Is this for real? Is South Carolina trying to force the Dixie Chicks to show up for a free concert so they can be booed and hissed by their former military fans.
I’m shocked I tell you. Shocked. Surely this is unconstitutional.
Don’t do it girls! Start your tour from somewhere else, if need be. Sounds like they’re crazy in South Carolina anyway.
You could probably sell out here in San Francisco for a week straight.
We’ll stand behind you and your constitutional right to speak your mind!
(And you’re pretty good at playing them instruments too.)
(S.C. State) House Resolution H 3818
A HOUSE RESOLUTION
TO REQUEST THAT THE DIXIE CHICKS APOLOGIZE TO THE MILITARY FAMILIES IN THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA AND THE UNITED STATES FOR THE UNPATRIOTIC AND UNNECESSARY COMMENTS MADE BY THEIR LEAD SINGER BEFORE THEY BEGIN THEIR UNITED STATES TOUR ON MAY 1, 2003, IN GREENVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA, AND TO REQUEST THAT THEY PERFORM A FREE CONCERT FOR TROOPS AND MILITARY FAMILIES IN SOUTH CAROLINA AS AN EXPRESSION OF THEIR SINCERITY.
Whereas, the Dixie Chicks are a popular and influential country music group from Texas; and
Whereas, before a recent London concert, Natalie Maines, the lead singer of the Dixie Chicks, said that she was ashamed that the President of the United States is from Texas; and
Whereas, members of the United States Armed Forces are outraged at the anti-American sentiment expressed by the Dixie Chicks; and
Whereas, there is a large military presence in the State of South Carolina, whom the Dixie Chicks have offended by their comments; and
Whereas, before the Dixie Chicks kick off their United States tour in Greenville on May 1, 2003, the House of Representatives and the people of South Carolina request that Natalie Maines apologize and that the group perform a free concert for the South Carolina servicemen and women and their families.
Here is the full text of the article in case the link goes bad:
http://www.lpitr.state.sc.us/sess115_2003-2004/bills/3818.htm
South Carolina General Assembly
115th Session, 2003-2004
Download This Bill in Microsoft Word97 format
Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter
H. 3818
STATUS INFORMATION
House Resolution
Sponsors: Rep. Ceips
Document Path: l:\council\bills\bbm\9577sl03.doc
Introduced in the House on March 19, 2003
Adopted by the House on March 19, 2003
Summary: Not yet available
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS
Date Body Action Description with journal page number
——————————————————————————-
3/19/2003 House Introduced and adopted HJ-15
View the latest legislative information at the LPITS web site
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
3/19/2003
(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)
A HOUSE RESOLUTION
TO REQUEST THAT THE DIXIE CHICKS APOLOGIZE TO THE MILITARY FAMILIES IN THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA AND THE UNITED STATES FOR THE UNPATRIOTIC AND UNNECESSARY COMMENTS MADE BY THEIR LEAD SINGER BEFORE THEY BEGIN THEIR UNITED STATES TOUR ON MAY 1, 2003, IN GREENVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA, AND TO REQUEST THAT THEY PERFORM A FREE CONCERT FOR TROOPS AND MILITARY FAMILIES IN SOUTH CAROLINA AS AN EXPRESSION OF THEIR SINCERITY.
Whereas, the Dixie Chicks are a popular and influential country music group from Texas; and
Whereas, before a recent London concert, Natalie Maines, the lead singer of the Dixie Chicks, said that she was ashamed that the President of the United States is from Texas; and
Whereas, members of the United States Armed Forces are outraged at the anti-American sentiment expressed by the Dixie Chicks; and
Whereas, there is a large military presence in the State of South Carolina, whom the Dixie Chicks have offended by their comments; and
Whereas, before the Dixie Chicks kick off their United States tour in Greenville on May 1, 2003, the House of Representatives and the people of South Carolina request that Natalie Maines apologize and that the group perform a free concert for the South Carolina servicemen and women and their families. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:
That the members of the House of Representatives of the State of South Carolina, by this resolution, request that the Dixie Chicks apologize to the military families in the State of South Carolina and the United States for the unpatriotic and unnecessary comments made by their lead singer before they begin their United States tour on May 1, 2003, in Greenville, South Carolina, and request that they perform a free concert for troops and military families in South Carolina as an expression of their sincerity.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the Dixie Chicks.
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This web page was last updated on March 20, 2003 at 9:33 AM
I guess they are really upset that Natalie specifically said she supported the troops but not the president. Why exactly that upsets them is kinda odd, but there you go.
maybe they should go to iraq and give the troops a concert since they “support” the troops. I honestly don’t think the servicemen and women would WANT to attend the concert.
What a waste of South Carolina taxpayer dollars. Unbelievable.
S. Carolina did not create binding legislation, but you of course knew that right Lisa? Why not read and discuss the “EXACT” text instead of “spinning” it your way, since it states “REQUEST” not “MANDATE?” You are right with one part of your note though, the Dixie Chicks probably would be right at home in San Francisco, the bastion of the left wing and its trademark, the 9th Circus Court of Appeals. It is apparent that they would rather cater to the crowd at the concert in England, instead of cherishing their country first, but hey its show business/celebrities right which means all about the “Benjamins” first right? Maybe the 9th court could rule the S.C. “REQUEST” unconstitutional also? Thank God they only speak for the limited states that make up the left coast and not the entire country. It never ceases to amaze me how uninformed you really are, although you are “RIGHT” up there on the issues in your own mind. If all of you are now so much in “Supporting the Troops,” then why continue bashing and protesting? As an ex-troop from the first Gulf War in Iraq who witnessed atrocities, there is nothing more gut-wrenching than that exept for watching ignorant mis-informed people protesting their country and leaders without having all the facts first. Why is it you people cannot let your demonstrations go until after the conflcit is over, unless of course there really is the political agenda behind it that you of course keep denying? Where were your protests when Clinton sent Tomahawk missles into place, to take out Saddam?
To answer “QrazyQat’s” question of “why,” it is known as supporting your President, which is something those on the left consistently demonstrate they will not do, unless of course it is a democrat in the White House. Face it the election of 2000 is over, right, wrong or indifferent. How about getting over it and we move on togther?
Remember the words say, and will always continue to say, “One Nation Under GOD!” and if you don’t like it then get on the plane or boat with Clooney, Steisand, Baldwin, Penn, the Dixie Chunk, and the rest of those that continue to say how much they hate or are embarrased by this country and move to France or better yet Iraq, since they really are a benevolent regime.
“GOD” BLESS THE USA!
Why do they want them to do it in South Carolina? wasnt all of this about President and Texas anyways? And Natalie never said anything bad about our troops anywhere?
I’ll tell you ‘Why bother’. Just because someone disagrees with you, that does not make them uninformed, unintelligent or unable to think for themselves. Where do you get off assuming that we that advocate peace did NOT protest Clintons actions?
You also come down on celebrities that put in with their two cents worth. Well who the hell are YOU to make comment? You were in the military, that does NOT in any way make you an expert in the field of diplomacy and governance. In fact, it goes without saying that once the military is involved those go out the door.
If you do not like seeing people protest, then perhaps YOU should get your butt on an airplane and move to a fundamentalist country that does not allow that expression because this is AMERICA, where the true warriors fought FOR this right for every person.
You may want all of us to shut-up and toe the right-wing Republican, neo-conservative line, but I won’t be like the Austrians that were lulled into quiet before the start of WWII, I will fight tooth and nail to attempt to stem the American war machine from it’s goals, to rule the world.
So you get back into your VFW, have a few more drinks and don’t you worry, we’ll carry on the good-fight that you stopped fighting back when you left the military. We’ll make sure your rights and freedoms are protected, we’ll try to restore free speech in the United States, and we’ll try to spend some of those millions of dollars being wasted on Tomahawk missiles on fighting drug and alcohol addiction, getting Americans jobs, funding better schools and teachers and putting money into Veterans hospitals and making sure that you have the right to worship who, when and where ever you like.
A Patriot for Peace.
Dear Patriot of Peace,
How about READING my post carefully before misinterpreting it and assuming something different.
I did not advocate people losing their right to speach/protest, nor did I say toe anyline to any political agenda, all I asked is why do you have to protest with troops still fighting/in harms way. The fact is I stood and continue to stand for the right to speak your mind and my point was and still is, that consistantly protesting in this fashion, no matter what side you are on, is not supporting the troops although many of you keep saying you support them. Go listen to the troops, even those who are not the right wing neo-conservatives that you think I am and ask them how the constant protests make them feel?
The American military’s goal is not to rule the world and if you believe this is their purpose, then not only are you not supporting them and this country but then YOU are the one who needs to get on the damn plane, perhaps you would feel fine at home with a one-way ticket to France?
Don’t preach to me, you sanctimonous jack-ass about fighting for rights that you believe I abandoned or that I should have a few drinks in the VFW to “promote some right wing views,” you “ASS”-ume I am advocating. How ironic it is that you believe YOU know what is right and you will continue the good fight of the way things should be and that those that disagree with you are wrong, which is exactly what you acuse me of?
Finally you ask who the HELL am I to come down on celebrities, I’ll tell you, I am an American. One who has the same right of speech that you do and pretend your fighting for. I have the right to call out anyone I like and if you don’t like it should I lose my rights to oppose you? I pay sports figure to play sports and movie stars to make movies. If they want to become experts in political science, micro-economics, or global policy issues then get the hell out of Hollywood and run for office. I am not saying that they cannot speak it if they want to, in fact go for it, but I and quite a few others will exercise our rights also and will counter-protest their views or in the case of the Dixie Chick, boycott them.
The battle is joined…..please drive-thru!
She didn’t mention the war at all in her statement. What she said was, she’s ashamed that George Bush is from the state of Texas. After the backlash, she said she was sorry first, then she said it was a joke, then she said she had questions as a mother. None of that was said on stage. I’m in the military, and regardless of what I think, the President is the Commander in Chief and is the top dog in the military rank. Putting him down is putting everyone in the chain of command down. In a sense, Bush is also a troop. So if you say you support the troops, you must also support the President. By saying your ashamed of him, is the same as saying your ashamed of the troops.
patriot for peace…you have no clue what the US military entails, so shut up. you need to go on foxnews so Bill can chew your ass out. Our military is fighting for YOUR freedom…from terrorism etc…what the hell do you do for a living?….it’s surely not protecting our rights…You obviously are not related to anyone serving in our armed forces either or you would know why we do what we do.
A non-American speaks.
Don’t know of the Dixie Chicks, but remember reading about the ‘protest’ in the press at the time.
My comment is this. When are you people going to stop being so insular? Many apolitical and moderate Europeans have a deep aversion to all things with Uncle Sam stamped on them. We mock your alleged freedoms, scorn your blinkered attitudes, and pity your overall lack of real understanding about the War (and other) issues.
Your nation gets tarred with a very bad brush, and I can see why, looking at above posts (free gig to support troops – what rot!).
If a bunch of C&W Texans can upset Dubya so much through 1 minor inflammatory statement, then I might just get out there and buy some of their stuff!
USA – ‘The only country to go from barbarism to decadence without the intervening stage of civilisation.’
Peace, brothers & sisters.