Jack, You are posting a hypothetical parallel that is in no way similar to anything that occurred with the Dixie Chicks. One political comment, that they later admitted was ill advised, but that they would and did not back down from. In the narrow sense I was wrong in my overstatement of your lack of knowledge of country music. In fact, you probably know more about the old stuff than I do.
You are also, obviously, entitled to your opinion of a current music scene. But you don't know anything about current bluegrass, Newgrass or crossover stuff like the Dixie Chicks. Not knowing your tastes, my hunch is that you probably wouldn't like it even if you did listen. Fine. If you anchored your point on your theory that "Non-political" bands should never interrupt their music to mention how they feel about the world we'd just disagree. But you really can't claim to know anything about a kind of music that you don't listen to. Or the series of events around the Chicks comment. If you wanted to understand where I'm coming from, Wolf's mention of Dixie Chicks: Shut Up and Sing would be the answer. But why should you? Your interests are elsewhere.
Offer. I will never make a comment about Horror movies, about which I know next to nothing and am disinclined to learn if you'll focus your comments on stuff that you're interested in. Not how bands should act, but the reality of a situation that you don't know about & a music you don't like. Besides, if I fulminated about how I feel about horror, the guy connected to Columbus who I know best, Joe Neff, probably wouldn't talk to me again.
By the way. You might be interested to know that a minor flame war started a while ago on the Boston Marathon board because one of the mainstays there made a sarcastic comment about Gov. Palin in front of the audience during their Thon a couple of years ago. Not a snark, but a comment made as part of a presentation about business of the Thon.
The flame war was, it seemed to me, a little silly. But it started out of the exact same thought as yours. That being, there's a place, perhaps, for political comments but an entertainment venue ain't it.
_________________ Thar’s only two possibilities: Thar is life out there in the universe which is smarter than we are, or we’re the most intelligent life in the universe. Either way, it’s a mighty sobering thought. - Walt Kelly
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