An interesting tale over the last couple of days almost made for the 24-hour news cycle. On Tuesday, the philanthropic arm of the Country Music Association announced the election of former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee to its board of directors. Huckabee, a Republican who believes in creationism and sometime host on the Christian channel Trinity Broadcast Network, was to serve on the 12-member board of the group, whose stated mission is in “improving and sustaining music education programs” across the country and ensuring “every child has the opportunity to participate in music education.”
Move forward a day and Monument Records label exec, the openly gay Jason Owen who manages the likes of Kacey Musgraves and Faith Hill wrote a letter to the CMA Foundation board which read: “It is with a heavy heart that I must let you know moving forward, Sandbox and Monument will no longer support the CMA Foundation in any way (this includes everyone we represent collectively) considering the heartbreaking news shared today regarding Mike Huckabee appointee/elected to the CMA Foundation. As you may know I have a child and two on the way. This man has made it clear that my family is not welcome in his America. And the CMA has opened their arms to him, making him feel welcome and relevant … This was a detrimentally poor choice by the CMA and its leaders.”
Then finally yesterday the CMA changed their mind and told RS Country “The CMA Foundation has accepted former Governor Mike Huckabee’s resignation from its Board of Directors, effective immediately.” So a happy ending all round. Mind you his daughter Sarah Huckabee Sanders is White House press secretary to Donald Trump so prepare for the inevitable wade in via Twitter.
Not even going to get into a discussion on creatonism (!!) Martyn. I completely get what Jason Owen is saying too and the real damage someone like Huckabee’s views can do to gay kids growing up whether they want to be country musicians or not. It wasn’t just Owen – there was a massive backlash against it from various sources (Billboard has more).
Not sure where you’re going with this Martyn. What is it that you can’t say about sexuality that you should be allowed to?
Ffs it’s not militant to defend your rights as a gay man Martyn, I got past that bullshit in the 80s when I was coming out and thankfully we have moved on as a country. If the AMA-UK appointed anyone with Huckabee’s repulsive views to their board then I’d do exactly the same with Americana UK and pull our support. Faith is no justification for prejudice. He’s compared gay marriage to incest, opposes socialised healthcare, is anti-immigrant and supports the NRA. If that makes him a “good man” then I’m not sure which bible you’re reading buddy.
Evolution isn’t based on faith, Martyn – it’s based on the scientific method. Big, big difference between the two. And the idea that you can box off music from belief in superstition is frankly nonsensical. Music is political – as is just about everything else.
Absolutely not having that Martyn. There’s such a thing as the fossil record for a start, whereas you’re wholly reliant on faith – you know – that thing that absolutely can’t be tested. That’s why drawing some equivalence between Christianity and evolution is insulting. You can disparage fortune tellers and horoscopes all you like, but this is no more junk to me than your belief in God. Frankly, I’ve no less reason to believe there are fairies at the bottom of your garden than accepting your belief in a higher being. Respect the believer, but not the belief as Tim Garton Ash said. Maybe you are better out of AUK if you’re as thin skinned as you come across.
Speaking as a fossil myself i can attest to the theory of evolution and confirm it is indeed fact.