PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum - View Single Post - we just watched the dixi chicks flic.. shut up and sing

Austin85 · #13 03-06-2007, 10:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by al76slc

Tom

"During the run-up to the invasion of Iraq, several weeks after their Grammy success, the Dixie Chicks performed in concert in London on March 10, 2003, at the Shepherd's Bush Empire theatre in London. During this concert, the band gave a monologue to introduce their song Travelin' Soldier, during which Natalie Maines, a Texas native, was quoted by The Guardian as saying, "Just so you know, [...] we're ashamed the President of the United States is from Texas." Though this is the official circulation of the comment, the full text of the statement Natalie Maines made was as follows:

“ Just so you know, we’re on the good side with y’all. We do not want this war, this violence, and we’re ashamed that the President of the United States is from Texas." The comment angered many country music fans and was financially damaging. Following the uproar and the start of a boycott of the Dixie Chicks' music, Maines attempted to clarify matters on March 12 by saying, "I feel the President is ignoring the opinions of many in the U.S. and alienating the rest of the world."

The statement failed to quiet her critics, and Maines issued an apology on March 14: "As a concerned American citizen, I apologize to President Bush because my remark was disrespectful. I feel that whoever holds that office should be treated with the utmost respect. We are currently in Europe and witnessing a huge anti-American sentiment as a result of the perceived rush to war. While war may remain a viable option, as a mother, I just want to see every possible alternative exhausted before children and American soldiers' lives are lost. I love my country. I am a proud American." Wikipedia

My impression... and I didn't study up on this... is they basically said what they felt politically and didn't think there would be any ramifications. Once there were ramifications, they sort of backtracked. (Probably recommended by their PR agent.)

I feel, along with others, that the place to make the comments was in THIS country, not in London where they felt there was a sympathetic audience.

So they spoke their beliefs where they felt those beliefs could find a sympathetic audience and help them gain popularity with their audience, and didn't expect a backlash.

My $.02.

Hate to say it but I think they may have felt comfortable making this comment against w & his pack of liars outside the US because outside the USA they knew there would be a more agreeable audience. In the USA considering the audience type they attract they probalby would not make it out of the parking lot alive.

& I don't think there is too much "backtracking" going on. She is just explaining herself in more detail in the 2nd comment.
In the last one she is just being honest again in an apology for being disrespectful, not saying I take it all back. I didn't mean what I said....

my 2c
AA