An absolute right, for some of the people some of the time

A central component of liberal democracy, free speech faces challenges from all directions, from Islamist death sentences to the ‘no platform’ movement in universities, writes TP O’Mahony

THE headline could hardly be more apposite: “Was it something we said?” It was indeed something they said as, even now, a section of American society has still not forgiven the Dixie Chicks for speaking out against George W Bush on the eve of the invasion of Iraq.

It happened during a concert at Shepherd’s Bush Empire in London on March 10, 2003. The Texan bluegrass trio were about to perform ‘Travellin’ Soldier’, a song about a heartsick Vietnam GI, when lead singer Natalie Maines leaned into the microphone and quipped: “Just so you know, we’re ashamed that the president of the United States is from Texas.”