Doest Thou Offend?
We had Mark Cuban on the radio this morning. He was affable, and did his best to try to rationalize his recent behavior. Essentially he said that he had to be offensive to be effective in creating a true rivalry which he says the NBA needs.
Offend people...and succeed.
Maybe that is the way.
Did you notice how the Dixie Chicks decided today to "withdraw" their pseudo-apology for bashing President Bush in England? Their heart-felt "withdrawal" happened to come the day before their new CD is released. Natalie Maines said, "I don't feel he (President Bush) is owed any respect whatsoever." One of her bandmates then went on to offend country radio listeners by saying, "We don't want those kinds of fans."
There was more...all inflammatory... "I don't listen to music," Natalie said. "I listen to Howard Stern all day long."
They've got a plan...maybe it will work...it's certainly offensive.
Madonna's got a new album or concert tour or something. Here's how she comes on stage for her "show."
Maybe that will work too.
Congratulations to the Mavericks. As I said before, they're a good basketball team.
I still think Mark Cuban is a jerk.
Good luck to the Dixie Chicks...they're sticking to their
I respect people's beliefs, but I don't have to listen to them.
Good luck to Madonna.
I hope her children will understand.
Maybe the Mavs, the Chicks, and Madonna will all succeed...
I hope if they do, you won't be offended if I hold my nose.
Then again maybe you won't care.
posted by Michael
©The Main Point by Michael Main
6 Comments
6 Comments:
...shhh... I'm sneaking in for a comment... don't want to cause anyone to explode unnecessarily...
Taking the high road by not being offensive doesn't bring the attention as saying the outrageous. Remember those tame years, when the occasional curse word brought shock?
Michael, you're always a smile in my daily surf down the sidebar......Watched a bit of the game last night with one of my grandsons. We were rooting for the Spurs, but I guess we weren't enthusiastic enough.....
This cheered me, Michael. Thanks!
Controversy always seems to get people's attention. People say outlandish things (usually some falsehood), and then some people actually believe them! It is all really sad.
Tim
Madonna is nothing but an embarassment anymore. What used to seem renegade now just seems obvious.
Mike,
You post has gotten me thinking. Granted, it is along other lines than controversy for the sake of success. It is more along the lines of Dissent.
Personally, I think I'm willing to fight really hard so that someone keeps their right to disagree with me. I could be wrong, I slept thru Poli-Sci, but isn't Dissent covered under the Free Speech ammendment?
Now, I don't feel that Free Speech = Freedom of Expression. There are appropriate ways and inappropriate ways to disagree with someone. I don't think that punching someone will ever be considered a civilized way to express disagreement with them. But, when it comes to someone's verbal disagreement, I think that I'll agree to let them disagree.
Along the lines of the Dixi Chicks; I think that I'll go easier on the in the future. I don't agree with their sentiments. I may not like it that they spoke out over seas. But, I may not be quite so mad at them for doing it. Personally, I think the hooplah surrounding it hurt us more than their actual comment.
Concerning their withdrawn apology: I wouldn't be suprised if that was to boost sales. Granted, I don't know the IQ level, and marketing savvy of Ms. Maine; but I can believe that they pay some really good marketing people. Thus, I'm inclined to agree with what I think you mean. Perhaps their withdrawal of apology is to increase sales.
I've recently heard the CD. It is hard to listen to the songs and not see something of their experience in their controversy in them. A couple seem to be free of animosity, but not many.
I think that in respecting one's right to dissent, we can rely upon certain natural tendencies of homiostasis (comfort and balance). We can disagree all we want. But, there will come a time when two thing happen. Either, we will stop because society has given in to us, or we will stop because no one else is listening.
The Dixi Chick's platform is based upon their music. Without their musical success, they would have never been at a place where their opinion counted for anything. If people agree with them, then their platform will sustain. If people disagree, thus they quit buying their music, then it won't sustain.
Just a thought.
Tim
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