Not satisfied with producing a huge loser in the box office, the producer of the Dixe Chicks film comes out and states why the Dixie Chick are irrelevant in country music today. Here's your rope, dear, and there's enough for the Dixe Chick ,too. Just allow me time to get my popcorn...What a difference three years makes. What a difference an unjust war makes.
In 2003, on the eve of war, Natalie Maines said the twelve words that shook her world: "Just so you know, I'm embarrassed that the President is from Texas." It's hard to imagine, in the wake of the Democratic takeover of Congress, the resignation of Donald Rumsfeld and rejection of the Bush agenda, that those twelve words could set off the firestorm they did.
There was no firestorm. Just a poof! and then no country msuic career for the Dixie Chicks. Ever.
Three years ago, the war machine was in full gear. Lies about Iraq were being sold to the United Nations and the American people. The cowboy mentality of "you are with us or against us" was coming from the highest offices in the land. Speaking out was aligned with treason, and artists, academics and everyday people - from bloggers to librarians - found themselves caught in the crossfire.
Fact: The Iraq military spent 12 years firing on American and allied aircraft, that alone justified continuing the Iraq war. Fact: We know now that Saddam was still trying to build a nuke bomb right up until the invasion. The only lies being promugated are the lies that said this war of liberation is based on lies.
Looking back across these three years, we can see the value of speaking from your heart and standing up for what you believe. Just look at Rush Limbaugh, who admitted after the Republican defeat that he felt "liberated" for no longer having "to have to carry the water for people who I don't think deserve having their water carried."
Compare that to Natalie Maines, the Dixie Chicks and their fans
Whoa. Nice going. You managed to compliment and condemn someone in the same sentance. Oh if only we could have more than two years of this...
Of course, while much has changed over the past three years, we're not out of the water yet. Just two weeks ago, both NBC and the CW network banned advertisements for Shut Up and Sing because, in the words of NBC, they were "disparaging to the President." Considering that policy, I was surprised to see the network didn't black out their entire election coverage last Tuesday.
They were too busy shilling for the left to "black out" news of the election
All joking aside, NBC's actions only fueled the fears that many of us have that the rights we always took for granted are slipping away.
No, sweetie; that's your sanity slipping away. Your rights are fine.
I've always considered Shut Up and Sing to be a story about transformation, and now I think that's truer than ever before. It's not only a story about the transformation of these three incredible women and musicians, but also a story of a nation in transformation. We have gone through so much over the past three years - from feeling helpless and ignored in the rush to war, to feeling disdain and despair for the polarized political climate, to now feeling like we might finally be on the right track again.
Rush to war? After three solid months of debate, and that is a rush to war? Hoping to become engaged to marry anytime this century? Let's not "rush" into it.
But no matter who sets the agenda in Washington, real change will only happen if it comes from the big mouths and stomping feet of everyday people, artists, students, teachers, moms and dads. One thing we can learn from the Dixie Chicks' experience is that when you speak from the heart, people will have your back, and you'll have nothing to regret.
That's true. That's why it is so important to retreat in a war we are winning. it is speaking from the heart: We hate America there there is plenty we will not sacrifice for our homeland. Loud and clear, dearie