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- - 22 March 2003 . 08:54 I was elated when my local radio station decided to ban the Dixie Chicks indefinitely in the wake of singer Natalie Maines' comment regarding our President. I may have stated that in an earlier post but I'm sure I never elaborated. I am a fan of the Dixie Chicks. I like their blend of classic and contemporary country and bluegrass. I am also a patriot. There is no nation in which I would rather live. I strongly believe in the principles on which this nation was founded. I'm also an advocate of free speech. I hold firm to the First Amendment. I exercise this right and expect no less of others. I also believe with free speech comes responsibility for one's words. You can say anything you please (short of libelous or slanderous speech) but in doing so you agree to take responsibility for those words. Whether this means eating crow or accepting heaps of praise, the duty falls squarely on your shoulders. Believing as such, I can say that even though I do not agree with Natalie Maines' comment, she had every right to express her opinion of our President. And, whether it was done merely to save face or not, she took responsibility for her comment via an apology. When someone exercises their right to free speech they must not only expect but allow the same of everyone else. This is not some optional courtesy. This is non-negotiable. Free speech is a two-way street; it must be in order to exist and thrive. And, be assured, when anyone makes a controversial or unpopular statement it will be met dissenting opinions. (Translated: You can't keep flappin' yer gums without eventually firin' up someone else. And you sure can't deny them the chance to flap their gums in return.) After news of Maines' comment spread, country radio stations were flooded with calls and e-mails. Some supported Maines, most opposed her. In doing either, these people were exercising their right to free speech. My local radio station, WKML, took a poll of its listeners and subsequently decided to, at the request of an overwhelming number of listeners, ban music by the Dixie Chicks indefinitely. Why am I happy about this? The answer is two-fold. First, I'm happy because in this day of people believing that no one person or one opinion can influence or change anything, this happens and blows that cynical theory out of the water. People took the time to speak their mind and in doing so caused change. The lone Dixie Chick spoke her mind, causing the public to speak its mind which, in turn, changed the amount of airtime given to the Chicks. Both sides are responsible for the outcome... Second, I'm happy because the outpouring of dissent and the change it brought illustrate perfectly that with freedom comes responsibility. Someone expressed a view and was forced to be accountable for that view. And now my view on the war... War, in my opinion, is a necessary evil. Human nature makes absolute peace absolutely impossible. As long as there are human beings on Earth there will also be strife and conflict despite our desire to avoid these. There is nothing romantic about war. War is a horrible act that humans engage each other in with blatant disregard for the value of life and humanity in general. War is terrifying and unsettling. By the same token, there are things in life worth preserving. Things like freedom, security and family. Though it may sound cliche, sometimes preservation can not be accomplished without a fight. You and I wouldn't have the luxury of debating this business of war had it not been for a group of men way back in the late 1700s willing to fight something we know as the Revolutionary War. There is no beauty in war and there is nothing heroic in the taking of a life. Beauty and heroism exist in veterans; those citizens who fought to preserve a land and its people. Those who rose beyond fear and uncertainty to ensure we were able to remain free. Those who sacrificed everything, including their very lives, so that we could feel safe. That same beauty and heroism resonates through our present-day military. I thank God each day that I am allowed to live in freedom. And I thank God each day for the remarkable individuals that preserve freedom and protect America.
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