Due to the local radio stations not playing the Dixie Chicks music, I went out and bought the CD and I plan to never listen to 107.9 and 100.7 or 92.3. again.

I have lived in the South all my life (49 years) and I have never been ashamed of southern folks as I am today. What happened to freedom of speech? How come some people can say whatever they want, but if someone else speaks the truth or what is in their heart they get blacklisted and their life threatened?

So, my solution is to buy CDs and not listen to the one-sided radio stations, which means I won't buy products advertised by their sponsors.

I think the Chicks won this battle. They were embarassed to be from the same state? I could kick myself everyday for voting for him.

The Dixie Chicks' latest CD has many good songs with good lyrics. I hope that you will buy it and listen and try to understand where they are coming from. It's what we need to hear for these times.

They aren't Communists. They are women, business owners and mothers with opinions. Kinda like me. Don't be scared, it will be alright.

Rebecca LeVally
rebeccalou1957@msn.com

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I was pretty angry as well when I heard the US 101 DJ encouraging listeners not to attend Dixie Chicks concerts and generally belittling the group. I went to the Dixie Chicks website and noticed that they list US 101 as a station to call and listen to and to request Dixie Chicks music.

I wonder if Columbia Records knows that US 101 has taken it upon itself to ban the Dixie Chicks for airing their political beliefs. Not to sound cliché, but that's exactly what Hitler did. He banned all jazz and many, many other songs. He banned certain books, films, paintings, photographs. He banned a whole array of artists because their political views offended him. Is that really who you want to model yourselves after?

Who cares what the Dixie Chicks believe? Who cares if they like or don't like President Bush? Granted, they could have made a wiser choice of stage material, but it doesn't change the fact that they are good musicians.

Part of what made this country so unique used to be that people could freely air their opinions and beliefs without being punished for it. I understand that people also have a right to boycott and protest, but my point to the DJ's is this: Why are your opinions more important than theirs that they should be punished and you should not? Maybe you should get back to the business of music and allow people to think for themselves. Your job isn't to be the political police for everyone. I believe I can think for myself and I believe you're wrong.

Diana Phillips
hossflyster@gmail.com

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Everyone thought the Dixie Chicks were great as long as they could look at them or hear them sing. But when they express their freedom of speech they get black listed.

Of course their recent comments technically applied to me also as a country music fan. I don’t take that to heart because I have supported them the whole time.

If our country is based on freedom, then how come people are mocked for using that freedom? That is what makes our country so awesome is the fact that we are free. I love the Chicks and their music. If I had any other option I would not listen to the local radio stations either.

In my opinion a person who doesn’t allow a free person to express there freedoms is communistic.

Sabrina Smith
ssmith@dadega.com

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It is amazing to me that the music directors for two radio stations in Chattanooga can decide what I want to hear on the radio. I think the Dixie Chicks are very talented and I love to listen to their music.

I too will just listen to my CDs and not listen to either station or support any of their sponsors. This is America so let me decide.

As far as I'm concerned, I'm ashamed Stupid George W is from America. Sorriest president in my 52 years. The only good thing about him being re-elected is we will never have to worry about him getting elected or appointed as in the first time again. People who voted for him should be ashamed. He is a disgrace and a buffoon. Ban him instead of the music.

Carlos Dempsey
Chattanooga
CrlDemps@aol.com

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We certainly do have freedom of speech, Ms. LeVally. We are free to say and do whatever we want, whenever we want to say it, and with whomever we want to say it.

We also have a right to suffer any consequences of our statements those around us wish to serve upon us as a result.

You may be willing to listen to those who are significant recipients of the benefits of living in a nation such as ours, recipients I might add due only to the fact that they were born here and not because of anything they did to ensure those benefits, but some of us are not. We're free not to listen to them, just as you're free to listen to the Dixie Chicks if that's your desire.

When Ms. Natalie Louise Maines decided to make her now infamous statement many of us were astounded by her cowardice. Cowardice, you ask? You bet your bippy cowardice. She didn't have the courage to make those statements here in her homeland, her home where many of us have marched off to war...and come back without our brothers...or lost fathers, uncles, brothers, sisters, sons, daughters, and friends...or just lost parts of them. Had she made those same statements back here at home they might not be called the Dixie Chicks any longer, perhaps their name would be something more akin to the 'Mater Mommas after the crowd got through pelting them with same. But no, she had to go half a world away to spout her drivel, half a world away to find others who would cheer her comments.

This is America, Ms. LeVally. We have God given, and constitutionally guaranteed, rights to say what ever we want...within limits as was ruled by our Supreme Court in the past. We aren't guaranteed a right not to be offended. We aren't guaranteed a right to be heard. Nor, for that matter, are we guaranteed not to have to bear the consequences of what we say. If we are, I would appreciate you pointing that section out to me. I could use it myself from time to time, especially that part about the consequences.

Yes, Ms. LeVally. This is America. America, land of the free...but not because of how well someone can sing.

We just finished a day of memory of those who have fallen in order to guarantee Ms. Maines' right to say whatever she wants. It is this writer's hope that the next time you have the opportunity to enjoy her God given talents you will congratulate her for having the good fortune of living in a nation which allows her to enjoy the fruits of those talents. I hope you will also take every opportunity to thank a soldier for being willing, if need be, to lay down his life so that both of you may enjoy relatively peaceful lives.

America, Ms. LeVally...land of the free...because of the brave.

Life is nothing more than a series of choices that are ours to make. Ms. Maines made a choice to offend. Now it's incumbent upon her to live with the consequences without whining about how terribly she's being treated because of those choices, or having others do the whining for her.

Royce E. Burrage, Jr.
RBurrage@bellsouth.net

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Okay, so it is your God given right to oppose the President but it is shameful for others not to like the Dixie Chicks? That is by definition a double standard.

People like music. People like listening to music. They pay to go to a concert to hear music not politics. We go to political rallies to hear politics. I do not want to go hear Hillary Clinton or John McCain sing. I do not want to hear the Dixie Chicks go on and on about politics either.

And do not forget that their infamous “ashamed about our President being from Texas” was made to an audience in Europe not over here. It is one thing to criticize Americans on American soil it is another to do it in another country and in front of a foreign audience. Just ask Jane Fonda about how that worked for her and her career. But then again the foreigners loved them both, if that is what you are looking for.

And more recently the Dixie Chicks opened their mouths to bash country music listeners when they said on 60 Minutes, "When I looked out in the audience, I didn't see rednecks," Maquire says with a chuckle. "I saw a more progressive crowd." So now it pays to bash not only the President but to label country music fans as rednecks and their fans as progressive.

So you may like the Chicks, go out and buy it. But music stations and everyone else has a right not to buy. It is not un-American. In fact, it is just the opposite when you do not agree with the package they are selling.

Johnny Franks
seechatt@yahoo.com

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That's the irony of freedom. US 101 is expressing theirs.

Chuck Crowder
chuckcrowder@comcast.net

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Evidently it's the reactionary radio execs who are out of step with many Americans. The Chicks' new album is No. 1 on the country albums chart and the Billboard 200 overall chart, without the benefit of country radio airplay.

Yes, those Chicks really are "paying" for that three year-old comment.

Funny how the Chicks' album sales are almost inversely proportional to the president's approval ratings.

Edwin S. Parry
edsparry@comcast.net

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First of all the first amendment is supposed to apply to all Americans. My question to all of those people who are shunning the Chicks for using their first amendment right guaranteed to them is, does their outspoken opinion make them any less talented as singers?

To US101, what happened to everyone being a part of your US101 family? I know that I sure wouldn't want any family of mine treating me the way that you have treated them.

I have always been an avid US101 listener, but when you can turn your back on someone that quick just because you don't like what they had to say, I’m not so sure I want to be a part of that family.

Yes, they did say some things that may have been offensive to some but, haven't we all? I am also pretty sure that I would feel like lashing back at any and all who treated me the way they have been treated.

I always have and always will be a Dixie Chicks fan. They are awesome artists and have so many great things to say through their music. Should they really be shunned for a few moments in time that they said something we didn't agree with? I personally don't think so.

If that's the case then boycott and blackball everyone that has spoken bad about the President, the country and you.

Rebecca Baty
becca1972@bellsouth.net

* * *

Just as the Dixie Chicks have the right to say what they want because of the first amendment, so do the radio stations and anyone else opposed to the Dixie Chicks have the right to say what they want because of the First Amendment.

It is so funny to me that those who jump so quick to say that’s my right to say what I want - that’s the first amendment - are usually the ones who oppose what it took to get that right.

Our freedom as Americans was not and never will be free.

Lisa Pariss
A CHattanoogan in Honolulu
parrisl002@hawaii.rr.com