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Imus, the Dixie Chicks and the Consequences of Free Speech

As the whole Imus controversy erupted, I felt conflicted. On the one hand, I’ve criticized the mainstream mass media and music industry for blacklisting the Dixie Chicks, and while I’ve never thought much of Don Imus, but respected his right to say what he wants to say which, admittedly to this point, I’ve not heard much of. I don’t listen to him. What eventually happens to Imus and the Dixie Chicks is up to their respective audiences, but while Imus really deserves whatever he gets and possibly worse, the Dixie Chicks got far worse for something far less offensive.

The Dixie Chicks learned the hard way that exercising your right to freedom of speech has its economic and personal consequences. On the day the United States began bombing Iraq, British citizens protested in the streets of London as the Dixie Chicks show was about to begin. Natalie Maines, like many Americans was mortified by what she saw on the TV and identified with the protestors. Hence the famous Bush bash that knocked them off the “Top of the World.” You can see the ensuing aftermath in the movie “Shut up and Sing.”

Imus’ now famous characterization of the Rutgers women’s basketball squad has resulted in his firing from CBS, and is inspiring fresh debate over freedom of speech from many of the same corners of the world that condemned the Dixie Chicks for their condemnation of the President. Both cases clearly illustrate that in the mainstream media, there is freedom of speech, but you have to be willing to pay the price. If you pay the price, you have to be able to survive and thrive outside of the mainstream.

I have a very high tolerance for political dissent and no tolerance for racism and my money follows my politics. I didn’t listen to Imus because I didn’t find him funny, and when I gave him a sporting chance I thought he was an idiot. He got yanked from my local radio station a few years ago because he wasn’t drawing an audience. I thought the Dixie Chicks were okay before “the incident” but since then I’ve bought their whole library and listen proudly.

While hate speech is far more odious than political dissent, the punishments in these cases were not equal to the crime. Imus merely lost his job and endorsements. The Dixie Chicks were virtually banned from the mainstream media and blacklisted by the very powerful music industry. The media frenzy surrounding the Dixie Chicks resulted in CD burnings, protests outside their concerts and death threats. Yet there’s no such indignation when Imus impugns a race, and then a gender by saying the other team was better because their players were better looking.

If Imus wants to continue in the radio business, his success will depend on his audience. They’ll have to listen to him on cable, satellite or internet radio. For much the same reason many people started listening to the Dixie Chicks because of their criticism of the President, the racist fringe of Imus’ will be more loyal than ever, and many racists who didn’t listen to Imus before will go out of their way to listen to him if and when he returns.

Comment!

Should Imus have lost his job?

Should the Dixie Chicks be sent to the Middle East so they can hang out with their terror-loving buddies while our brave President fights the liberal scourge in Congress?