What happened to Dixie Chicks? Evil side of George Bush.
October 7th 2006 23:39
Naked Shame
People are once again paying attention to the band, Dixie Chicks after a period in the wilderness. In previous posts on this websites, it has been proposed that George W. Bush might be going insane. Whether he is or not the episode with the Chicks reveals a much darker side of falling out with him.
The Dixie Chicks are an American all-female country music trio, comprising Emily Robison, Martie Maguire, and Natalie Maines.
In 2003 during the invasion of Iraq the lead singer, Maines is quoted as saying, “"Just so you know, we're ashamed the President of the United States is from Texas."
A general boycott of the band followed which reached Gilbertian proportions. Some radio stations set up special bins for fans to dump the CDs of the group and most of their recording and advertising contracts were cancelled. The Red Cross refused a donation of 1 million dollars made by the group.
In a scenario exactly like that that followed the Fatwah placed on Salmun Rushdie, American companies, radio stations and individuals did what they could to distance themselves from the band. Individuals were determined to make their lives unbearable. This also extended to threats of death and the need to protect the members of the group through special security and the use of the secret service. Remember this is a country that prides itself on freedom of speech.
Maine’s behavior after this did not distinguish her. She issued a public apology. By doing this she rather cravenly consented to the outrage and enlarged it. Needless to say this further weakened her position and distanced herself from those fans who remained her supporters.
Don't fall out with this guy.
Although Bush made noises about free speech, he did not say what he should have said. He should have expressed his anger at the calumny and told his people to grow up.
The action of the Red Cross, notionally a disinterested organization which provides services to all victims of war, regardless of their origins, is deeply disturbing. This says that the American right and those that surround George Bush have extended an influence into every area of human life. Those who speak out will be punished and ostracized. Such behaviour from people who have abandoned all the normal reservations that extend to iniquitous behaviour, who sanction torture and the use of overseas military facilities to suspend habeas corpus and the rule of law is not surprising. The subsequent behaviour of Dixie Chicks, wealthy people in their own right who would have been capable of weathering the storm does them no credit either. To quote the Duke of Verona at the end of Romeo and Juliet, “All are punished.”
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