I think censoring and or bullying people is ridiculous, whether they agree or disagree uniformly with my laundry list of important issues.
Since I am fairly unfamiliar with Toby Keith I did some googling. Going by the details provided it sounds to me like the networks did him wrong.
He was asked by NBC not to perform the song beforehand, this plus it was a nationally televised performance makes any comparison to Linda Ronstadt's Las Vegas club song dedication is a stretch in my opinion.
It seems this was the song that caused NBC and other networks to 'blacklist' him:
Courtesy Of The Red, White And Blue (The Angry American)
Quote:
American Girls and American Guys
We'll always stand up and salute
We'll always recognize
When we see Old Glory Flying
There's a lot of men dead
So we can sleep in peace at night
When we lay down our head
My daddy served in the army
Where he lost his right eye
But he flew a flag out in our yard
Until the day that he died
He wanted my mother, my brother, my sister and me
To grow up and live happy
In the land of the free.
Now this nation that I love
Has fallen under attack
A mighty sucker punch came flyin' in
From somewhere in the back
Soon as we could see clearly
Through our big black eye
Man, we lit up your world
Like the 4th of July
Hey Uncle Sam
Put your name at the top of his list
And the Statue of Liberty
Started shakin' her fist
And the eagle will fly
Man, it's gonna be hell
When you hear Mother Freedom
Start ringin' her bell
And it feels like the whole wide world is raining down on you
Brought to you Courtesy of the Red White and Blue
Justice will be served
And the battle will rage
This big dog will fight
When you rattle his cage
And you'll be sorry that you messed with
The U.S. of A.
'Cause we'll put a boot in your ass
It's the American way
Hey Uncle Sam
Put your name at the top of his list
And the Statue of Liberty
Started shakin' her fist
And the eagle will fly
Man, it's gonna be hell
When you hear Mother Freedom
Start ringin' her bell
And it feels like the whole wide world is raining down on you
Brought to you Courtesy of the Red White and Blue
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So its a song about the sacrifices those in the military make in defense of the country and a dedication of how kick ass they are. I can see the appeal of this song after the 9/11 attacks and while I beleive in acting out of rational justice rather than angry revenge I may disgaree with part of the song's sentiment but I would never support it being censored.
Personally he seems like an alright guy from what I have read. I didn't know he was a Democrat and that he performed with one of my C/W favorites Willie Nelson. It seems we also fully agree that our troops in the warzones deserve our support and respect and that war is a shity situation no matter how you look at it. I'm sure if it came down to digging in to issues we would probably have plenty to disagree on as well, but he doesnt seem to be the type who would call for punitive action to be taken against those who have a different veiwpoint (unless they are bin ladin- loving terrorsts, then he probably wishes them an express bombing courtesy of the red, white, and blue).
Here is abit from a related article:
Source CMT
[excerpt]
Keith also revealed plans for another overseas tour to entertain troops fighting the war in Iraq. Noting that his accomplice will be gonzo rocker and noted firearms enthusiast Ted Nugent, Keith joked, "He's already advanced the ammo." Describing the tour, he said, "It's just a few of us going in. We're taking in a couple of acoustic guitars and just hanging with the guys and taking some goodwill to them."
Keith was asked about his reaction to Willie Nelson's intentions to join Barbra Streisand and Neil Diamond in performing at an upcoming event raising money for presidential hopeful John Kerry.
"You've got to put your politics aside," Keith responded. "Willie understands where I come from, and he understands where I come from. I get accused of banging the war drum, but Willie knows me better than that. He knows we're all about peace. Sometimes [war] is the only answer.
"I never one time have ever, anywhere, said anything about the Iraq war. Some guy in L.A. wrote a column on me one time that said I was trying [capitalizing on the war] to save my career. That's such bullshit. There's a difference between supporting your troops. I'm an American. I can pick and choose when I can make my statements. Nobody should listen to what I have to say, anyway. They ought to worry about themselves.
"I know the troops really well. They come to my shows every night. They're missing arms, they're missing legs, burnt beyond recognition. They show up with a little old tore up, dusty CD cover and say, 'I want you to sign this. At every checkpoint, we stepped out, we saluted and played this song.' If it means that much to them, I don't give a damn what anybody thinks about it.
But as far as Willie's deal with John Kerry goes, people don't know that I'm a registered Democrat. I'm very conservative, to say, the least, but I'm a registered Democrat, and my family has been all along. I have to go from election to election and pick the guy I believe in -- and vote in my own manner. I vote for the guy who gets the job done.
"I don't envy President Bush's job. If he doesn't do anything about terrorism and we stick our head in the sand and something else happens, he's a goat. If he goes over there and it's bloody right now, it looks bad again. He's got a tough job. It's a no-win situation. It always is with war."