Toby Keith - Advocate of lynching? - Page 2

BarTopDancer · 08-13-2008, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moonliner

"Hang them high in the street. For all the people to see."

I think it clearly advocates for lynching, just not racially motivated lynching.

Unfortunately I was posting during a mini-crisis at work and hit submit before finishing.

Those are my thoughts, and I am going to edit my post to reflect them.

Moonliner · 08-13-2008, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LSPoorEeyorick

OK, OK. You're right, the song itself isn't promoting racially-motivated lynching. I think the video may be. And history is full of racially-motivated lynching disguised as justice (and doled out all too often to innocent people.)

You can say the same thing about justice. History is full of racially-motivated crimes disguised as justice. White juries against black defendants, local sheriff's abusing their power etc... Does that make the Pledge of Allegiance racist because it mentions justice?

LSPoorEeyorick · 08-13-2008, 01:29 PM

This is entirely true; it's not a fair world and all kinds of people have suffered in different ways, at the hands of others. Whether it be by bench or tree. Still - I'd prefer my justice to be doled out through a legal system instead of by mob rule. And I'd prefer it didn't involve death.

Moonliner · 08-13-2008, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LSPoorEeyorick

This is entirely true; it's not a fair world and all kinds of people have suffered in different ways, at the hands of others. Whether it be by bench or tree. Still - I'd prefer my justice to be doled out through a legal system instead of by mob rule. And I'd prefer it didn't involve death.

That is a fair criticism of the song. It does advocate for vigilantism justice. Still it's just a song and not a political manifesto. I would tend to treat it as puffery more than a call to action. Plus it has a good beat and I can line dance to it...

BarTopDancer · 08-13-2008, 01:39 PM

I'd like to remind everyone that it came out in 2003. I understand that the movie is coming out now (and I have no idea what it's about). Think of the political climate in 2003 when it was released. It was probably written a year or so before that. Much like Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue advocates ass-kicking back in 2001.

Last time I checked Toby keith was a country music singer, not a political activist. If Bono sang this type of song I may have a different opinion since he is a singer and a political activist (for peace).

Strangler Lewis · 08-13-2008, 01:50 PM

Last time I checked, Toby Keith was a vocal supporter of the Republican party, which prides itself on being anti-crime and not overly preoccupied with due process.

Strangler Lewis · 08-13-2008, 01:53 PM

Last time I checked, the same excuse was made for Rush Limbaugh every time he put his foot in it. "Hey, he's an entertainer. He has no impact." Yet somehow when damaging filth and stupidity emanates from a presumptively liberal Hollywood source, the right can't seem to say "Hey, it's only a movie."

Moonliner · 08-13-2008, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Strangler Lewis

Last time I checked, the same excuse was made for Rush Limbaugh every time he put his foot in it. "Hey, he's an entertainer. He has no impact." Yet somehow when damaging filth and stupidity emanates from a presumptively liberal Hollywood source, the right can't seem to say "Hey, it's only a movie."

Limbaugh is a political commentator who is trying to have a political impact. So yes, calling Rush an "entertainer" is BS.

However I don't think this song is a call to arms in the same way as Rush trying to sabotage the Democratic primaries by encouraging Republicans to vote in them. Terms like "damaging filth" and "stupidity" hardly apply.

LSPoorEeyorick · 08-13-2008, 02:10 PM

Well, I honestly don't care if you're a political activist, a singer or my next-door-neighbor. If you're glorifying mob-rule public hangings, I don't have much respect for you.

Strangler Lewis · 08-13-2008, 02:13 PM

Well, now I've watched the video, and I have to say I have no idea what point is trying to be made. On the one hand, the video appears to portray legitimate crime solving techniques. On the other hand, other parts of the video and the lyrics very clearly say that you can trust a bunch of drunks with guns who happen to be standing around a bar to figure out truth and dispense justice.

08-13-2008, 01:29 PM	#13
LSPoorEeyorick scribblin' Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: in the moment Posts: 3,872	This is entirely true; it's not a fair world and all kinds of people have suffered in different ways, at the hands of others. Whether it be by bench or tree. Still - I'd prefer my justice to be doled out through a legal system instead of by mob rule. And I'd prefer it didn't involve death.
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08-13-2008, 01:39 PM	#15
BarTopDancer Prepping... Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Here, there, everywhere Posts: 11,405	I'd like to remind everyone that it came out in 2003. I understand that the movie is coming out now (and I have no idea what it's about). Think of the political climate in 2003 when it was released. It was probably written a year or so before that. Much like Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue advocates ass-kicking back in 2001. Last time I checked Toby keith was a country music singer, not a political activist. If Bono sang this type of song I may have a different opinion since he is a singer and a political activist (for peace). __________________ Spork is the new MacGyver Postcards From My Edge
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08-13-2008, 01:50 PM	#16
Strangler Lewis Doing The Job Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: In a state Posts: 3,956	Last time I checked, Toby Keith was a vocal supporter of the Republican party, which prides itself on being anti-crime and not overly preoccupied with due process. __________________ Live now-pay later. Diner's Club!
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08-13-2008, 01:53 PM	#17
Strangler Lewis Doing The Job Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: In a state Posts: 3,956	Last time I checked, the same excuse was made for Rush Limbaugh every time he put his foot in it. "Hey, he's an entertainer. He has no impact." Yet somehow when damaging filth and stupidity emanates from a presumptively liberal Hollywood source, the right can't seem to say "Hey, it's only a movie." __________________ Live now-pay later. Diner's Club!
	Submit to Quotes

08-13-2008, 02:10 PM	#19
LSPoorEeyorick scribblin' Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: in the moment Posts: 3,872	Well, I honestly don't care if you're a political activist, a singer or my next-door-neighbor. If you're glorifying mob-rule public hangings, I don't have much respect for you.
	Submit to Quotes

08-13-2008, 02:13 PM	#20
Strangler Lewis Doing The Job Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: In a state Posts: 3,956	Well, now I've watched the video, and I have to say I have no idea what point is trying to be made. On the one hand, the video appears to portray legitimate crime solving techniques. On the other hand, other parts of the video and the lyrics very clearly say that you can trust a bunch of drunks with guns who happen to be standing around a bar to figure out truth and dispense justice. __________________ Live now-pay later. Diner's Club!
	Submit to Quotes