Friday, October 20, 2006

Ashamed of a stupid Texan

Are people still talking about the Dixie Chicks' 2003 joke on-stage at a London concert about their feelings for our chowderhead president? Apparently the media is at least, I think because a tour film or something about them has come out recently. (I don't follow their music or their career.)

Typical of the media (and the American public) to make mountains out of molehills, while (to extend the poor beleaguered metaphor to the breaking point) pretending to themselves that the enormous volcanoes in their midst are pebbles.

It was a joke, son. A musician said something silly on stage. Is this anything for thousands of people to get their uptight little knickers in a twist over, or for the media to devote tireless days to?

There are two ways someone who is offended by this political remark of no consequence or weight, uttered by an entertainer of no consequence or standing beyond the entertainment world, can react.

First, one can deny the person's right to make such remarks, especially during "wartime," especially in --- gasp! --- a foreign land, citing damage to morale and "the troops" and suggest that it is close to treason to undermine Our Exalted Chimp President's authority in any way under these conditions.

Well, the only thing you can say about this reaction is that it is the provenance of deluded, very stupid hypocrites (because you know the people who make such objections to political protest didn't feel that way when it came to Clinton), and it's too bad those who react in this manner weren't born in China, where they would fit into the political climate a lot better.

The second way to react is to grudgingly admit that the entertainer has a right to make such remarks, but then vigorously assert one's own right to boycott the entertainer's product and to malign him or her long and loud.

Which is all very well and good and at least somewhat rational, but it sort of misses the whole point about free speech, which is, you know, the right to express oneself without fear of repercussion, whether it's being muzzled by the government or having futile economic sanctions imposed on you by tight-assed retards.

Hell, there are dozens of actors whom I think are clueless and misguided and say all kinds of stupid things. Should I refuse to go to their films and instead stay home sulking or perhaps writing furious letters to the local editor about what Must Be Done? Boy, that'll get 'em where it hurts. Well, no it won't, and more to the point, I wouldn't do that because it's okay to say things that I don't agree with. Because we live in America.

Oh, and between the two of them, our President Ape and Vice-President Ogre have three DUIs. Also, Laura Bush ran a stop sign when she was 17 and got in an accident that killed someone. No charges were filed. And Bush, after ignoring warnings about real threats, has gotten us into a needless war for his own personal reasons that has turned into an American bloodbath. This despite the fact that Bush and Cheney both weaseled their way out of military service (Cheney had "other priorities"), Bush not even bothering to show up for his safe domestic service. And Bush doesn't read newspapers and may be one of the least qualified presidents in our history; what's unarguable is that he proudly presents himself as a fool. And the Bush administration shows no respect for America's natural heritage or civil rights or education programs or health or even poor veterans of war, but a lot of respect for the ultra-wealthy.

So it seems like it's pretty normal to feel ashamed of Bush in particular and the whole lying bunch of them in general. Why would anyone even raise an eyebrow about saying it in the first place? If I met the guy, I wouldn't even shake his hand.

6 comments:

daveawayfromhome said...

Whatever happened to the idea of looking at someone's actions rather than listening to what they say to take their measure? "Actions speak louder than words", but so many Bush supporters seem to be deaf to the message Lord Bush and his Cabal shout (with their megaphones) every time one of them acts. Everyone knows politicians lie, but Bush supporters seem to think that it's "politicians lie except Bush". Talk about blind.

And, yeah, the whole Dixie Chicks thing is absurd. Absurd because some people wanted to shut them up, absurd because people got upset about boycotting ("pop" isnt short for "popular" for nothing), but mostly absurd because it's just another facet of our obsession with celebrity. Seriously, who cares if the Dixie Chicks dont like Bush, neither do I, but I dont see an uproar about that.

NYC Educator said...

I don't listen to the Dixie Chicks either, but I don't see them as hypocrites for not having felt that way about Clinton. I don't see how what he did compares to what Bush has done (and you've done a very thorough job of explaining it). I also don't see how any of what Clinton did had much effect on anyone but his immediate family.

As I recall, we had a surplus and working people ended up making more money under Clinton. I feel like listening to the Dixie Chicks in protest, but I have no idea whether or not I'd like that.

Chance said...

Hm. My writing was a bit unclear there. I was saying that denying their right to complain is hypocritical, not that the complainers are hypocritical.

I shall attempt to edit this.

NYC Educator said...

Oh well. Sorry about that.

Chance said...

No, I'm sorry for not being clear. In fact, do me a favor? Kick me in the ass. I want you to kick me in the ass right now.

NYC Educator said...

Sorry, but there's a long line of people I need to kick in the ass before I get to you.

You can help hasten the process by continuing to kick them in their formidable asses yourself.