Context is important.

Post #261,564 by Another Scott 7/13/06 1:11:24 PM Reply	Context is important. [link\|http://service.spiegel.de/cache/international/spiegel/0,1518,426213,00.html\|der Spiegel]: SPIEGEL: If the right to freedom of expression is an untouchable fundamental American right, does that not make your critics the people who are truly unpatriotic? Maines: It seemed like traditional values had been temporarily suspended. I didn't recognize this country, we didn't know what year it was and we didn't know what country we were in. The Republicans and right-wing groups were very organized and they knew exactly what they were doing. It seems like our media is dominated by right-wing media moguls like Rupert Murdoch (Fox News). If you don't share their opinions, they label you as a terrorist or a person who doesn't have any family values. Unfortunately, people in the US who don't have the time to seek out the truth through neutral news sources have a real problem. SPIEGEL: So perhaps the conservatives are the more patriotic ones? Maines: Not in my view. These people may think they are patriotic, but I think they are irresponsible. And this whole episode has fundamentally changed my definition of patriotism. Do I have a flag on my car? No. Do I stand up for my rights as an American? Yes. Emphasis added. The context is - she was asked about her critics. Her comments are directed toward her critics. Presumably including the radio stations that no longer would play their songs. She's not bashing all conservatives, or saying that everyone should agree with her. Oh, and you may agree with her more than you think: SPIEGEL: Will Hillary Clinton become the next president? Maines: It would be crazy for the Democrats to make her their candidate. I don't think the country is ready to vote for a woman in the White House. :-) Finally: where's the quote you cite in the lead post from? It's not in the Spiegel interview. Thanks. My $0.02. Cheers, Scott.
Post #261,569 by bepatient 7/13/06 1:32:00 PM Reply	Wasn't in der spiegel was in [link\|http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2006/06/15/bmdixie15.xml\|the Daily Telegraph] Too much of today's music is fashionable crap dressed as artistry._{Adrian Belew}
Post #261,599 by Another Scott 7/13/06 2:46:50 PM Reply	Thanks. I wonder about the editing though. The Chicks can't hide their disgust at the lack of support they received from other country performers. "A lot of artists cashed in on being against what we said or what we stood for because that was promoting their career, which was a horrible thing to do," says Robison. "A lot of pandering started going on, and you'd see soldiers and the American flag in every video. It became a sickening display of ultra-patriotism." "The entire country may disagree with me, but I don't understand the necessity for patriotism," Maines resumes, through gritted teeth. "Why do you have to be a patriot? About what? This land is our land? Why? You can like where you live and like your life, but as for loving the whole country ... I don't see why people care about patriotism." There can be no rational explanation of how Maines's remark came to drive a red-hot poker into America's divided soul, but it's only now that some of the poison has begun to dissipate. Was she talking about trumped-up patriotism in the country videos by other performers? What's with the ellipsis? What did they leave out? I'd like to see the whole interview transcript before coming to the conclusion that she said something objectionable. I don't see it myself. As Ashton reminded us, [link\|http://www.samueljohnson.com/refuge.html\|patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel]. FWIW. Cheers, Scott.
Post #261,610 by jb4 7/13/06 3:37:38 PM Reply	Seems to me that she used the wrong word. What she appears to be lambasting is [link\|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jingoism\|jingoism], not [link\|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patriotism\|patriotism]. In my view, she, and anybody else that states that the Emperor has no clothes is no more, nor no less patriotic than Der Berk himself (and is likely more so, in the truest sense of the word). It's just unfortunate that her vocabulary is a bit unpolished. jb4 "So don't pay attention to the approval ratings that say 68% of Americans disapprove of the job this man is doing. I ask you this, does that not also logically mean that 68% approve of the job he's not doing? Think about it. I haven't." — Stephen Colbert, at the White House Correspondent's Dinner 29Apr06
Post #261,613 by Silverlock 7/13/06 3:39:58 PM Reply	I think you nailed it. ----------------------------------------- Impeach Bush. Impeach Cheney. Do it now.

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