The Best Album of 2006
The Best (& Bravest) Album of 2006 may be the recently released "Taking the Long Way" by the Dixie Chicks. In 2003 just prior to the Iraq War, lead singer Natalie Maines said the following at a London concert,"Just so you know, we're ashamed the president of the United States is from Texas."
The response back home was immediate. Country music stations boycotted their music, former fans burned their CDs, death threats arrived, and Natalie eventually had to move from her native Texas. Country music has thrived on themes of patriotism, lonely soldiers, and American pride since 9/11. Some would say this has been done honestly and earnestly; some would say ideologically. The story of the Dixie Chicks is illustrative then of how one of country's own disagreed, was labelled a traitor, and now, has emerged defiant and stunning as the War continues and our President struggles.
3 comments:
You can disagree without being downright rude. She (Natalie with the others) was in England and belittled our president over there whilst a war was being waged. Nowhere in the constituion does it state that if you disagree with the US policy, you are wrong, but there is such thing as decorum that should be followed. The fact that we are allowed to disagree makes this country and its constitution great! That's why the industry and the rest of the country (including myself) vilified them, deservedly so. It was terribly tacky to say such a thing abroad. If I said something like that, I would certainly deserve the same Tx.
Their "comeback" at #1 could be a result of media hype for the new album, but it could stick and maybe they'll be quite successful again....who knows. I think the American music consumer might have a short enough memory, unfortunately.
The "tx" they got was, essentially, censoring. We seem to be on a slippery slope, the Supreme Court too, of limiting what people are allowed to say, in the name of decorum, patriotism or most recently, workplace efficiency.
I think our responsibility is not to be polite but to think and argue and criticize in order to affect change. This is what has made our country a truly great place.
Sona, an extension of your censorship (the Tx) argument for me is that NO COURT or GOVERNMENT ENTITY SHUT THEM UP. Their market shut them up. I would consider that a market force on which capitalism is based, not censorship. In a market, one has to be willing to risk funds in supplying a product and a consumer must be willing to risk funds to consume that product. Those entities were unwilling to do that at the time for them. They had to change recording companies and producers and use a different company to help them put out their music this time. They improvised, changed their market somewhat, and got the job done. Sounds like good business to me.
They have a right to say what they want to say, but are not immune from suffering the consequences of what they say. The reaction of their public and industry was their consequence for their actions.
On the slippery slope, I agree the Supremes are out there and spiralling out of control deferring the the world courts and other constitutions instead of to the great constitution of this land when it comes to speech, eminent domain, affirmative action, etc. There is no way to censor someone if they really want to say something. Check out this blog, boortz.com, fairtax.com, tuckermax.com, moveon.org or any of other millions of blogs out there. You can publish books without the book making machine (NYC). Publish your music anywhere in the world and get it to anybody you want it to go to. This internet is a wonderful thing.
We even get to argue online. Alright! I will say that if you or anyone else (even my good friend Larry) comes to my house and denegrates myself, my family, or others I care about, I will ask you to leave just like the segment of the music industry the Dixie Chics were in did. Find someone else to talk to. I deserve the same were I to do it. It's that simple, not censorship.
Beer anyone?
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