Charlie Daniels angers Arab community

Aug. 5, 2004 | DEARBORN, Mich. (AP) -- Charlie Daniels, the man who wrote and sang "This Ain't No Rag, It's a Flag," is drawing heat from Arab-Americans who say it refers to a derogatory term used against them.

Daniels, 67, is scheduled to perform Saturday in Dearborn, the center of southeastern Michigan's 300,000-member Arab-American community.

After the Sept. 11 terror attacks, Daniels wrote and recorded the song, which became a country hit.

It begins:

"This ain't no rag, it's a flag and we don't wear it on our heads. It's a symbol of the land where the good guys live. Are you listening to what I said?"

On Saturday, the Charlie Daniels Band will perform at the city-sponsored Homecoming Festival.

"Someone who is trying to get popular through bigotry, bias and hatred should not be welcome, especially in a city like Dearborn with its rich diversity," Imad Hamad, regional director of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, told the Detroit Free Press.

City spokeswoman Mary Laundroche said no formal complaints have been received about the performance and the show will go on.

"Ragheads" is a slur used against Arabs, Muslims and others who wear turbans or cover their heads.

Daniels says the song is not directed at Arabs and Muslims in general, just at turbaned terrorists like Osama bin Laden.

"It's not anti-Arab or anti-anything," he said Wednesday by phone from Tennessee, where he lives. "The only thing it's `anti' is the people who bombed us on 9/11. I have people who say you're putting down people who wear turbans. I'm not."

"There are good Arabs and bad Arabs, good Greeks and bad Greeks, good people and bad people in any race," Daniels said. "I'm not a racist person. I came up during the old Jim Crow days. I know what racism is."

See The devil went down to Georgia by Primus?

"This ain't no rag, it's a flag and we don't wear it on our heads. It's a symbol of the land where the good guys live. Are you listening to what I said?"


this aint no song.. its a product.. we sell it in our stores. If you share it online, we call you a thief, give us money we want more"

these lyrics are horrid, yes its true, god damn it they are trite. If youre unfortunate enough, to hear this song, we suggest suicide.

" "Ragheads" is a slur used against Arabs, Muslims and others who wear turbans or cover their heads."

The traditional Arab headdress is the Shemagh Head Cover
A simple wrap-around head covering with fringe that can be found in every desert area of the world, essential for protecting eyes, nose, mouth and neck. Many other uses e.g. towel, neck warmer etc. 100% cotton.
http://www.laila.co.il/wwcam/Shemagh/shemagh.htm

But, we can't expect such a fine gentleman, the portly, beer guzzling
Daniels to be sensitive to culture of use the internet to get the proper term for Arabic head dress.
See Daniels' open letter
http://www.minibite.com/america/openletter.htm

By using the generic term "turban", he invokes the image of the particular headdress worn by followers of the Sikh religion.
"Turban (Arabic imamah, Persian dulband) is a headdress

Headgear, headwear or headdress is the name given to any element of clothing which is worn on one's head. Common forms of headgear include hats, caps, bonnets, hoods, headscarves and helmets. Headgear can have great symbolic significance: in a monarchy, for example, royalty often have special crowns. Hair accessories and replacements, such as wigs, may also be included in the category of headgear."
"In India The Republic of India, located in South Asia and comprising most of the Indian subcontinent is the second most populous country in the world and is the world's largest democracy, with over one billion people speaking more than one hundred distinct languages. The Indian economy is the fourth-largest in the world, in terms of purchasing power parity. India borders Bangladesh, Myanmar, China, Bhutan, Nepal and Pakistan, with Sri Lanka and the Maldives just across the Indian mainland in the Indian Ocean.
..... Click the link for more information. name of the turban is a pagdi. There exists different variations of the headdress, depending on the region and religion. In fact, in Rajasthan it is said that the style of the turban changes with every 15 km you travel. Other thing is that Rajput turbans are different from Sikh The word Sikh is derived from the Sanskrit word ‘shishya’ which means ‘disciple’ or ’Student’ or ’Learner’. In the Punjabi language the word Sikh also means to learn. So a Sikh is a Disciple of the Guru. Sikhism the religion of the Sikhs has a total of Ten Gurus. The Sikh is a follower of the teaching of these ten Gurus, Masters or Prophets and many Hindu and Muslim Saints whose teaching are incorporated in the Sikh’s perpetual authority, the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. To the Sikhs, this is more than a Holy Book. Guru Nanak Dev Ji (1469 – 1539) was the first Sikh Guru, while Guru Gobind Singh Ji (1666 – 170 was the last human Guru of the Sikhs.
..... Click the link for more information. turbans, which are in turn different from the classical Arab The word Arab is most commonly used to refer to any person of the Middle East or North Africa whose mother tongue is the Arabic language; it is used in this sense for such terms as Arab World, Arab League. In this sense, there are nearly 300 million Arabs. The term is sometimes incorrectly used to refer to anyone originating in this area; however, many non-Arabic-speaking groups, such as the Berber
..... Click the link for more information. turbans. The Sikh pagdi is also called dastar, which is a more respectful word in Punjabi


Punjabi (sometimes spelled Panjabi) is the language of the Punjab regions of India and Pakistan. It is an Indo-European language of the Indo-Iranian subfamily.

Punjabi is the official language of the Indian state of Punjab, and is also spoken in neighbouring areas such as Haryana and Delhi. In Pakistan, however, it is not an official language and has no official status in education. In formal contexts, such as government, newspapers, and education, as well as in most writing, Pakistani Punjabi speakers tend to use Urdu and English, which are the nation's official tongues. This has led to resentment from many Punjabi speakers, who form the largest single linguistic group in Pakistan.
..... Click the link for more information. for the turban. There are also royal turbans from different parts of India The Republic of India, located in South Asia and comprising most of the Indian subcontinent is the second most populous country in the world and is the world's largest democracy, with over one billion people speaking more than one hundred distinct languages. The Indian economy is the fourth-largest in the world, in terms of purchasing power parity. India borders Bangladesh, Myanmar, China, Bhutan, Nepal and Pakistan, with Sri Lanka and the Maldives just across the Indian mainland in the Indian Ocean."

The fact is that many Indians have been targetted for searches and harassment because people have not taken the time to learn the difference between the Arabic Shemagh and the Indian pagdi (the Sikhs also call theirs the "dastar").

I've never liked Charlie Daniels' brand of music. His tired Devil Went Down to Georgia is pitiful.

But, what are other people saying about beer belly Charlie?
http://www.countrystandardtime.com/charliedanielsbandCONCERT.html
"With a big old cowboy hat pulled completely over his eyes, a belt buckle the size of a monster truck hubcap and a full beard that rises and falls piston-like with every chomp of his chewing gum, Daniels looks more than a little like a cartoon figure on first glance."
AND THIS IF FROM A PRO-CHARLIE DANIELS AND HIS POLITICAL STAND SITE!

For my Southern Rock Needs...I stick to Greg Allman or Lynyrd Skynyrd.

And, what the hell does Charlie keep chewing....
I thought it used to be wacky tobaccky (chewing tobacco), but it may be gum.

With his girth and long beard, watching him stand onstage with his oversize hat pulled low on his brow, he looks like a fat buffalo dressed up comically to look like a cowboy, but chewing his cud nonstop during this merciless abuse of his fiddle.

I don't like Charlie.

its not a "fiddle" its a violin.. it plays a sweet tune..
country singers often abuse it, making it scream for mercy as they crune.

YEEEEEEEE-HAAAAAAAA!!!!
Don't it bring you down home, Alabama.

Awehr, god help me I hear the song!

Awher...you ain't been down south brother if you think that.

Many country singers say that they play a fiddle, and those high brow classic music folks play "violins"

http://www.folkofthewood.com/page4779.htm
"Subject: Re: Question
Date: Sun, 11 Apr 2004 22:13:00 +0100

Hi,

I've a question, what's the difference between a Fiddle and a Violin?
Is it just the style you play or are the instruments different?
Finally which is the best style to learn I'll be mainly playing Irish tunes.

Regards,

Colin Forster.
Ireland.

Greetings Colin,

Essentially, a violin and fiddle are one and the same instrument...the approach to the instrument differentiates its label as a fiddle or a violin...additionally, some fiddlers will flatten their bridge so that they can play a double-stop with ease (this is when the fiddler plays two stings at once)...hence, the set-up of the violin can also reveal the violin as a fiddle...or at least intended to be played as a fiddle.

For Irish Tunes, you'll be pursuing the fiddle...the violin is normally played within a classical context...

Hope this helps...Mickey"

http://www.fresno-violin-lessons.com/violin_history/index.asp
"Renaissance Fiddle
Five strings, one of which may be a drone
Soprano register
Constructed of a top and back with connecting ribs
Separate neck, peg box, fingerboard
Frets
Front pegs, heart or leaf-shaped peg box
Oval or indented shape "

http://tinpan.fortunecity.com/rumba/413/thebigquestion.html
"Way back in the medieval days any instrument that was played with a bow was called a fiddle or depending on one's native langauage a fedylle, fiele, ffythele, phidil, vithele in English; viele, vielle, viula in French; Fiedel, Videl, Vigel in German; viella, vidula, viola, in Latin; fele in Norwegian; and vihuela de arco in Spanish.
Colloquially, "fiddle" is the term most often used for member of the violin family or for the "kit," the dance master's fiddle.

You can see from sounding out the words above that fiddle is probably the term that would have most easily evolved if the English and the Germans had perfected the instrument that we know today as the Violin. But it came into its own in Italy. And the Italian words for "fiddle" sound more like "violin." "

http://www.countrystars.com/legends/bios/daniels_c.html
"Daniels knows that the fun factor leads to great success. Think about the sheer fiddle-playing joy that screams through his 1979 pop and country chart-topper,"

From the lyrics of beer barrel belly Charlie in "The Devil Went Down to Georgia"

"I guess you didn't know it
but I'm a fiddle player too
And if you care to take a dare I'll make a bet with you

Now you play a pretty good fiddle, boy
But give the devil his due
I'll bet a fiddle of gold
Against your soul
'Cause I think I'm better than you "

And, remember, you can "fiddle around with your instrument"
but you can't "violin around with your instrument"

Sweet Home Alabama or Freebird beats any Charlie Daniels song hands down.

Charlie continues to call it a fiddle and not a violin
http://www.top50lyrics.com/c/charliedanielsband-lyrics-5781.html
Charlie Daniels Band - Boogie Woogie Fiddle Country Blues Lyrics
Charlie Daniels Band - The Fiddle Player'S Got The Blues Lyrics

On the top 50 site, you can find fat Charlie's song lyrics.

A fiddle is a violin that costs less than $500.00

I know lots of people who play country music...being a native Texan, born and raised here, and living in Austin for 10 years...not one of them I know calls their instrument a violin....they claim they play the fiddle.

"A fiddle is a violin that costs less than $500.00"

LOL!

One Austin group I like and have talked to members is

http://www.convicthillgang.com/

You'll notice Nancy Fry lists the instruments she plays...
"Nancy Fly - Piano, Accordion, Fiddle, Vocals "

In general I would say that a big difference between fiddles and violins, would involve the following...
1) Fiddles are usually played in folk ,bluegrass, or counry music...
2) The style of playing.

Cost may also be a factor as leflaw said. Most people trying to purchase a "Strad" tend to call it a violin.

It's like then difference between European bees and Africanized "killer" bees....the differences are often more functional than structural.
I tend to think of violins as European bees, and the fiddle like the Killer bee.

Aside from the fact that Charlie Daniels is a musician, the only reason he is being lamblasted here is because he is a Republican.

ho hum

I think it might be because of his lyrics -- ragheads anyone?

I was running sound for the "Country Treasures" stage show at Dollywood a couple years ago and Charlie Daniels was playing up the hill at another of the theaters. One of the wireless mics being used by a singer in the show I was running happened to be on the same frequency as the wireless guitar pickup for Charlie's lead guitarist. It was funny.

Truthfully, that is the first time I heard the term "Ragheads"
Around here, it is "Towelheads"

darn typos...meant "country music"...not "counry"....
carry on...


Around here, we call the majority of terrorists who allegedly brought down the towers on 9/11, Saudis....
but, if one must be coarse, whatever happened to camel jockeys?

Again...1000 quatloos to whoever can name the substance that Charlie Daniels is constantly chewing onstage. I vote it is his cud

http://www.ag.ohio-state.edu/~twig/animals/html/022397.html
"Do cows chew gum?
Sorry, friends. Comfortable cows chewing away in a pasture aren't getting ready to blow a super-sized bubble. They're munching on food they've just spit up, more politely known as "chewing their cud." "

In humans, chewing your cud is called merycism.

here it's sand ni**ers

Then again, the line could be refering to people who use the flag as a bandana, but, this being a country that believes political correctness is gospel, the words have been construed to mean Arabs.

If he'd wrote a song about people getting drunk and crashing their cars, then the Irish would get into an uproar. If it were about wine drinkers who happened to eat cheese, then the French would be pissed.

You can't even talk anymore without fear of offending someone.

Jeff Foxworthy is our poet laureate for the South.

I want him to add this one to his "you might be a redneck if" routine.

If the nation sees your pregnant sister, cigarette dangling from her mouth,
smiling and pointing to an Iraqi prisoner's privates...
You MIGHT be a redneck.

White people are the coolest.

I haven't been very happy with ol' Charlie since I heard him say what he sells is a "commodity." Toilet paper is a "commodity," a CD is a "commodity;" but I never considered music a commodity. I feel so enlightened. Thanks, Charlie.

funny thing.. racists are the last people to see themselves as such.. total denial! I love Ricky Skaggs and Dolly Parton and Reba but offensive is offensive.. be it political or religious or whatever..

BOYCOTT. EDUCATE. REGISTER. VOTE.

OK, first off...here's the laughable statement...

"Someone who is trying to get popular through bigotry, bias and hatred should not be welcome, especially in a city like Dearborn with its rich diversity," Imad Hamad, regional director of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, told the Detroit Free Press.

*** Did someone miss the fact that this man's been a powerful force in the music scene for 30 years? "Trying to get popular"? Now THAT'S ignorance at it's best.

" this aint no song.. its a product.. we sell it in our stores. If you share it online, we call you a thief, give us money we want more"

these lyrics are horrid, yes its true, god damn it they are trite. If youre unfortunate enough, to hear this song, we suggest suicide. "

In the scheme of things, Charlie Daniels has shown more honesty and integrity in his music than damn near any other that I know of...and I know quite a few...you see one line...have you bothered to find out what the rest of it says?

So, apparantly patriotism must be new and inventive? Why is a simple man making a simple statement trite?

CodeWarrior: the long definition of the headdress / turban / whatever was interesting, though kind of silly. Why should it make a difference if he didn't hit it so accurately? All this pertains to is semantics...as for your other comments, very articulate, well documented, of course and considered...I can respect that. Personally, I like Charlie, he makes great music and has fun doing it. That's what it's all about.

"With a big old cowboy hat pulled completely over his eyes, a belt buckle the size of a monster truck hubcap and a full beard that rises and falls piston-like with every chomp of his chewing gum, Daniels looks more than a little like a cartoon figure on first glance."

Sure he does...it's one of his charms. Since when did everyone have to be "serious" all the time? There's always room for humor. I saw him perform last night and it was incredible. At 67 years old, he put on a better show than a lot of younger artists.

As Southern Rock goes...the CDB ranks as one of the best...along with Skynyrd and Allman (who Charlie sings praises to also).

---

I like this one...

" its not a "fiddle" its a violin.. it plays a sweet tune..
country singers often abuse it, making it scream for mercy as they crune. "

It's BOTH...from different viewpoints. Each one bringing out unique feelings in the listener. And yes, I enjoy BOTH versions.


CodeWarrior: gotta go again...

Charlie continues to call it a fiddle and not a violin

so, which is it? "Pop" or "Soda"? Semantics again.

Well, gotta go...be back soon.

Charlie Daniels is a washed up ol' fat redneck drunk who saw dollar signs in violating the very existence of democracy and America. For this, he is a traitor. Most of the people he refers to as "ragheads" are actually Sihks. The only thing they had in common with 9/11 and the terrorists is white trash a**holes like Charlie Daniels thought they were Arabs. Far from it. History shows the Sihks fought courageously on the side of the British for centuries and on the Allied side during WWI & WWII... AGAINST THE MUSLIM TURKS!!
I don't even know why he calls it songs... he doesn't sing, he talks his way through it.

BTW - what's with that pajama looking shirt he's wearing in this pic?? It looks like something a 5 year old okie wears to bed.

Hey Skippy -

Got a question / favor...for all on this one, actually. Look up the COMPLETE lyrics for this song. This line is the only one where "rag" and "head" appear remotely close together...

" Charlie Daniels is a washed up ol' fat redneck drunk who saw dollar signs in violating the very existence of democracy and America. For this, he is a traitor. "

--- This is the IGNORANCE. First off, what do you know about Charlie at all? Have you met him? Have you seen his shows? Have you spoken with him? This is a much more incendiary statement than anything he's said...and to call Charlie Daniels a traitor is tantamount to calling Christ a devil-worshipper!

" Most of the people he refers to as "ragheads" are actually Sihks. "

----
Hey, chief...take a closer look...he doesn't refer to ANYONE as a rag head! It's an indirect association.

" The only thing they had in common with 9/11 and the terrorists is white trash a**holes like Charlie Daniels thought they were Arabs. "

---
So, calling Charlie a white trash a**hole makes you any better? Sounds to me like you are a great deal more ignorant than he could ever be.

" History shows the Sihks fought courageously on the side of the British for centuries and on the Allied side during WWI & WWII... AGAINST THE MUSLIM TURKS!! "

--- Then I can believe that Charlie would honor that courage alongside everyone else he pays respect to in his music.

" I don't even know why he calls it songs... he doesn't sing, he talks his way through it. "

---Gee, kinda like rap "music", huh? His singing on "How Great Thou Art" when I saw him Thursday night was very nicely done.

****
There are many things about this that irritate me. First, he said he wasn't going to play the song...probably wasn't going to anyway. Second, the song is TWO YEARS OLD! If this is so "offensive" it sure took a hell of a long time for these people to figure it out! Third, when I saw the Charlie Daniels Band the other night, it was one of the few times in recent years that I saw as much of "Band" as I did of Charlie Daniels. The album that this song hailed from, "Freedom And Justice For All" was simply Charlie's response to the tragedy our nation had endured. Many artists did exactly the same...are we all so cynical and jaded that we have to attack someone for simply releasing a product that he believes in?

If so...then Osama and his gang are well on their way to winning.

It looks like some people need to get a better grasp on the definition of the word "treason"....(yeah, go for it CodeWarrior...the set-up is there...

Charlie is one of a very few individuals that I would be proud to have by my side in any situation.