Dixie Chicks are still blackballed

The ill will that?s still aimed at the Dixie Chicks is a curious thing. In a country where free speech is arguably the best gift under the Christmas tree, animosity continues to linger because of a comment Dixie Chick singer Natalie Maines made three years ago. Yes, three years ago.

During a concert in Europe, Maines said she was ?embarrassed? to be from Texas, the same state President George W. Bush calls home. Those comments almost instantly made their way back to the United States and the Dixie Chicks have been blackballed ever since.

To paraphrase the popular Waylon Jennings song, ?Mamas don?t let your babies grow up to be Dixie Chicks.? Life has been tumultuous in Dixie Chick land.

Obviously people are welcome to hold their own opinions, but I find this continued boycott a little absurd. Now let me count the ways.

First, I can?t believe country radio stations remain fairly unified in their stance not to play Dixie Chick songs. The primary reason, radio executives have said, is they are concerned they may offend some of their listeners by playing the Dixie Chicks.

This from the people who treat us to such ?quality? morning programming as the raunchy ?Bob and Tom Show,? and downright annoying ?John Boy and Billy Show.? We get to hear people like Phil Valentine and Rush Limbaugh rant about one subject after another and hurl insults every step of the way.

That?s acceptable to the radio hierarchy, yet we?re supposed to believe one negative comment about President Bush isn?t. To paraphrase a song made famous by Johnny Paycheck, radio stations can ?Take that excuse and shove it.?

But here?s what really gets me. More than anything, media outlets are supposed to fight and battle and claw to protect free speech every step of the way.

Yet radio stations aren?t standing up and supporting Maines and the Dixie Chicks for exercising their right to free speech. Radio stations are cowering in the corner because, my goodness, somebody might become irritated.

Let?s just hope when push comes to shove, it?s not radio executives left to defend our right to free speech. They?ll be too busy feeding grapes to members of the Bush administration.

And speaking of Bush, he?s had a target on his chest over the past three years. Just about everybody has been lining up to take a shot, except for Dick Cheney, who has been busy shooting other people.

What?s the current popularity rating for Bush? Isn?t it like 30 percent? Using my amazing math skills, that means around 70 percent of Americans don?t particularly care for Bush. And I?d say Bush is fully responsible for his popularity, or lack thereof. His decisions have brought this on himself.

As a result, everyone is taking shots at Bush. I know I have. I can?t remember ever seeing an episode of ?The Tonight Show? where Jay Leno didn?t attack the president.

Folks aren?t boycotting Leno, but radio stations are willing to boycott the new Dixie Chicks album. It makes no sense.

It doesn?t matter if I agree or disagree with the Dixie Chicks. I support their right to voice an opinion, especially one that?s relatively harmless.

Likewise, people have the right to voice their opinion and turn their back on the Dixie Chicks if they wish. I just never imagined a major media outlet ? radio ? would continue to boycott an artist for simply exercising their right to free speech, one of the fundamental freedoms the Constitution guarantees.

James Clark is editor of the Standard. He can be reached at 473-2191 or by e-mail at [email protected].