Of course there are consequences to their actions, which they are paying now by lost record sales, but by banning them from radio stations and trashing their cds, what have they learned? They threw out a fake apology, but they still feel I'm sure, that they are right. What is this action against them supposed to teach them? Don't voice an unpopular opinion publicly or you will get ridiculed and ostracized for it? You have a dissenting view and the chutzpa to voice it in the open, so we will destroy/undermine your ability to sell your product until you agree with the masses?

And please, I don't want anyone here to get me wrong, I DON'T agree with what the Dixie Cracks said. And I disagree with them even MORE since they tried to band-aid everything with a fake apology. And maybe I'm reading too much into this, but something just doesn't settle well with this situation for me.

 

[Guest]

Rob,
I guess it all goes back to what you find acceptable,,,,for me,, there is no excuse for saying what they said in the middle of another country. ( in the hopes it would help sales over there) or for what ever reason... we are all entitled to our right to speak,,, and i agree with that whole heartedly! but i guess my view is that what they said was out of line, and for me and a lot of other people boycotting them drives the point home to them. she stuck her foot in her mouth, and after the half hearted apology, it really stunk! i think Michael Moore was out of line for what he said at the oscars,, Not for what he said ( he is entitled to his opinion) but for were and how he said it. I don't own dixie chick cds...
but i know no mater what they do in the future, i never will... and as for marilyn manson,,, he just has a hell of a lot of issues to deal with...( and no i don't listen to ((it)) either) him and michael jackson should get together...make a perfect couple...
for me actors, musicians etc, should keep there personal beliefs to themselves, and then they would never have to worry about being boycotted.

 

[Guest]

for me actors, musicians etc, should keep there personal beliefs to themselves, and then they would never have to worry about being boycotted.

You are driving my point home in a wierd way by saying this. Why should someone have to fear boycott and backlash by voicing their personal opinions that may not agree with the majority? Of course this isn't a perfect world, but why should someone here in America have to worry about their livelihood being threatened when they voice a dissenting opinion?

At my job, all of the management are staunch conservative Republicans. The GOP can do no wrong in their eyes. I am not a complete left whack-job liberal, but I am not a devout righty either. I think I am about as moderate as it gets. Depending on the issues, I have disagreements with my managers on political events and issues and I have no problem voicing these dissenting views when we are having a discussion regarding these things. Do I have that right to voice my opinions and how I feel? I think we can all agree, Yes. Am I at risk of losing my job and never getting hired again in my field for my views? No. My personal and political views have absolutely no bearing on how I do my job.

Actors, musicians, and other public figures should be in the same boat, in my opinion. They have a job. They do their job. The rallies and speeches they give should have no bearing on them doing their job when it comes to us, the movie and music consumer. Martin Sheen disagrees with the President and the war and what not, and is vocal about it, as he has that right. However, since he is in the minority opinion AND an actor, he should shut his mouth or suffer the consequences of a boycott? The same with the Dixie Chunks, they voiced a dissenting/minority view in a public forum and have suffered the "wraith" of the majority in the form of boycotts and the loss of financial gain. In other words, although I don't think what they said was all that appropriate, they are being persecuted for voicing dissent to the President and those who are in support of him.

I'm sorry if this makes me sound like a whack-job liberal or something, but I just don't feel it is totally deserved that they should suffer financial "persecution" because they disagree with the crowd, is all(of course I know they've got plenty of green and aren't hurting, but their possible future green earning potential is hurting). If they still do their job and put out good music, then that is what should be focused on, not their whacky politics or personal lives.

But that is just he way I see it.

 

[Guest]

Hey Rob,
i agree with what you are saying,, but you know the best part about America,,, I don't have to buy dixie dogs cds if i choose not to,, based on bad music or there political views,,, and i ( and a hell of a lot of other people ) also choose not to purchase there cds... I am down here where Trent Lotts Remarks got him in big trouble,, i am not saying it is right or wrong,,, but it is the way it is,,, Trent has done a lot for Mississippi, but his mouth running without his brain cost him everything in politics.
If you make your views known in public, like the dixie dogs did,,, then they will have to accept the consequences, good or bad,,, if they kept there opinions to themselves,,, they would not be in this mess right now,,,, I know there is not a country station here in Mississippi playing the Dixie dogs,,, is it right or wrong..? I don't know but it is the radio stations option to play them or not,,, and I know they are not! so they made there bed and now they are laying in it,,, right or wrong..?!

as i say what i said above, and my other posts,, i open myself up for those that agree and disagree,,, Is that right or wrong..?!
Don't know but it is the way it is,,, and I accept responsibility for it,,, good, bad, or other,,

 

[Darin Chappell]

Here is the only distinction I would make, Rob. You are not being employed because of your image! You do your job, and you have every right to express your opinions so long they do not begin to interfere with your job performance. That's great.

However, musicians, actors, etc. are employable (make that profitable) in large part because of their image! If you don't believe that, consider how much money the image managers in Hollywood make off of these wackos out there! If you still don't believe that image is more important that talent, ask PeeWee Herman (Paul Rubins), and he'll tell you all about it. Or, how about Michael Jackson . . .Mike Tyson? This being the case, their image upkeep IS their job performance, and making stements like the Dixie Hags made is ruining their capacity to do their job . . .hence the backlash.

Now, other individuals like Marilyn Manson and Michael Moore have been mentioned as people with horrible images that still are accepted for their "creative" (?) exploits. However, I would suggest to you that these types of people are ONLY popular because of their wild/wacky/weird persona. In these instances, comments such as these are not detrimental to their careers, they enhance them. They appeal to a certain group because they (the entertainers) are freaks. Go figure, but it's true!

However, the Dixie Hags have tried to appeal to an entirely different group of people. They have presented themselves as the girl band from next door. "Mom, apple pie, chevrolet, and the Dixie Hags forever!" That is their desired image. So, making the statment that the chief Hag made in London (while it may have played locally to those ingrates gathered at the show) was simply committing image suicide for the country band back here. She was not doing her job, because she was not protecting their image. The others of the group failed in their responsibilities by not rebuking her, and now the whole group is going to have to suffer.

Do they have the right as American citizens to say whatever they want? Absolutely. Can they do so and not expect to have some sort of a backlash against them when they completely violated their image (and the fans' trust in them) as these Hags have done? Absolutely not!

I'm not saying it's right, wrong, or indifferent. In fact, I would prefer it if no entertainer of any sort thought that a platinum album in their den wall somehow made them an expert in world affairs. Many of them couldn't find Iraq on a map, for crying out loud! But given that we live in a world of immediate attention and immediate dispersal of information, I would think someone might just try to tell the Dixie Hags to shut up! Either that or have Jane Fonda become their new image manager!

 

[Guest]

I have to agree. They are free to express their opinions as they see fit, although I can't remember the last time I was able to shout my take from a stage to thousands of people. In any event, they are free to say what they want, and we are all free to not buy thier music because of it. Should a musician fear boycott if they say they are ashamed of their country (and by extension, its citizens)? Yes. They should.
TO address your analogy of work, if you disagree with your boss, that is one thing, but if you told your boss that you were ashamed that he was born in the same country as you, how fast do you think you would get promoted, or another raise?

In short, they are free to say what they want, and the consumers are free to boycott them for any reason at all.

 

[Darin Chappell]

From a military member's perspective:

This letter was forwarded via email to the KGBX Morning Show. Listeners have requested that we post this on the website.

An Open letter to the Dixie Chicks

Earlier this week, while performing in London, you stated that you were ashamed that our President is from your home state. I wonder if you realized how many
Americans would be listening. This Texan is ashamed that you come from my state. I serve my country as an officer in the United States Navy. Specifically, I fly F-14 Tomcats off carriers around the world, executing the missions that preserve the very freedom you claim to exercise. I have proudly fought for my country in the skies over Kososvo, Iraq, and Afghanistan, without regret. Though I may disagree wholeheartedly with your comments, I will defend to the death your right to say them in America. But for you to travel to a foreign land and publicly criticize our Commander in Chief is cowardice behavior. Would you have so willingly made those comments while performing for a patriotic, flag-waving crowd of Texans in Lubbock? I would imagine not. How dare you pocket profits off songs about soldiers, their deaths, and patriotism while criticizing their Commander in Chief abroad, even while they prepare to give their lives to ensure your own freedom of speech. Please ask yourself, what have you done to deserve that sacrifice? Do not try to justify your comments by claiming that you made them only because you care about innocent lives. Never once in our history have we committed troops to war for the purpose of taking innocent lives. We do it to protect innocent lives, even yours. If the world leaders of the late 1930's had the vision and courage of our present Commander in Chief, perhaps the evil men who caused the death of millions in WWII would have never had the opportunity to harm a soul. The potential loss of millions of lives in the future at the hands of today's evil men necessitate action. In a separate correspondence, I am returning to you each and every Dixie Chick CD and cassette that I have ever purchased. Never again will I allow my funds to support your behavior. All you have done is to add your name to a growing list of American "Celebrities" who have failed to realize that they have obtained their successes on the backs of the American blue-collar workers such as our servicemen and women.

 

[Guest]

Well , i think that pretty much sums up how the service men and women feel....( I wonder if the dixie dogs are geting the message,,) i went to the Dixie dogs website,and they sure took away the ability to email them.... no email adress for miles,,