Engaged Global Citizen.

Music brings people together.  The music tastes of people bring them together.  Fans of certain music genres want to be around people who enjoy the same kind of music.  They might only meet because they share similar music tastes, but when they get together the people find out that they might have more in common.  Fans that go to a concert or show can meet others who share the same values as them.  The likes and dislikes of people can be a way to find common ground between strangers that will escalate into a friendship or, as shown in “The Punks are Alright” a family.  Hinrike met his wife at one of his shows and are now together with children.  Music helped this happen.  The music practices do not even have to be about listening to the music.  Going dancing is also a music practice.  Dancing with people you do not know, like going to the contra dance, brings random strangers together because of their common enjoyment of dancing.  The music is there in the background to guide you in the dances, but it is not the main reason for going.  Playing an instrument also brings people together.  The people share a common interest in making music and they come together to play.  Being in a band is an example.  People who have never met could find each other and feel a sense of belonging with the people they are playing with because of the music.  Music has the ability to bring people together with a common interest and make them feel like they belong with that group of people. 

A society can base their lives around the music that they play.  People can join together and play music with others in their community.  This shows a sense of community with people in a society because they get together and play music.  A society can revolve around the fact that everyone in that said society plays or joins into some kind of music making.  This again brings people together with the music they are playing.  A society that plays music from its past can show that the society values its heritage.  A society that is constantly listening to different kinds of music shows that it appreciates all types of people and diversity because it values the difference among its people.  A society that is constantly changing the kind of music that comes from it shows a progression in the musical arts. 

Being a global citizen means that a person knows the affects he or she has on the world around him or her.  A global citizen understands his or her place in surrounding world.  By that I do not mean knowing their roles in their society and what is acceptable for him or her.  I mean he or she understands that everyday decisions that are made can affect people that he or she may never come in contact with around the world.  A global citizen has an open mind and is tolerant of the differences that people have.  The more opened minded people are, the more people see each other as just humans and the differences melt away.  Going to and participating in a local farmer’s market is a way to be a citizen.  By buying at the market, the person is keeping his or her money local and supporting local businesses.  By being tolerant of people’s differences a person could try new things that he or she would not usually try.  This could be going to an Irish music session or going to a local contra dance, as we did for class.  Irish music is not something a lot of people listen to but people went and experienced something that they otherwise would not have been exposed to.  The same concept is for the contra dance.  People who claim to have no rhythm went to the dance and had a good time.  It did not matter that they could not dance or that it was not something the person would usually go to or even associate him- or herself with.  The point is that the people kept an open mind and went to the dance and most people had a good time. 

Seeing oneself as a global citizen makes the person more aware of the actions that the person does.  To be a responsible global citizen, a person has to know that his or her actions do have an effect on other people around the world.  This can include doing things or just saying things.  If a person says something negative then it can heard around the world because of the quick resources many people have.  If I say something bad about a band and other people hear what I say then this might change their perception of the band.  This can cause a ripple effect and make the band’s career take a hit.  As an American, the changes people make has a big effect on the world because of globalization.  Take hip-hop for example.  It is a music genre that was created in the United States and has now spread across the globe.  The people that started the hip-hop genre made a difference.  The hip-hop listeners help spread the news of this new kind of music.  Everyone has a global citizenship, even if some people do not know it.

Connecting Through Contra Dancing.

The contra dance made me feel included.  At first I was very apprehensive at dancing in front of a room full of strangers.  When I arrived, I was shocked at the amount of people that was there.  I am a really shy person, but going to this dance made me come out a little.  I was actually surprised with myself because I talked and laughed and smiled around so many strangers.  If I had not been having fun, I would have been a wallflower and sat and watched.  The dance made me feel like I was part of something.  It did not matter that I did not know most of the people or that I was not close friends with any other the people around me.  The people there, the people that had been coming to this dance for years just stepped up and asked me to dance.  I got confused a lot with most of the dances, but that did not matter either.  Every person that I got the pleasure of dancing with got just as confused as me at some point during the instructions.  As I was dancing and made a wrong step I apologized to the older gentleman that I was dancing with.  He told me, “Never apologize.  Everyone was new once.  You will get the hang of it eventually.”  That completely lifted my spirits and every time I moved wrong again, I just laughed it off and kept going.  As we danced, I got to talk to some amazing people.  My first partner, Alan, was my age, but had been coming to this dance and participating for eight years.  He was incredibly nice.  He explained move names to me and how to do them correctly.  I was very appreciative of such an amazing first dance partner.  No one made me feel like I should not be there because I was not familiar with the dances.  Every person I met and talked to was welcoming and friendly.  It was not a big deal to anyone I met that I could not dance, or that it took me four or five times going through the moves to get the hang of it.  No one cared.  The dance surprised me with how much fun it was.  I have tried to line dance and square dance before, but I could never get the hang of it.  This was a section of my high school gym class.  Our dancing affected our grades.  However, at the contra dance I felt no pressure on being graded and being watched for mistakes.  At the dance I could make all the mistakes I wanted until I got the hang of it.  Without the pressure of being judged by the people around me, I found it easy to pick up the steps and understand what to do after a few mishaps. 

If given the chance, I would most definitely go back to the contra dance.  At breaks between songs and dances, I would go get a drink and check my phone.  I was having such a good time that I told my friend about it and told her next time she has a Wednesday night off that she has to come up for a quick visit and experience the welcoming nature of these people.  Before I had gotten there, I had been talking to her about my uneasiness with the whole situation.  I am not the kind of person that joins in and dances with a bunch of strangers.  But, I am unbelievably glad that I did on this night.  I was and still am completely blown away at how friendly the people at the contra dance were.  I want to share my wonderful experience at the contra dance with every single person that I know.  I will probably end up bringing my little brother up and having him dance.  We are extremely close, brother and sister, best friends, and love to share new experiences with each other and this is something that I would love to enjoy with him. 

Participatory music is done by people help them learn news ways to connect with other people.  Dancing, just like making music, is a way to create a connection.  While I was dancing, people would introduce themselves and ask me how I was doing.  It was nice to tell a stranger how much fun they were making me have because of this friendliness.  As the night went on, I realized that it was not just the dancing that was causing me to have such a good time.  It was the people all around me and the connection I felt with them.  On the second dance, I seen Alan (my first dance partner) again and he complimented me on how much I had picked up of the dances.  With my partner at the time, we would make our way down the line of people and get a chance to dance with everyone.  I would get to dance with some of the same people as in other dances and we always said hello to each other like it had been ages since we danced together, when in reality it had only been twenty minutes.  Another way I felt a connection with people was holding their hand.  When I walked into the dance, I got a little nervous because I saw so many people holding hands.  That nervousness was quickly diminished because Alan would hold onto my hand the entire time unless it was necessary for him to let go.  I felt connected to every person that I danced with, and the people with whom I did not get a chance to dance with.  We were all there to have a wonderful time and we did.  Participatory music helps you feel a connection with the people around you by making music together.  It gives you a sense of belonging because you are helping every person around you make music.  You are connecting with people and helping them feel a connection when you participate.  The same thing happens at the contra dance.  I felt like a belonged with these people just because I was having such a great time dancing with them. 

Punk: "The Remedy for My Sickness"

Youth culture in Brazil is violent.  The country of Brazil is considered a third world country and it is a very poor country.  Drugs are a major problem in the country of Brazil.  The drugs cause many crimes to occur.  Murders are a common occurrence every night in around the country.  In the documentary, it said that more murders by cops occurred in Brazil than did the number of total homicides in Canada in one single year.  In such an underdeveloped country, there is not a lot for the youth to do and many youth members get into the drug scene.  They see it as a way to make a quick buck; they do not think about the life consequences that go with dealing drugs.  The lead singer of the Blind Pigs, a Brazilian punk band, says that forming a band and playing music with friends is a way to stay off the unsafe streets of Brazil and find an escape from their everyday lives.  The lead singer of the Blind Pigs would say that many things are “punk” as he gave his interview.  Punk is not only a music genre, but a way of life.  The clothing, the body art and especially the mentality show that punks use this way of living in their everyday lives and not just for enjoyment.  The mentality of punks is “do it yourself.”  The singer seen a place in his hometown and found a way to help his community by teaching at a local school.  He calls the students punk because they are taking it upon themselves to come and join in and create a better life for themselves.  Hinrike, Blind Pigs lead singer, believes that music, not only punk music, is a way to empower the young people of his community and around the world to help better their lives. 

Indonesia is also considered a third world country.  Dolly is a young man living in Indonesia that uses punk as a way to escape his terrible life.  In his poor country, Dolly works six days a week and only makes $2.65 a day at a Nike shoe factory.  He lives at home with his parents and helps out where he can with money.  Although he hates his job and boss, he is grateful that he does have a job.  Dolly uses punk music as a way to escape the troubles of his life.  He calls punk the “remedy for my sickness” many times throughout the documentary.  He does not only listen to punk, but he also plays guitar in a punk band.  However, the band can only afford to play in a studio twice a year.  Dolly is fan of Hinrike’s band Blind Pigs.  Dolly does screen printing on the side and makes patches for the band and sends them to Hinrike in Brazil.  Hinrike in return sends CDs to Dolly since he is such a big fan.  Another punk rocker from Indonesia that is interviewed in the film is Jerrix, the drummer from Superman is Dead.  This punk band is one of the most popular in the Asian-Pacific region.  He talks about the role of Islam and Western culture in the Indonesian cities.  As a Dutch colony for so long, the Indonesian people, especially those of tourist attractions such as Bali, still have a slave mentality and think that Westerners and their culture are better than that of their country.  Also, Muslim fundamentalists bombed Bali nightclubs, which is a topic Jerrix covers.  Jerrix explains how the fundamentalists do not like the lifestyle of the Westerners.  He also talks a lot about the differences between his lifestyle as a punk rock star and the average person, who is always in the back of his mind.  He makes the comparison of him partying and drinking in a hotel room when someone only one hundred meters away is dying.  This is his reality, but he uses to punk to help those people that are in such situations. 

This documentary has shown me the harsh realities that so much of the world lives in.  It shows what people in third world countries go through just to survive, whether that means avoiding drug dealers or working six days a week.  With the use of punk music, they are pulled out of the depression that can very easily be caused be their surroundings.  Listening to punk music or playing it, either can be a means of release for people.  This documentary has also shown me how important family is to youth culture in the two communities.  Hinrike has a family of his own, a wife and children, which he loves dearly and was made possible because of punk.  He met his wife at one of the Blind Pigs’ shows.  Hinrike’s father is the person that introduced him to the punk world with a cassette tape of the Forgotten Rebels.  Dolly lives at home with his family and helps take of them because of the job he has.  He visits his brother’s family when he can.  His family is a large part of his life, just as it is to Hinrike. 

The film also shows how similar the youths around the world are.  They, we, are all struggling to find our own identity or finding a spot for ourselves in whatever religion it is that we practice or moving ourselves out of the religion we no longer believe in.  Hinrike is, as he says, not a religious man, but he thanks God for the health of his children.  Not being religious does not mean he does not believe.  He might not participate in the regular Catholic practices, but he does still believe.  Dolly is Muslim, as is the majority of Indonesia.  He goes to his prayers on a regular basis.  This belief in religion is something that makes the men relatable to.  Their close family ties also make them relatable.  I am very close to my family and seeing others like that make me relate to them. 

As a global citizen, I can have an effect on others around the world, such as Dolly and Hinrike.  After watching this documentary, I could become a fan of the Blind Pigs.  The more I listen to it, the more others around me listen to the band.  Slowly the people around me would tell others about the band and so on.  This chain of events could cause the Blind Pigs to become stars in the United States and help their career go farther than imagined and spread their music and message across the States and farther on still.  The world could become Blind Pigs fans just because I became a fan and shared them with those around me and those around me shared them with even more people.  The same could be said for Dolly and his community.  If people decided to wear Nikes more often, then it would keep him in a job and give even more people an opportunity for work in Indonesia.  This would help the Indonesian economy grow because more people would have money for things because they got jobs because more people in the United States decided to buy and wear Nikes.  A boost for their economy would help out living situations in Indonesia.  Just by making small decisions in life, people like me and me can make a difference in not only one or two peoples’ lives, but thousands and thousands around the globe.

What's the Mot de Passe?

Hip hop is not a very popular form of music in Morocco.  Music is thought of as sin in the eyes of Muslim extremists and is not encouraged amongst the youth of Morocco.  However, in underground groups, hip hop is becoming a fad.  Hip hop is being used to create a movement towards change for the Moroccan people.  Rapping is used in hip hop music to say what the rapper is feeling.  In Morocco, people do not have the freedom of speech as the United States does.  Moroccan people cannot say what they want; they must hold their tongues, especially if it is about the throne or Islam.  In the Islam religion, it is shameful to use curse words were other people can hear them, or even in one’s own house.  This can be a drawback for Moroccan rappers or they can take it as a challenge.  Although they cannot say outright what they mean, rappers can use roundabout ways of saying what they want to say.  The rappers use double and hidden meanings in their lyrics so that only certain people can actually understand the meanings behind the words.  However, some rappers do not hide their meanings and use whatever language they please. 

One artist that uses profanity in excess is Brownfingaz.  Brownfingaz does not rap in Arabic, like so many other Moroccan rappers.  He raps in English.  He says that one reason he does so is because he is just no good at rapping in Arabic.  However, his main reason for rapping in English is because, as Brownfingaz says, hip hop was born in English.  Hip hop started in the United States and has spread from there.  Rapping in English is like speaking the language of rap because of its roots.  Brownfingaz uses his past to influence the way he raps and what he raps about.  During the movie, he takes the camera crew to his old home in the city.  He says that this (referencing the city and where he spent so much of his life) is where the Moroccan people come from.  He talks about the way people are forced to leave their homes because they cannot afford to live in the city.  Brownfingaz explains how people are cheated out of their homes with very little money for the houses.  The people and the situations of the city life are fuel that Brownfingaz uses in his music.  The place that once was his home holds special meaning to him because it is not only where he grew up, but where he was first introduced to hip hop music. 

Another hip hop group from Fez, Morocco is Mot de Passé.  This is a relatively new duo.  One member of the group is a girl.  Fati, the girl of Mot de Passé, is in not only a hard position for wanting to be a rapper, but wanting to be a girl rapper.  Islam is the predominant religion in Morocco and it is frowned upon by a lot of the community for a girl to be in this position.  Fati dresses in a Western culture sense, not in the traditional clothing of Muslim women.  She wears pants and short sleeved t-shirts that are form fitting.  As she walks down the street, insults can be heard coming to her from men who do not like the way she is dressed; they call it shameful.  However, this young girl is very talented.  She raps in French, but also speaks Arabic and English. The other member is a young man.  When asked about the best part of rap, he answers, “The truth.”  Hip hop shows the truth of their surroundings and lifestyles through the rap lyrics. 

DJ Key is one of the leaders in the I Love Hip Hop in Morocco festival.  He is also the founder of the Hip Hop Association in Morocco.  At the beginning of the film, he talks about how hard it is to be a Muslim and rapper.  In the Islam faith, music making is a sin.  DJ Key talks about his challenges being a Muslim.  He says that he knows Allah and is thankful for that; he claims to be a devoted Muslim.  However, he does question himself when he says this.  He ponders the question of whether he is a Muslim even though he is knowingly sinning in the eyes of his faith.  He talks about the economic troubles the plague disk jockeys.  People, such as DJ Key, have to put make parties and pay for everything to get a party set up and has to play contemporary popular rap so that young people will come and he can make his money back.  This is how many DJs make their living.  He says that at times it can be tough, but he loves hip hop so it is worth it. 

With the arrival of hip hop in Morocco, the Islam faith seems to have been challenged.  Many lovers of this music are Muslims.  Although it is not allowed, the fans still listen to this type of music and it often upsets community members.  Hip hop is not accepted in Morocco and this music movement is forced underground.  A select few musicians were shown in the documentary that wanted to show the power of hip hop and create a movement with this music.  MC Bigg said that the dream of hip hop in Morocco is not to become famous, but to create a movement where hip hop is accepted in the Muslim community. 

By helping the hip hop musical movement in Morocco, the United States could be seen as trying to push the American and Western way of life onto the more traditional countries such as Morocco.  This help and sponsorship seems to be helping the Western music style grow farther around the world.  The American Embassy could be seen as trying to diminish Islam by changing people’s belief in music.  However, the help with the music festival could also a way to help empower the Moroccan people into creating change in their country by their own initiative, but with financial support in the beginning from the United States.  Hip hop may have started in the United States, but not all people in the US agree with the messages in rap lyrics or even like the style of music.  Hip hop attracts listeners on its own, without the beginners of the style forcing it onto other countries and trying to overtake traditions in that particular country. 

"Yester year's Arabland is today's Arabland."

Arabians are dehumanized in the film industry.  They are thought of stupid and foolish human beings.  The film industry shows Arabs in a way that makes it okay for them to be killed.  One point in particular is the little girl shown in “Rules of Engagement”.  The actor Samuel L. Jackson sees a little girl that only has one leg and he follows her to a hospital where he sees people that were injured in the shooting that he had told his men to engage in.  This little Arabian girl almost makes the audience think that the massacre that had been was not worth it.  Then, it shows the little girl shooting at the soldiers; this again changed the minds of the viewers and shows that even young Arabian children are to be hated.  This kind of imagery makes all Arabs seem to be villains and terrorists in the film industry.  This kind of imagery makes the Arabians seem to be little more than animals that are only worried about themselves and the progression of their causes, beliefs and way of life.  The human characteristics of Arabians are not shown on the silver screen; they are stripped of most emotions, characteristic and general lives.  By doing this, the movie industry makes it alright for people to make fun Arabs.  Arabians are thought of as “sub humans” and therefore can be made fun of on a regular basis throughout the history of movies.  Hollywood keeps Arabians in the past and does not show their cultural growth.  Complexity in the lives of Arabs is hardly ever shown in any films. 

The same stereotypes used in movies in the early black and white days of movies are still used today.  This is especially true for an Arabian woman.  The more the average Arabian woman progresses in her society, the more Hollywood uses her in movies with restrictions from the past.  This is true in the movie “Father of the Bride 2” where an Arabian man is trying to buy main character’s house.  When the wife of the Arabic man tries to speak up, she is silenced by a slew of gibberish.  Arab women in films are also often dressed in “see-through pantaloons” and other such outfits that are revealing.  Belly dancer costumes are quite popular as well for women.  Americans embrace the myth of the stereotypical Arab and does not want their view to change.  These stereotypes are shown to children at a very young age, in cartoon films such as Disney’s “Aladdin”.  This kind of thinking keeps racism present in modern societies.  Americans are brainwashed into believing that all Arabs are terrorists, and foolish ones at that, by the film making companies.  This kind of thinking causes racism to escalate into hate crimes and Americans attacking Arabs and Muslims. 

Another reason Arabs are thought low of is their religion.  Many Arabic people are Muslim.  There is intolerance towards the Islamic religion in the United States.  In a country that is so proud of its many freedoms, including the freedom of religion, it is far away from being accepting of Muslims.  Muslims are often stereotyped as terrorists, because so many Arabs are Muslim and Arabs were the cause for much pandemonium in American.  This includes the 9/11 crisis as well as the oil price increases in the 1970s and kidnapping of American diplomats by Arabic students.  The few things that Arabs have done to American have in turn given America a reason to tarnish the Arabic culture and Islamic religion in the eyes of Hollywood.   During the Oklahoma City bombing investigation, the American government was noted saying that the bombing did seem like something a Middle Easterner would do.  This was an assumption that turned out to be incorrect.  The bombing was organized by a white, Irish, Catholic male.  White, Irish, Catholic males, however, are not stereotyped by the act of this one man.  Although, with the stereotypes given to them, Arabs are all mostly Muslim terrorists because of the way they are shown in Hollywood films. 

The Hollywood film industry makes light of the bad name it gives Arabs.  Americans do not take Arabs seriously.  The way Arabs have acted in the past, from conflicts to oil prices, is a way that Hollywood justifies the degradation of the Arabic people.  Israel and Palestine fight over land in the Middle East.  The American government sides with Israel.  This makes Palestine America’s enemy since the American ally is Israel.  America wants to help Israel defeat Palestine.  With this conflict occurring, Palestine is made into an enemy and used as a terroristic fool in many movies.  This is a way Hollywood justifies the dehumanization of the Palestinian people.  These portrayals in films once again lead to hatred in the United States towards Arab and Muslim people.  Arabs are attacked because of what people think they are because of movies from Hollywood. 

Americans want to believe the myth.  Americans want to believe the fantasy of the oriental.  Arab women are dressed in either revealing belly dancer clothing or covered head to toe in dark clothing.  Men are thought to be terrorists because some Arabic men are against America.  Once one Arab does something that the American public does not agree with, and then all Arabs are grouped together and thought down upon.  This is the view that Americans are shown in almost all movies that include Arabs.  Arabs are always the villains.  “Aladdin” to Indiana Jones and “Back to the Future” all include an Arab as a “bad guy” at some point in the movie.  Also, Arabs are not only the villains, but shown as stupid as well.  Their plans do not go as planned; the Arab is only in the scene for a quick, cheap joke. 

As the documentary played, I was appalled at how often Arabs were used as the villain in so many movies.  As a child I had watched “Aladdin” and had never quite caught the words to the opening song.  This is what people show their children.  After watching this documentary and seeing how often Arabs are used in the same role, it is not surprising that Americans are so intolerant to them.  Movies, a greatly used medium of entertainment in America, show Arabs as stupid villains.  After being shown these images throughout one’s life, how is someone supposed to think of Arabs?  If all someone has ever known is what he or she has seen in movies, then he or she is bound to easily believe what Hollywood has to say about Arabs.  Popular culture degrades the Arab and, consequently, the American public degrades Arabs. 

Participatory Farmer's Market.

When walking into the farmer’s market, there is a lot to take in.  Families stroll the stalls of vegetables homemade foods.  The vegetable stands contain many of the same things.  Tomatoes, corn, green beans and cucumbers, peppers and squash were abundant in the many vendors’ stalls.  At almost every stall, however, were tomatoes.  Big and small, red and orange tomatoes were everywhere.  Flowers are also a big part of the market.  Live plants were for sale and cut flowers were also available at a number of stalls.  The flowers for sale came in a variety of colors and scents and types.  Sunflowers and gladiolas were present, among many others.  The homemade foods were mixed in with the vegetable vendors.   Homemade jams, jellies and maple syrup were placed at their stands.  Candles, soap and lip balm were also among the homemade things available at the market.  Fresh meats and other animal products were also scattered about the market.  Most were advertising grass fed or free-range animals.  

A kind of food court was also present when walking passed the vendors.  Local bakeries and coffee shops were there to sell their goodies.  Some places sold sandwiches as well; the aroma of the cooking meat could be smelled throughout the entire market.  There were also stations set up for community programs around Bloomington.  A pre-school gave a display of their program.  A religious group was set up next to the pre-school.  Across from these two booths was a booth for the Indiana University playgroup.  The girl there was talking about the different plays that had been shown and what was coming up for the next year. A political group was also there, right in front of a band.  They were talking about the local candidate that was with their political party.  At three different locations were band set ups.  When arriving, one set had already been shut down for the day.  The other two were continuing to play.  A band playing a kind of jazzy music was set up in the back.  They were playing a bass, drums and saxophone.  The other band, named Blue Cut, was in the center of the market playing their bass, guitar and harmonica.  The bands were playing “family friendly” music.  They were not cursing or using any kind of derogatory lyrics in the music.  The tempo of the songs was upbeat in a place that was so alive with people at the time. 

The people at the farmer’s market were mostly families.  Couples could be seen by the dozen pushing their babes around in strollers or watching over walking toddlers as the parents browsed the many goods available.   Some brought the family dog and walked around the shady, grass area and took turns going into the market.  However, dogs were not allowed to be in the market itself.  An adopt-a-dog station was set up where the animals were allowed.  Children could come and pet the dogs while the marketers pitched a campaign to help the dogs and become adopted.  This grassy area was leveled slightly so that there were ledges that people could comfortably sit on and rest in the heat of the day.  Many families were stationed here while the children played in the empty fountain within view. 

The presence of so many families and people with children does not mean that other age groups were not present as well.  Older men and women stood alongside the families at the various booths.  The older people were often in pairs or groups; it was seldom to see an older man or woman walking around without a companion.  Younger adults were also splayed around the farmer’s market.  All age groups, from infants to older adults, were scattered throughout the farmer’s market. 

The music played at the market was “family friendly” and appealed to a wide diversity of people.  There were different kinds of music being played at different spots in the market.  People of all age groups were present.  The farmer’s market is a family orientated function in the Bloomington community.  The food stands offer healthy choices of fresh vegetables and fruits, meats and homemade goodies.  The city of Bloomington is in support of healthy lifestyle choices and those choices are reflected at the city’s farmer’s market.  “Organic” and “pesticide free” are many signs that are proudly hung from many of the vendor’s stalls. 

The community comes together and participates together at the farmer’s market.  Everyone is encouraged to come and join.  This participation can be seen as shopping, selling, making music or just strolling through and taking the whole thing in.  This community participation shows a relationship to the way participatory music is made.  Everyone is encouraged to join and do whatever it is that can the person can do to help out, whether it be to support the local farmer’s market or make music.

Dixie Chicks: A War on Freedom of Speech

After the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the popular music of America changed.  Patriotic anthems announcing America's vengeance came out continuously.  Country musicians were at the front to defend their country through song.  Opposition was not an option in the eyes of many Americans.  Those who did oppose the War on Terror and President Bush were criticized in the media.  One such band that was ostracized was the Dixie Chicks.  Freedom of speech was only taken into context when it was what the majority of the American population agreed with, although many people were against what the president set into action.  However, they were pushed aside and talked down about because of using their freedom of speech to protest.   

               At a concert in London, singer Natalie Maines made an "un-patriotic" comment between the band’s song set.  She stated that the band, like most of the British, were against the war on terror and was ashamed that President Bush was from her home state of Texas.  Her comment was said to have been used to bolster moral at the concert, however, it was used to bring the band down and used against them.  What she said was as an entertainer and not a politician and should have been taken as such.  The Dixie Chicks were used as an example of an "un-American" band.  After returning to the States, their concerts were picketed.  The picketers put derogatory comments about the ladies on signs, but this was okay in the media.  Media members also made comments about them, saying they should be "slapped around" and were "bimbos".  Such comments were not taken as politically incorrect, although they were in support of abusive situations.  They were boycotted on radio stations.

               This comment made by Maines was her asserting her freedom of speech.  She was victimized by the media, along with the others in her band.  Another comment made about the Dixie Chicks was that "freedom of speech is a two-way street."  The freedom of speech issue in contemporary music was not taken as a two-way street during this time after 9/11.  Media and protesters could say what they pleased about the Dixie Chicks and other people that did not agree with the war and Bush.  Singers, such as Toby Keith, who wrote patriotic songs about America's resistance to be defeated, were praised for their songs.  This “two-way street” of the freedom of speech was not upheld.  If what the singers had to say was patriotic and defending the “American way” they were thought of great Americans.  If a majority of people did not like what someone had said, they were protested against and treated as though they were defending the terrorists and the attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon.  This was the case with the Dixie Chicks and their protesters.  These “All-American” girls were thought to be siding with the attackers.  Former fans were disgusted with the words of Maines.  On the other hand, boycotters and protesters said inappropriate things about the Dixie Chicks and their words were not ever questioned.  These people were conveyed on the news as good, all-American citizens that were just standing up for their country. 

               People were hypocrites during the post-9/11 years in contemporary music.  Many artists that sang songs about being pro-war and pro-America were actually against the war.  They sang these songs to boost morale among the country with the defending and remembering 9/11 lyrics, when the singers themselves were anti-war.  Artists said what American citizens wanted to hear, not what the artists believed.  The singers did not what their careers to be smashed apart, as the Dixie Chicks had been.  However, the Dixie Chicks never recanted.  Yes, Maines apologized, but she stood her ground against the war during the onslaught of abusive media coverage.  These women stayed strong during everything that was thrown at them following the London incident.  She supported the troops in what they were doing, but did not support the president for sending them to Iraq in the first place.  America went into an uproar over this.  Other musicians, including Toby Keith, used this to an advantage.  Bashing the Dixie Chicks boosted support for their music, while it diminished the fan base of the Dixie Chicks’.  Altogether, the media, general public and colleagues of the Dixie Chicks turned their hate on the ladies.  This shows intolerance for opposing viewpoints on the war in Iraq and an infringement on the Dixie Chicks’ freedom of speech.  “Freedom of speech is a two-way street” when people want to talk bad about others when they do not agree upon a topic.  However, it seems to not be okay for people, in this case the Dixie Chicks, to oppose what others think is right.  The “bashers” think it is alright for them to degrade people of a different viewpoint, but not alright for those same people to even voice their opinion.  The general public, the Americans that are so patriotic and supportive of their country, seemed to be trying to take away the Dixie Chicks’ freedom of speech just because they did not like what the Dixie Chicks had to say. 

               The actions of the American people were uncalled for.  They over reacted to a simple comment made by the Dixie Chicks.  The comment itself was not meant to be a political statement and should not have been used as such.  Maines was only stating her opinion to a crowd of people in between songs at a small concert.  The Dixie Chicks were used as an example.  They were quickly put in a situation that they had not meant to get into.  The American public, especially the country music fans and Dixie Chicks fans, were quick to point a finger of disapproval at them for acting in such an un-patriotic manner and being ashamed of their president.  The statements made against the Dixie Chicks by the media were much worse than what the Dixie Chicks had originally said.  Maines received death threats for only being ashamed of the president and against the war on terror.  People became extreme in their hate for these women, when what they said was only their opinion taken out of context.  It was said from an entertainer’s point of view, but used as a politician’s.