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March 19, 2003 :: Speech, freedom and dissent
In this time of war, in this time of conflicting opinions within our nation, in this time of international disagreement, it is terribly important that the citizens of this country remember the principles upon which it was founded.
Our constitution guarantees that speech, belief, and political affiliation are protected from interference either by the government, or by groups or individuals of differing views. Surely, these are the primary freedoms that our nation is built upon.
I am not a particular fan of the Dixie Chicks. I am not, in fact, particularly a fan of country music in general. But when I see that a concerted effort to punish them as artists, for a political remark that one of them made: CLICK HERE, I find that my musical taste becomes
secondary to my sense of outrage. No creator, no performer, no one in any job should be financially discriminated against because of their political views. This is a non-negotiable clause in the social structure that binds us all together as Americans.
So: I am going out tomorrow to buy the Dixie Chicks cd. I do so not as a fan, but as a citizen standing up for their right to speak their mind. After all, if they have to curtail their speech to protect their jobs, then at what point do I have to do the same, at what point do you?
I urge all of you to buy their cd as well. If we the public respond to this neo-McCarthyism by voting with our pocketbook, we may discourage this kind of behavior in the future.
Let everyone on your email list know about this. Let's make an economic statement in favor of free speech, in favor of the freedom of belief, in favor of the American way.
Buy the Dixie Chicks. Get your friends to buy the Dixie Chicks.
It's the American thing to do.
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