Opinion

Sticks and stones vs. opinions

Zach Lee
Opinion Columnist

Who exactly decides when outspoken celebrities should be punished? Last month, the Dixie Chicks got into a lot of trouble when Natalie Maines admitted she was "ashamed the President of the United States is from Texas." After saying this, the Chicks watched radio stations all over the country drop its songs, and the South Carolina legislature even voted to find a free Dixie Chicks concert as an acceptable apology.

The other night, on MTVis All Things Rock, the hosts made similar statements. In between music videos, Benji of the band Good Charlotte said blatantly, "Bush is a moron." Nothing happened. No one has called a major boycott of Good Charlotte records, and radio stations continue to play the bandis new single. Why is one band punished with what seems to be relatively harsh economic consequences while the other gets away completely?

Donit tell me the Chicksi members have more of a responsibility to be patriotic because they play country music. The groupis sound is so far outside the normal constructs of "country" that itis played on alternative and top 40 stations. These are the very same stations that play Good Charlotteis music, and many people consider themselves fans of both bands.

Donit tell me itis because the country members were on foreign soil. At last count, MTV could be seen in over 300 million homes in 140 countries. That number crushes the small crowd that was present when Maines made her statement. MTV is also translated into 16 other languages; so more people could understand Benjiis "unpatriotic" assertion.

Whatis the difference then? The only difference I see is that Mainesi statement was slightly more intelligent than simple name-calling, but neither one was a compelling political testimony. Apparently, during times of war, the American consumers get as fickle as the attorney general when it comes to civil liberties. Next on our agenda is labeling God a terrorist for burning a bush.

In my short time on this planet Iive never seen the American people make such a powerful demonstration for something so trivial as the wording of a sentence. Itis sobering to think I might actually be boycotted for one sentence that I write while the next columnist could reword the statement and have it be accepted as is. Itis scary to think that Americans, usually lauded for their versatility, have become so rigid in their viewpoints as to indiscriminately punish those who disagree.

After Benjiis statement, his brother Joel looked at him and said "Well that's your opinion." He then asked those watching to post their opinions online where some would be read during the course of the show. This is the way America should work.

Opinions are opinions, and I hope that the absence of a public backlash to Benjiis words shows that we have learned that, even in these very patriotic times, the old adage stands: sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me.

Lee, a freshman English major, can be reached at aliquidsoldier@hotmail.com.