Springsteen Supports Dixie Dolls

Boss calls anti-Chick campaign “un-American” on his website:

The Dixie Chicks have taken a big hit lately for exercising their basic right to express themselves. To me, they’re terrific American artists expressing American values by using their American right to free speech. For them to be banished wholesale from radio stations, and even entire radio networks, for speaking out is un-American.

The pressure coming from the government and big business to enforce conformity of thought concerning the war and politics goes against everything that this country is about – namely freedom. Right now, we are supposedly fighting to create freedom in Iraq, at the same time that some are trying to intimidate and punish people for using that same freedom here at home.

I don’t know what happens next, but I do want to add my voice to those who think that the Dixie Chicks are getting a raw deal, and an un-American one to boot. I send them my support.

Bruce Springsteen

As has been reiterated at great length among the Dixie Chicks posts here, citizens have the right to protest the Chicks’ stance just as much as the Chicks have the right to express their views: fair is fair in both directions. I am very concerned, though, that Clear Channel has taken action against the Chicks in order to curry favor with the administration-friendly FCC, before which are hearings that could have great impact upon its corporate future. Coincidence?