I'm going to try and explain where I am coming from.

[boston bean]

Have you seen the Dixie Chicks documentary Shut Up and Sing.

If you have then you might know, but incase you haven't let me explain.

The Dixie Chicks (Natalie Maines, specifically) said just before the war started in Iraq that they were ashamed the President was from Texas. And that they did not want war.

Natalie Maines apologized for saying it in a statement, they (the republicans) still used it as a political football for months/years, in support for the war, calling them unpatriotic, not supporting the troops/ etc. and calling on them to not just make a statement, but say it while on tour in front of all their fans. The two sisters could have tried to force her to do it, but they stuck together.

Well they did the right thing, they refused to apologize again and basically told everyone to fuck off, hurting their record sales and touring. They were willing to give up the fans that brought them much fame and money to do the right thing.

And guess what, they did the right thing. It was hard, but they did it in the face of all of power and ugliness being thrown at them and low and behold, they are more popular now than ever with out coddling the people who banned and trashed them.

If people do the right thing, it works out, if they try to do the easy thing, it usually comes back to bite them.

The Democrats in charge and all others might learn a lesson from this true story, but I doubt they will.

And many on DU want to play the role of not doing the right thing for the political expediency. You cannot build a movement that way, it does not work.

edit for grammar

[NMMNG]

1. Amen

Throwing members of your own party under the bus and tossing human rights aside, in order to get votes, just isn't right. It isn't decent, it isn't fair, and it isn't good politics.

[kdmorris]

2. Beautiful

Sometimes doing the right thing is HARD and it hurts. BUT, it's still right.

[Bluerthanblue]

3. very well said- key word in the Dixie Chicks case is "they"-

She didn't have to stand alone-
She wasn't abandoned by her 'base'-

She wasn't chastised by the leader of her 'party'.- even for 'show'.

[boston bean]

4. If only the dems would stick together with what got them the majority in the first place.

but for some reason unknown, they still continue to coddle and pacify.

I am ashamed of them, really.

[stimbox]

5. Off to the greatest with ya!

Bravo!

[bonito]

6. K&R!

[Booster]

7. I've got tickets to see the Chicks with the Eagles this coming

Sunday. "Shut up and Sing" was very enlightening, and you're right about the two sisters backing Natalie - without their support she would have been made to look like a fool (listening Congress), but because they stood behind her and took the wrath of the far right just like she did, they all came out as heroes, and they came out stronger than ever. There was a moment in the movie when Marti is talking and crying and saying if Natalie wanted to quit then they would quit - you don't get more loyal than that. I'll always look up to them for doing the right thing, damn the consequences. CHICKS ROCK.

[boston bean]

9. I wish they were coming around here(Boston) soon, but I don't

think they are gonna tour until 2009. :-(

[me b zola]

29. I was listening to Don Henley last night

Seems so fitting for what's going on right now.

End of the Innocence
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NnOP1WKTiLc

[5X]

8. Who woulda thought the Dixie Chicks had more balls. n/t

[boston bean]

10. for literally having none, they sure stood up for the right thing. nt

[Richard Steele]

11. K&R

[rusty quoin]

12. The Wilsons too...complete respect for them. n/t

[boston bean]

13. Fill me in on them, I don't know the story, I am sorry to say. nt

[Swamp Rat]

14. I'm not sorry!

:kick:

[boston bean]

16. Hey can you do a photo shop

of the dem leadership, calling for apologies while stabbing real dems in the back?

[Swamp Rat]

19. And post it where?

It would get zapped here in a nanosecond.

[boston bean]

20. Yeah, I guess you're right, that might be going a little too far. didn't think of that!

but it woulda made a good one, ya think?

[Swamp Rat]

21. Yes, I have already thought of half a dozen images like that.

but I'd hate to put out a lot of effort only to have it flushed.

[Stump]

15. K&R

Very good point.

[proud2BlibKansan]

17. Let's put Natalie Maines in Congress!!

[boston bean]

18. She was from Lubbock TX, I am not sure where she live now, I

wonder who she might unseat?

[proud2BlibKansan]

26. I believe she lives in CA now

[boston bean]

27. It says on wikipedia that

she has houses in Los Angeles, California and Austin, Texas.

[LittleClarkie]

22. Fine. But nothing will come of a censure of Ms. Nancy

Just as nothing came of a censure of Moveon. It's an empty gesture no matter who is doing it.

[boston bean]

23. I think you've got it! nt

:P

[KoKo]

24. K&R...It does take Courage to do the Right Thing...when it costs you

and for whatever reason...that doesn't exist in our "House of Lords and Ladies" in our Congress. They are the Privileged and we are the ones to be trashed.

[TahitiNut]

25. It's also an example of how "pragmatism" so often fails.

"Pragmatist" is the label many people select who have, not just no faith in people in general, but a cynical outlook that casts its gaze into a crystal ball and can only see the horrors of a wannabe Nostradamus. Inherent in the ethical posture of Consequentialism is some ability to accurately foresee a range of PROBABLE (and possible) consequences, not only immediate but longer term, that will result from a course of action. Seeing only the possible negative consequences without a regard or sense of probability, the pragmatist argues against ANY course of action and surrenders goals, aspirations, and objectives. This, of course, is the hallmark of the self-defeatist.

There is, of course, a very valid and useful role for pragmatism in designing the tactics (and P/R) employed in a course of action -- but not WHETHER a course of action should be undertaken.

In other words, deontological ethics mandate a course of action and consequentialist ethics mandate the commission of 'least harm' in the tactics employed.

Funny how Natalie Maines can clearly demonstrate something that some "more intelligent" DUers (and some congresscritters) eschew.

[Generator]

28. It's also really hard to do

Courgage that is. Not many have it. I see almost none in our reps. And I haven't see the movie but previews and I know she got death threats. Doing what you believe in in the face of pressure like that is hard. I just don't know why we have no reps with the courage of their convictions.

And I saw the poor Stark guy on Countdown. I felt sorry for him! He's not a bad guy. But what we have is a government and a media of thugs. We need to elect new blood, and young blood-because those in there now seem to think they are dealing with a world pre-Bush. THAT WORLD is dead. And sooner or later if we continue on this path- so is this Democracy.