HaysooChreesto!

I would hardly call these protests violent. They didn't violate anyone's civil rights or ability to get to and from work. They didn't cost anyone money either.

Death threats... That's another matter entirely, but those who make those threats are not representative of those who choose not to buy Dixie Chick cd's.

brighid

Well that is debatable... what I saw was parents cheering on their children to jump up and down on DC CD's while shouting anti-American vilotrol. It was pretty pathetic and reminiscent of bringing children to a Klan Rally.

I personally have NO problem with anyone not purchasing their CD's out of protest. I wouldn't argue with that for a moment. The death threats were many and egged on by DJ's are another story. The statements that came out from political figures were, IMO irresponsible. One is not un-American or unpatriotic because they don't buy the war propaganda, or support the President. People shouldn't be encouraged to burn books (which is what I consider a public dashing of CD's to be the modern equivalent of) although people certainly have the RIGHT to do so. It doesn't make it any less intimidating or stupid.

Brighid

Opera Nut

Belgium and the International Court have threatened to try General Tommy Franks for war crimes committed in Iraq. So our government is threatening Belgium. Just like they were bullying France, Germany and the UN for not going along with us.

As Bartcop says, "What does Germany think they are, a SOVEREIGN nation???"

Threatening Belgium......jeeez....they make fabulous chocolate!! (Started by Frederic Neuhaus).

Wyz_sub10

Were you lonely?

Wyz_sub10

I concur with Brighid. CD/Book/Record smashing is violent behaviour. Those items are being destroyed as representative objects of their real anger. (They are, after all, not protesting the music or its content, but the group members).

It's like burning someone in effigy. It is a act symbolic of violence.

And while I agree 100% with Lamma that free speech carries consequences, any kind of organized effort to punish those who express unpopular views still sends a message that there are de facto limitations on what you can say (for better or worse).

paul30

Ein Volk.

Ein Reich.

Ein Fuhrer.

Heil Bush!

Buddrow_Wilson

A huge problem I have is with young children participating in events of "protest" such as these where people are destroying Dixie Chicks CDs and memorabilia (symbolic violence). Children are generally too young to understand and form intelligent political opinions in the first place and this sort of thing could severely impact the child's psychological development. Seeing kids on TV doing this saddens very deeply in a way similar to the forced religious indoctrination that most children are a victim of.

KoopaFanatic

Jawol! Gott mit uns!

brighid

I do not think responsible citizenship includes insighting violence (except perhaps in the most extreme of circumstances) when expressing dissent of any kind.

I too was extremely bothered by the footage of those children cheerfully destroying those CD's while the parents encouraged such behavior all because these women expressed their dislike for Bush and this war. The reaction of the hawkish crowd was very, very disturbing.

How soon we forget that this nation was founded by men holding very unpopular, minority opinions against those that ruled over them. Dissent is (imo) the MOST American principle and without it we would never have become free.

The cries of unpatriotic, treasonous behavior ring so familiar of another government that used such rancor to deflect the populous from the evil that lurked underneath, as has been mentioned - sich heil!

I know this has been posted in other threads, but it seems apt:

"Why, of course the people don't want war ... But after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy, and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament,
or a communist dictatorship...Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is to tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and
exposing the country to danger."
--Hermann Goering, Nazi leader, at the Nuremberg Trials after World War II

�We must not confuse dissent with disloyalty. We will not be driven by fear into an age of unreason if we remember that we are not descended from fearful men, not from men who feared to write, to speak, to associate and to defend causes which were, for the moment, unpopular.�
Edward R. Murrow

Brighid

Grad Student Humanist

What the media should be reporting is how little this supposed boycott is actually affecting the Dixie Chicks.

Their album is still selling well and there have been no problems with their latest tour. Their career is far from over.

So, despite all the bluster from the reactionary right-wing contingent in this country, all of the moral outrage which was directed at the Dixie Chicks isn't doing a thing to "punish" them.