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April 23, 2009

Oklahoma Legislature Votes Against State Song By Those Flaming Lips Commies "Do You Realize???" was voted Oklahoma state song! Until it wasn't: "The Oklahoma House rejected a resolution today to name a song by The Flaming Lips as the state's official rock song because one of the band members wore a T-shirt bearing a symbol associated with the Communist Party while at the state Capitol last month." Full story and vid of the wardrobe malfunction at NewsOK. (UPDATE: Overruled!)

Posted at 5:50 PM
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13 Comments

surely wearing a communist tshirt goes pretty well with America's further decline into socialism/communism/fascism (statism). if anything, the House should have been happy and taken it as evidence Obama's ideas are spreading through popular culture...

Posted by: steven at 04/23/09 6:34 PM | Reply
Score = -29 Vote up Vote down

That you Rush?

Posted by: Bryan in reply to steven's comment at 04/23/09 7:19 PM | Reply
Score = 22 Vote up Vote down

I'm bitter. And don't understand the difference between communism and fascism.

Posted by: steven at 04/23/09 6:40 PM | Reply
Score = 9 Vote up Vote down
Robot Jones

That was one scary T-shirt. Why do old politicians still think the communists are out to get us? Also, I bet Win Butler gave a little fist pump when he heard this news.

Posted by: Robot Jones profile link at 04/23/09 7:00 PM | Reply
Score = 11 Vote up Vote down

Story's updated. The Governor's overriding their decision. Swish!

Posted by: Crunchy at 04/23/09 7:58 PM | Reply
Score = 4 Vote up Vote down

Update: The governor is going to make Do You Realize??? the state song anyways, saying that this was clearly the people's choice and he intends to honor that choice.

Posted by: Dust In The Air at 04/23/09 8:04 PM | Reply
Score = 4 Vote up Vote down

It hasnt been the People's Choice that easily since Bush was elected president.

Posted by: Black Sunshine in reply to Dust In The Air's comment at 04/24/09 1:03 AM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down
Mr_Blue_Angel_Dood

Do You Realize Oklahoma Republicans are Morons??

Posted by: Mr_Blue_Angel_Dood profile link at 04/23/09 9:08 PM | Reply
Score = 12 Vote up Vote down

This decision is as dumb as it gets and demonstrates how ridiculous and petty government officials can be... but seriously dude, wear a suit.

Posted by: nicolas cage in a bear suit profile link at 04/24/09 1:08 AM | Reply
Score = -4 Vote up Vote down

Having lived in Oklahoma all my life, i can say i am ashamed that
a) my state legislator is wasting time deciding on an official state rock song (although the song does rock), and
b) my state legislators are afraid of t-shirts.
Honestly though we already have Oklahoma!, why do we need more songs?

Posted by: meANDmy_mONKEY profile link at 04/24/09 2:55 AM | Reply
Score = 1 Vote up Vote down
Snow White

having lived in Oklahoma all my life, I'm ashamed that Wayne can't sing.

Posted by: Snow White profile link at 04/24/09 8:55 AM | Reply
Score = -6 Vote up Vote down

Kudos to Governor Henry for approving the song anyway. 11,000 Oklahomans chose the song, and they should not have been punished because one perpetual adolescent (in this case, one of the band members) wore a symbol of horrific genocide and systemic destruction on his T-shirt as an ironically-hip fashion statement.

But can we also agree that it’s high time to stop treating communist symbols as cute? The hammer and sickle represents a boot stomping on collective humanity’s face. Tens of millions of innocents died at the hand of dehumanizing communist regimes.

The hammer and sickle is a hateful symbol. Let’s have the moral courage to call it what it is.

That said, I’m glad the Lips’ song is the new official state rock song of Oklahoma! It’s a great song!

Posted by: Houghton at 04/24/09 8:53 PM | Reply
Score = 1 Vote up Vote down

Thank you. The hammer & sickle should be every bit as offensive and off-limits as the swastika.

Posted by: BugsMeany profile link in reply to Houghton's comment at 04/26/09 10:39 AM | Reply
Score = 1 Vote up Vote down

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