Dixie Chick denied free speech rights

March 18, 2003

In London, Lubbock native and Dixie Chick Natalie Maines said, “Just so you know, we’re ashamed the president of the United States is from Texas.”
Stations around the nation have begun to boycott the group. Soon after her remark, she apologized, “As a concerned American citizen, I apologize to President Bush because my remark was disrespectful.”
In Kansas City, WDAF-AM set trash cans outside its studio so listeners could throw away copies of Dixie Chick CDs. Others stopped playing their music.
I can only ask how these stations, considering the First Amendment and free speech, can so easily refute someone else’s rights?
Questioning the methods of our government is the fundamental basis of the First Amendment.
Kevin Sullivan
Class of 2004

Donate to The Battalion

Your donation will support the student journalists of Texas A&M University - College Station. Your contribution will allow us to purchase equipment and cover our annual website hosting costs.