The Boss Speaks, You Fools Better Listen

Originally Posted by Derek Bliss

Natalie Maines didn't say anything wrong.
The Dixie Chicks are a convenient scapegoat for the warmongers.
The point of freedom of speech is the ability to protest, complain, disagree with the government.

Think about this... country music as a whole is a very patriotic genre. They broke an unwritten rule of the country music community.
The radio stations who claim to be bombarded with people calling in asking for the banning of DIxie Chicks records... are they ClearChannel radio stations? Radio stations doing what their listeners call in and tell them to do... they're worried they'll lose listeners? Not really? That they'll lose advertisers? Not really. Do they think they can gain popularity as doing something current and milking a controversy and maybe gain some new listeners and attention? Sure.
Clear Channel organized several "pro troop" rallies around the US... and packaged "news" audio packages played on radio (we heard them in NY) - ridiculous.
Clear Channel is borderline monopoly and the FCC hasn't really gone after the fact that Clear Channel owns radio stations, owns concert venues, owns promoters.. and tried to buy agencies who book the artists into the venues, etc... It's a monopoly but the FCC hasn't nailed them. Whose in charge of the FCC? Colin Powell's son. Who's Bush's Secretary of State? Colin Powell? Somehow, it's all a bit sinister.

Mob mentality took over and those who don't think are those banning the Dixie Chicks... They were a bit clueless and didn't realize the ramifications of what they said, when they said it... but then again, they're just being used as the scapegoats. Speaking out against your government doesn't make you anti-American, it's that privilege that makes you an American.