OT: Dixie Chicks Situation
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I posted this on the Battlefront forum as well, but I wanted to get some opinions from fellow GalCiv players.
Is it just me, or does anyone else out there see a fundamental flaw in the Dixie Chicks attempts to limit reactions to Ms. Manes infamous comments?
It is NOT a free speech or First Amendment issue. The First Amendment protects the people from the government with regards to what they can or cannot say. I have yet to see the government even address what she said, much less censor them/her or attempt to make them suffer.
Consumers and business owners also have the right to buy or sell any products they choose, even if they are basing that decision on the political statments of a person. Consumers and business owners are not the government.
Granted, if they have received the alleged death threats, then those people should be prosecuted if at all possible. But you can't force people to buy you songs, or force private radio stations to play your songs under the guise that you are being denied your "rights" to free speech.
They said something very unpopular with their fan base, and now they have to reap what they sow.
Keep in mind, I have all three of their albums, and their DVD. I like their music, and I probably won't "boycott" them though I disagree with the comments that were made. I defend their right to say what was said, in much the same sense as some of the comments I read on here with which I disagree. But I also believe people should be held responsible for what they say. I think they are barking up the wrong damage control tree, and they don't want to be held responsible for their loss in records sales, etc. I would have a much greater respect for them as a group if they just said, "Yep, that's what I said, I stand by it. I didn't mean to offend people, but I'm willing to take my lumps."
And if any of you haven't seen the cover of the new Entertainment Weekly, all I can say is "What the heck are they thinking?" If you look at country music fans, GENERALLY (big disclaimer there), they TEND to be conservative. Appearing all nude on the cover defending their free speech rights will probably not (IMO) win over the conservative crowd that they offended.
Any thoughts on this?
~SDC~
Is it just me, or does anyone else out there see a fundamental flaw in the Dixie Chicks attempts to limit reactions to Ms. Manes infamous comments?
It is NOT a free speech or First Amendment issue. The First Amendment protects the people from the government with regards to what they can or cannot say. I have yet to see the government even address what she said, much less censor them/her or attempt to make them suffer.
Consumers and business owners also have the right to buy or sell any products they choose, even if they are basing that decision on the political statments of a person. Consumers and business owners are not the government.
Granted, if they have received the alleged death threats, then those people should be prosecuted if at all possible. But you can't force people to buy you songs, or force private radio stations to play your songs under the guise that you are being denied your "rights" to free speech.
They said something very unpopular with their fan base, and now they have to reap what they sow.
Keep in mind, I have all three of their albums, and their DVD. I like their music, and I probably won't "boycott" them though I disagree with the comments that were made. I defend their right to say what was said, in much the same sense as some of the comments I read on here with which I disagree. But I also believe people should be held responsible for what they say. I think they are barking up the wrong damage control tree, and they don't want to be held responsible for their loss in records sales, etc. I would have a much greater respect for them as a group if they just said, "Yep, that's what I said, I stand by it. I didn't mean to offend people, but I'm willing to take my lumps."
And if any of you haven't seen the cover of the new Entertainment Weekly, all I can say is "What the heck are they thinking?" If you look at country music fans, GENERALLY (big disclaimer there), they TEND to be conservative. Appearing all nude on the cover defending their free speech rights will probably not (IMO) win over the conservative crowd that they offended.
Any thoughts on this?
~SDC~
, I still think it's great that there is a diversity of thought. I may not monetarily support all the different ideas, but I'm sure someone else will in my place. This thread would not have been nearly as interesting if everyone had come on and just agreed with me.