Women don't 'shut up and sing' at movie screening

Sisters Movie House hosted an evening of entertainment celebrating American freedom of expression last Wednesday.

On January 31, Sisters Movie House hosted a concert featuring the award winning singer/songwriter Katie Cavanaugh and Anastacia Scott and her group, Threes. Their performances were followed by a showing of the controversial "Shut up and Sing," the British documentary that chronicles the Dixie Chicks' plunge into an ideological firestorm in the wake of an onstage jab at President George W. Bush.

"I have been having a group of people asking about this particular film for at least five months," said Lisa Clausen, owner of Sisters Movie House.

Some had come from Madras and Prineville to see the documentary.

Introducing the musicians, Clausen said, "I wanted to have sassy women from Sisters sing before a film about sassy women."

That mood was key to the evening's entertainment.

A new face made its appearance in Cavanaugh's group. Cavanaugh's sister Carey Boyce joined Doug, Cavanaugh's husband, to make the familiar duo a trio.

"This is a childhood thing that we did together," Katie Cavanaugh said. "We have been singing together, and I said why don't you just come up on the stage and see where it goes from here."

Both groups' performances were dynamic and set the tone for the weighty film.

"I never thought I would be opening for the Dixie Chicks," Scott said, bringing a hearty round of applause.

The Dixie Chicks held the honor of being the best selling female band of all time in 2003 until Natalie Maines, the lead singer, made the comment: "Just so you know, we're ashamed the president of the United States is from Texas." The off-the-cuff comment was made at a London concert while President George W. Bush was preparing to take America into war in Iraq.

On the day of the initial comment, the largest march in London's history took place with crowd estimates of over one million as people lined the streets to protest the upcoming war. Two days later, Maines attempted to clarify her remark by saying, "I feel the President is ignoring the opinions of many in the U.S. and alienating the rest of the world."

The comments by Maines ignited a firestorm of outrage and boycotts of the troupe's music by radio stations nationwide. The Dixie Chicks were soon branded as unpatriotic traitors and regularly received death threats.

"It was a grievous time," Cavanaugh said. "I was feeling the frustration of not being in favor of this war. Yet, whenever I would speak out I was told I was being unpatriotic. That wasn't it. I support the troops and love my country. I just believe that this was an unlawful war."

Today, nearly four years later, an American majority might be less excited over Maines' comments. The latest national polls place President Bush's job approval rating at only 28 percent, the lowest approval rating ever recorded for a sitting president. Even in Texas, where the President has remained popular, the polls show that 59 percent of those polled now oppose the Iraq war.

Yet, the hatred of the Dixie Chicks and blacklisting of their music still remain.

Scott reflected on the lingering bitterness and said, "I think it's really, really difficult for people to admit they are wrong. It is easier to just point the finger and keep it that way."

Maines would agree.

"It is easy to sit behind the anonymity of a computer and send hate when you don't have to face the person," she has said.

Sisters Movie House received an angry e-mail, and Clausen said, "I was surprised by the vitriol and the use of the "F" word. A part of you says, 'Oh my God, it is still happening all these years later.'"

Bob Hocker of Redmond, author of the e-mail, refused comment on either the e-mail or movie when contacted.

Cavanaugh wants to see the Dixie Chicks vindicated.

"I think we can all say that we believed the lie and took the stand for what seemed to be right at the time. I think the country owes them (the Dixie Chicks) an ear. I think they owe them the opportunity to be heard again and to rightfully be placed back in their position of being significant musicians of the time," she said.