[Cerek the Barbaric]

Originally posted by Grojlach: I guess tolerance of someone else's views and freedom of expression doesn't work with drunk country fans (and they seemed to have left their sense of humor in their other pair of pants ). What happened to "you have the right to voice your opinions, and I have the right to not listen"? And how long before she'll be boycotted, Dixie Chick-style?

First of all, Groj, I think you're comment criticizing "drunk country fans" is a mighty broad brush to be painting with. I agree - in part - with Ronn and John. These fans paid to hear Linda Rondstat perform her songs and they have a right to NOT have politics interjected into the performance.

I also agree - in part - with you that the statement itself was relatively harmless overall and by no means justifies the reaction some of the fans exhibited. I would also agree that the fans that did the actual vandalism should be blacklisted from the casino permanently. I don't know that the casino should "blackball" Linda Rondstat, but she does need to know her audience if she is going to interject personal political views into her performance. I honostly don't care if Linda supports Michael Moore or not and I fully support her right to support Michael Moore if she wants to. I don't mind her dedicating the song "Desperado" to him (in fact, I guess it's rather appropriate - at least in her view). I wouldn't have been bothered by the statement despite my own well-documented dislike for Moore. (Which I admit makes me wonder if there is more to the story that is not being told. I find it very difficult to believe that such a simple act as dedicating a song prompted such an over-the-top reaction, regardless of the amount of alcohol consumed in the process).

One other snippet from the article I found interesting that hasn't been mentioned yet was Ronstadts' own admission that she didn't like performing there and had tried to be "annoying enough" that the owners would quit inviting her to perform there. Excuse me? If Linda R. doesn't like performing there, WHY doesn't she just say "No, I don't want to come to your casino to play?" And the fact that she admitted to deliberatly trying to "annoy" the owners makes me suspect there may have been more to her statement than the article is disclosing.