Content advisory: Some language and images not suitable for young viewers. Nothing that wouldn’t be seen on an American supermarket Magazine cover early in the 21st century though. This one’s also very long.
If you want to start downloading this video to get an advance of what I’m going to be linking (or hate reading lots of words), here goes:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BZ6aqgvdFI
(But if you hate reading lots of words, you’re on the wrong blog).
“Shut up and Sing!“. I’ve mixed feelings about that phrase — even leaving aside its rudeness. To explain it, I’m going to need some time. Here in North America, Hollywood and the music industry are overwhelmingly left-wing. I could — and probably shall — write a whole other blog post on why I think this is so, but that’s another story. (Rudyard Kipling, C.P. Snow, and Stalin all have useful comments on this).
Slightly Pouty? Check.
Entertainment Industry? Check.
Politically reliable views? Uh…
For those of us on the starboard side of life, it can be a bit tedious. You find a great writer, artist, or songwriter who’s work you really enjoy, and *presto* you discover that he or she not only disagrees with everything you believe in but holds you in utter contempt for believing it.
Read the Bible? You’re likely an inbred ignorant moron.
Voted Republican? You must be a redneck racist.
Really, I don’t expect the people I pay to entertain me (via Nielson ratings, or via buying their songs, CD’s, going to their movies) to share my views. I don’t remotely mind them expressing theirs, even, possibly, as part of their performance. (This latter is much dodgier, since I paid to see them perform).
I do mind it when they spew out contempt for me and what I believe in.
This has nothing to do with free speech, and everything to do with freedom of choice, freedom of association, and free markets.
The Dixie Chicks are a good example.
The Dixie Chicks. Entertainment Weekly 2 May 2003
Photo Illustration.
In the days before the Iraq War, the Dixie Chicks were touring the UK. Natalie Maines, their lead singer, said at a concert in London, “Just so you know, we’re ashamed the President of the United States is from Texas”.
This shocked many Americans of divers political views. It was viewed as poor form of her to criticize the President while on foreign soil and poor judgment to criticize him when the country was on the verge of war.
Needless to say, many conservative country music fans (US country music fans tend to be conservative as opposed to liberal) announced they’d stop buying the Dixie Chicks’ CDs.
The photo illustration above pretty much encapsulates the media firestorm at the time.
I happen to think President Bush phrased it succinctly, though not as eloquently as he could have. Of course the Dixie Chicks response… well lets just say that made Bush look like Demosthenes, Socrates, Cicero, Jackson, Patton, Sojourner Truth, Jefferson, Bryan, Churchill and Arouet rolled into one:
‘’The Dixie Chicks are free to speak their mind,’’ Bush told Tom Brokaw at the time, adding, ‘’They shouldn’t have their feelings hurt just because some people don’t want to buy their records when they speak out. You know, freedom is a two-way street.’’
After watching this footage, Maines repeats the president’s comment about how the group shouldn’t have their ‘’feelings hurt,’’ incredulous, and then says, ‘’What a dumb f—.’’ She then looks into the camera, as if addressing Bush, and reiterates, ‘’You’re a dumb f—.’’
Bush had it right. They’ve got a total right to say whatever the #$)* they want about him — without being called traitors, sluts, or Saddam’s angels. They don’t have a right to not have people be offended; they don’t have a right to evade the consequences in a free market economy of their speech.
There should be no governmental consequences for insulting the president… that’s a no-brainer. But for people to say “Hey. I don’t like this. I’m not going to buy their tunes anymore” … well, that’s life.
Freedom is indeed a two-way street; they are totally free to trash him, and people are free not to buy their albums.
If you don’t want to suffer negative financial consequences of your political views as an entertainer, then, well, Shut up and Sing!
Note how the Chicks responded. This, in my view (I welcome disagreement from gwallan) is how most of those on the left typically respond: with invective and a total “I miss the point” attitude of arrogance, conceit and entitlement that only a media culture heavily in bed with them could support. (Not to say Conservatives are never ill-mannered or irrational either).
“You’re a dumb f—”? Yeah, real persuasive argument there, Socrates.
By implication, everyone that agrees with Bush’s point on freedom is also a dumb f—. Thanks Chicks. Last album of yours I’ll buy.
Now here’s a reverse example, from the other side of the world.
Beccy Cole, the pouting minstrelette portrayed at the top.
She’s got a superb song, “Poster Girl” that is the emotional parallel to the “You’re a dumb f—” response from the Dixie Chicks, yet logically, its the antithesis.
Yes, it’s saccharine, sappy, and a touch maudlin. If you loathe country music, you may well not like this. But the lyrics are well worth listening to.
It’s a response to her fans who heavily criticize her support of Australia’s war efforts “On the wrong side of the world”.
It beats “You’re a dumb f—” as a response to fans with whom you disagree.
Poster Girl (lyrics copyright by Beccy Cole Music Pty Ltd. Transcribed by wolfe)
Maybe I’m naive to think we all could get along
So i read your words and all I ask is that you hear my song
You ripped my poster off the wall
‘Cuz I’m the singer that went to the War
You see no good in me at all.
Well pardon me if I believe I haven’t got it wrong
And before you turn your back on me I’ll sing you
One more song
Cuz I shook hands with the diggers [Australian SAS] on the wrong side of the world
With a wife at home that holds her breath and brand new baby girl
And the digger fights for freedom and a job that must be done
And I let go of his hand so proud to be Australian
And if unlike me if you feel no pride at all
Then go ahead and take me off the wall
Because I prefer to be a poster girl on the wrong side of the world
And I’m just the girl that sings the crazy songs
Not qualified to sit and judge
I’ve been right and I know I’ve been wrong
but I’m for peace and I’m for love.
And I admire the burning fire that causes you to fight
I only wish the wrong side of the world had the same right
Now that’s a response to critics. Polite, respectful, and an attempt to intellectually and emotionally engage.
One can, by all means, [I don't] dismiss her arguments, but not, I think her sincerity and civility.
She’s got it right. She’s just the girl who sings the crazy songs… but here’s her world view, and here’s why she does what she does.
I’ll take Beccy Cole from the far side (but emphatically not the Wrong side) of the world any day, over the Dixie Chicks. I’d hope people of good will from the left would take her attitude and decency over that of the Dixie Chicks.
So: ‘Shut up and Sing!’ ? No. Just explain, and treat those who disagree with you respectfully and decently.
-wolfe
