Chicks deserve more respect

While I expect comments about “revisionist history” from President Bush, I do not expect to read a version of revisionist history in the L.A. Times. As a critic, Robert Hilburn is certainly entitled to his opinion (“Dixie Chicks Once Again Rule the Roost, July 21). However, I take issue with many of his comments regarding the Dixie Chicks and “the incident” that led to an unfortunate national scandal.

I attended the concert in Anaheim and saw three talented, smart and incredibly brave women put on an amazing show. They have already smashed a number of stereotypes and redefined the role women play in the world of country music.

Until Natalie Maines made the anti-Bush remark heard ‘round the world, I thought the Dixie Chicks were just three cute girls who sang well and played their own instruments. I now know differently. Their willingness to stand together and speak out in the face of adversity is an inspiration. While you prefer to brush off “the incident” as a “minor league pop struggle,” I see an organized blacklisting effort and a throwback to the days of book burning or the Hayes Code.

“Thousands of country music fans” did not spontaneously pick up the phone and call radio stations to have them pull Dixie Chicks songs. These “protests” were the result of mandated bans from the corporate offices of radio conglomerates.

At the local level, overzealous DJs (or those too scared to protest for fear of being fired) organized call-ins and, worse yet, public destruction of CDs. Is this what makes this country great?

Minor league struggle? Nonsense! An apparently organized effort to silence those who dare to speak out is not something to be taken lightly.

Ron Hebshie

Los Angeles

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Robert Hilburn says, “Whatever their intent, the Chicks seemed to be putting their minor league pop struggle on a level with some of mankind’s great civil rights movements.”

Whatever situation arises that challenges our right to free speech and censorship is always a major struggle. When a whole nation responds to a person or group, it can hardly be called minor. It saddens me that you felt their words were “ludicrous.” I felt otherwise.

Ruben Ramos

Los Angeles