Whatever happened to free speech?

Willem · March 17, 2003, 02:56

Dixie Chicks blacklisted?

Is America suddenly developing a culture of intolerance? I thought you people took so much pride in being able to speak your minds. What the hell are you doing to yourselves?

ixnay · March 17, 2003, 02:57

Well, they deserve that, not because they said anything that could be percieved as offensive, but because they're crap.

MichaeltheGreat · March 17, 2003, 03:31

Free speech is only for those who support the government.

ravagon · March 17, 2003, 03:45

Didn't seem to have anything to do with free speech or intolerance whatsoever.
More a case of actions having consequences, for those foolish enough not to think before speaking ...

Flubber · March 17, 2003, 03:48

Actually this is free speech in action. They said what they wanted to say and a whole bunch of other people are exercising their own freedoms as well.

People have every right to hold an unpopular opinion. And other people have every right to buy things or refuse to buy things from the person holding the unpopular opinion. Simple.

Shi Huangdi · March 17, 2003, 03:49

Quote:

Originally posted by MichaeltheGreat
Free speech is only for those who support the government.

So it's now a violation of free speech if people choose not to listen to you? Excellent, now to track down your phone number and continually call you to rant off on whatevers on my mind!

asleepathewheel · March 17, 2003, 03:49

seems more a case of free market than of free speech.

but we are intolerant of those who don't toe the party line, not a new phenomenon (even in the LLCoolJ sense of the word)

monkspider · March 17, 2003, 03:56

It is very sad to watch this slow downward spiral occur, and yet be virtually powerless to stop it. There are times where I feel very much like the guy in the episode of the Twlight Zone who went back in time to try to assassinate Hitler or to get the Lusitania to change course, but always failed. While I lament the unfortunate changes that are occuring at the present, I realize that these present mistakes must be made for our overall future cultural and spiritual growth.

Daz · March 17, 2003, 04:54

Of course this has nothing to do with freedom of speech, and everything to do with democracy as the USA sees it.

"Youre either with us, or against us", the famous Bush quote say it all.....

Paranoia, paranoia, ta da da da da!!!

KrazyHorse · March 17, 2003, 04:56

MtG's my new best friend.

Asher · March 17, 2003, 05:01

The Dixie Chicks should have been blacklisted long before they became popular.

Asher · March 17, 2003, 05:02

Quote:

Originally posted by monkspider
It is very sad to watch this slow downward spiral occur, and yet be virtually powerless to stop it. There are times where I feel very much like the guy in the episode of the Twlight Zone who went back in time to try to assassinate Hitler or to get the Lusitania to change course, but always failed. While I lament the unfortunate changes that are occuring at the present, I realize that these present mistakes must be made for our overall future cultural and spiritual growth.

What downward spiral?

A ditz from the Ditzy Chicks made a lame remark and lots of private radio stations refuse to play their music now. Big deal. Freedom of speech in action, really.

Tingkai · March 17, 2003, 05:04

If you make a comment against the right and get blacklisted, it's called the free market.

If you make a comment against the left and get blacklisted, it's a terrible abuse against freedom caused by political correctness that must be stopped.

Asher · March 17, 2003, 05:05

Quote:

Originally posted by Tingkai
If you make a comment against the right and get blacklisted, it's called the free market.

If you make a comment against the left and get blacklisted, it's a terrible abuse against freedom caused by political correctness that must be stopped.

I don't recall any incident like that, can you refresh my memory?

Asher · March 17, 2003, 05:06

And for the record, I don't see what left/right has anything to do with the war on Iraq.

I know leftwingers in favor of it and rightwingers opposing it. I thought leftwing/rightwing just talked about level of government involvement, not whether we should go bomb the hell out of countries who look at us the wrong way.

Just because the Republicans believe something doesn't mean it's right wing.

Sorry, offtopic rant...

KrazyHorse · March 17, 2003, 05:13

Asher, you're going to find a lot more liberals against this war than conservatives.

Look at how the parties are split in Canada and the UK...

Asher · March 17, 2003, 05:14

So?

The Libertarians are against it, they're more right wing than most parties...

KrazyHorse · March 17, 2003, 05:16

There are exceptions to the rule, but on the political "main spectrum" as it were, leftists are against the war and rightists are for it.

KrazyHorse · March 17, 2003, 05:18

That should have read "main sequence". I haven't read any astronomy books in a while.

Asher · March 17, 2003, 05:18

Tingkai · March 17, 2003, 05:25

Quote:

Originally posted by Flubber
Actually this is free speech in action. They said what they wanted to say and a whole bunch of other people are exercising their own freedoms as well.

People have every right to hold an unpopular opinion. And other people have every right to buy things or refuse to buy things from the person holding the unpopular opinion. Simple.

What I don't understand is why there is such a response to someone criticising a political leader. It happens all the time.

Why do Americans get their panties in a twist whenever someone says something against Bush?

MarkG · March 17, 2003, 05:58

in greece we have whole shows with people making fun of/criticising our leaders. this doesnt stop us from voting for them again nor does anyone complain about it

btw,

Quote:

"The emotion of the callers telling us about their fathers and sons and brothers who are overseas now and who fought in previous wars was very specific," said Jim Jacobs, president of Jacobs Broadcast Group, which includes WTDR.

somehow, in osme strange way,
Bush = our "fathers and sons and brothers who are overseas"

notyoueither · March 17, 2003, 05:58

Maybe when the twit is so incredibly insulting to a politico that strikes such a negative chord with the public.

Since we've Canadianised this thread, can anyone remember the ads about the Liberal leader ran when Canbell was running for PM?

MarkG · March 17, 2003, 06:00

from cnn

Are fans unfairly punishing the Dixie Chicks for Natalie Maines' comments about President Bush?
Yes 33% 13460 votes
No 60% 24883 votes
Who are the Dixie Chicks? 7% 2812 votes
Total: 41,155 votes