Dixie Chicks - Freedom of Speech Threatened!
- by: Tyler Andrew
- recipient: Dixie Chicks, Rep. Catherine Ceips
Support Freedom of Speech!
A new assault on free speech arose today in the South Carolina State Legislature. In what is clearly an attempt to curb our civil liberties, State Rep. Catherine Ceips wants the Dixie Chicks "to apologize" to South Carolina military families for anti-Bush sentiments expressed by the lead singer in London.
What is happening to America, if we cannot exercise our civil liberties and speak out when we disagree with our government?
Ceips said that she plans to introduce a resolution to condemn comments by Dixie's lead singer Natalie Maines who supposedly "told an audience at a London show that she was ashamed" that Pres. Bush "was from Texas, the group's home state."
Ceips said if the resolution "wins House approval," she'll "send the resolution to the Dixie Chicks."
"To announce that there must be no criticism of the
president, or that we are to stand by the president, right or
wrong,is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally
treasonable to the American public."
-- Theodore Roosevelt speaking against Wilson's crackdown on dissent after the U.S. entered WWI.
Sign this petition to the Dixie Chicks letting them know you support their freedom of speech, and tell Rep. Ceips that you are concerned about her willingness to overlook and seriously undermine the principles on which the United States of America was founded.
In accordance with the principles on which this nation was founded, we the undersigned support the Dixie Chicks' First Amendment Right to Free Speech, including the freedom to express their disagreement with our President and Congress!
Forcing the Dixie Chicks to publicly apologize for their embarrassment over President Bush's behavior is just one step towards censoring free speech and denying US citizens the rightful and lawful ability to oppose our leaders' policies.
If we start chipping away at free speech now, how long will it be before everything we say must pass through a censor? How long will it be before everything we hear is controlled by Congress and the government?
We might disagree, but the great thing about the United States, UNLIKE many countries that President Bush has named in his Axis of Evil, is that we are supposed to be able speak publicly, without fear of government intervention. Why must we fear before we speak? Are we still a democracy, or should US citizens become silent and fearful, threatened by the actions of their own government?
