Freedom of Speech?

Yes, there's a question mark at the end of the title of this post. There is a lot held in that question mark. Before I explain, let me just say that I usually don't get into politics, and this isn't really about politics but about our rights in this country and the lengths some people will apparently go to when someone says something they don't agree with.

This afternoon I was just resting in my comfy chair looking around at things on the internet, including music videos. Among other videos I watched the video for the Dixie Chicks song Not Ready to Make Nice.

Here is the music video of the song:


Music Video Codes - MySpace Layouts

And the lyrics:

Forgive, sounds good
Forget, I’m not sure I could
They say time heals everything
But I’m still waiting

I’m through with doubt
There’s nothing left for me to figure out
I’ve paid a price
And I’ll keep paying

I’m not ready to make nice
I’m not ready to back down
I’m still mad as hell and
I don’t have time to go round and round and round
It’s too late to make it right
I probably wouldn’t if I could
‘Cause I’m mad as hell
Can’t bring myself to do what it is you think I should

I know you said
Can’t you just get over it
It turned my whole world around
And I kind of like it

I made my bed and I sleep like a baby
With no regrets and I don’t mind sayin’
It’s a sad sad story when a mother will teach her
Daughter that she ought to hate a perfect stranger
And how in the world can the words that I said
Send somebody so over the edge
That they’d write me a letter
Sayin’ that I better shut up and sing
Or my life will be over

I’m not ready to make nice
I’m not ready to back down
I’m still mad as hell and
I don’t have time to go round and round and round
It’s too late to make it right
I probably wouldn’t if I could
‘Cause I’m mad as hell
Can’t bring myself to do what it is you think I should

(I’m not ready to make nice)
I’m not ready to back down
I’m still mad as hell and
I don’t have time to go round and round and round
It’s too late to make it right
I probably wouldn’t if I could
‘Cause I’m mad as hell
Can’t bring myself to do what it is you think I should

Forgive, sounds good
Forget, I’m not sure I could
They say time heals everything
But I’m still waiting

I had seen them on a talk show (I think it was Ellen) a few weeks ago performing this song and talking a bit about the story behind it. If you don't know the story behind them and freedom of speech, here are a few articles that explain what happened in 2003.

Greater Democracy: Discouraging Freedom of Speech
CNN: Dixie Chicks pulled from air after bashing Bush
Dixie Chicks: Still Defiant

Basically, at a concert in March 2003 the lead singer exercised her right of freedom of speech and said "we're ashamed the president of the United States is from Texas." After that, they were banned from being played on some radio stations, they got death threats, people were encouraged to throw out their CDs and concert tickets, and they were called traitors and told to "move to France". The whole turn of events is pretty sad and scary. Apparently you're not considered "patriotic" by expressing your thoughts. Apparently our rights are only okay if we express the same views as everyone else. You don't have to agree with what other people say, but if we start taking away people's rights to freedom of speech how is that being patriotic? When I have expressed some views that are unpopular, I have faced arguments and been told I should move to Canada. Again I say, this is a sad and scary state of the country. The Dixie Chicks are now being played again on most radio stations (at least from the information I found online) but this issue of free speech is still a big deal. This new song, Not Ready to Make Nice focuses on them not being ready to just forget about the turn of events that caused so many people to hate them for the words they spoke.

There is apparently a movie coming out soon about the aftermath of the Dixie Chicks' exercising their right to free speech at that concert in 2003 called "Shut Up and Sing" (in the trailer there's a clip of a man and woman saying, "keep playin', keep makin' music, and keep your mouth shut"). You can read more about it here on their website and there's a link to a trailer of it. I strongly urge you all to go watch the trailer. No matter what your political views, no matter what your choice of music may be, I feel very strongly that this is an important topic that needs to be discussed. We cannot become a dictatorship. We are supposed to stand for freedom and we cannot become so caught up in our own beliefs and views that we forget about the rights that each and every one of us has. Stand up for what you believe, you have the right, but remember that everyone else has that same right.



Yours,
Penguini