No, we did not find WMD. Does that mean Bush lied? He saw the exact same intelligence that Kerry, Clinton, et al saw and they too said time and again that Saddam had to be taken out. Then, we find no WMDs and they call Bush a liar and say that they did not have all the intelligence...and the media lets them get away with it!
I'm an asshole! What's your excuse?
Right to free speech? I think you will find that the only people who downgrade the USA or its leaders publicly ON FOREIGN SOIL are usually idiots like the Dixie Chicks, Sean Penn and Jane Fonda. Say what you want in the good ole USA, but keep your mouth shut when across the big pond.
Amen. They still don't get what they're representing.
I also disagree with many of Bono's political stances. But fighting for third world debt relief, AIDS/TB cures etc is very different than (as an American) insulting the office of the President. Bono puts his money where his mouth is; the chicks just have a loud mouth.
True, Bono does garner respect and his opinion is viewed as educated and well-informed in all that he does. Rather you agree with his politics or not, you have to respect him for being strong in his beliefs and putting his money where his mouth is. I guess you have to make the extra effort like Bono does to garner that respect, especially when you are in anothe profession. I remember Curt Schilling getting hammered by many for saying "Vote for Bush" on some show.
The fact is that they had a right to say it. You had a right to speak out against them saying it. The public had a choice on if to buy their records. The Grammy's had a choice of whom to give the award.
We can complain about someone saying something all day long, but THANK GOD we live in a place that this can be done. That goes for both sides of the political aisle.
unwritten rule - Don't diss your country or its leaders while out of the country. Even democrat politicians adhere to this rule.
If you really listened to the conservative talking heads, they gave the Chicks grief over breaking this rule rather than saying what they said. The country music industry was different. They were pissed in general and took it out on them by organizing boycotts. Two different issues here. I could care less what they say in the USA where they actually do have freedom of speech. They don't carry those rights with them to other countries.
Well, I think he what he meant was that they can say what they want outside the U.S. and be free from government intrusion by the U.S. government.
You're right, but I think he probably meant that in regard to the American right to freedom of speech it applies anywhere.
I don't want to speak for anyone - just how I read it.