I find the reaction to the Dixie Chicks' "faux pas" and its backlash curious.  Apparently, we are to accept the Chicks' freedom of speech to dissent with regard to the war while in front of a foreign audience.  Seems fine to me.  But suddenly it's an infringement on their right to free speech when complaints from their own audience causes their music to be pulled from rotation on privately owned radio stations' playlists?  What about the free speech rights of the station owners or the listeners?  Frankly, I think the reaction to Natalie Maines' comments have been over-the-top, but it just doesn't seem to me that there has been any infringement on their rights whatsoever.  Free speech does not mean freedom from all consequences of said speech. 

Also, am I the only one who thinks Natalie Maines comes across as such an airhead as to not give a hoot what she thinks? 

Anyway, if anyone wants to hear a young band with real (and better) folk and bluegrass chops, they ought to check out Nickel Creek before buying any Dixie Chicks.