RIP Dixie Carter- Page 2

[Almira]

Posted: 4/13/10 at 10:59pm

She was a Republican through and through.

Honestly.. it is amazing that so many people here have confused Julia Sugarbaker with Dixie Carter.

She actively supported Republican Candidates who opposed equal rights for gay people.

Good Riddance, I say.

[Q]

Posted: 4/13/10 at 11:31pm

Almira - your judgmental and simplistic awareness is duly noted.

Now 'good riddance' to you - or perhaps, 'be gone, before someone drops a house on you'.
Updated On: 4/13/10 at 11:31 PM

[JerseyGirl2]

Posted: 4/13/10 at 11:47pm

For me and the women I grew up with, she gave us a character that we, as southern women, admired and recognized in the southern women that we love. Intelligent, articulate, passionate, independent, witty, hard-working, and ferociously devoted to family. Julia had it all and Dixie created her. This is a situation where the art can be separated from the beliefs of the artist. I did not agree with Dixie on some subjects. In fact, Julia annoyed the hell out of me sometimes, but in her I saw what I could be. I could speak my mind and believe what I wanted. I didn't have to follow in the footsteps of those around me or hold on to their prejudices. She kept the beauty and tradition of the south that I loved and continue to love, but had a very modern way of looking at the world. The character gave me more than I ever realized until recently. I have all the respect in the world for Dixie for that.

[Almira]

Posted: 4/14/10 at 12:42am

I'd recommend you direct your admiration to Linda Bloodworth-Thomason. You are confusing the puppet for the puppeteer.

Updated On: 4/14/10 at 12:42 AM

[JerseyGirl2]

Posted: 4/14/10 at 12:49am

I disagree. The delivery, attitude and poise is what made the character. Sure, Linda put her on paper. Dixie brought her to life.

[Almira]

Posted: 4/14/10 at 12:55am

Poise and grace are lovely things... many bigots can have that and charm to boot! But the Julia Sugarbaker character was more than poise,deliver and attitude... and you know that.

Julia Sugarbaker was an amazing character... a fictional person I rather admired.

Dixie Carter.. was human being who supported political figures I abhor.

If you want to truly admire Julia Sugarbaker... again... admire Thomason. Julia can exist without Dixie.. but Julia can't exists without Thomason.

Updated On: 4/14/10 at 12:55 AM

[JerseyGirl2]

Posted: 4/14/10 at 1:09am

Again, I disagree. I don't think either could exist without the other. The dialogue and idea of Julia could exist without Dixie, but Julia couldn't. Sure, she would have been played by someone else and perhaps fabulous, but there was magic in Dixie's Julia. I met Dixie at a Tennessee High School Speech and Theatre conference. She was sweet a gracious, if a much more frail version of herself. She believed what she believed. She supported who she supported, but I don't think she was a bigot. Of course, that's a personal opinion. She supported bigots because she was a republican and that's unavoidable.

Here's an interview from Metro Weekly from 1998. I think she's well spoken on the issues. It IS difficult for people of a certain age and from a certain place to get past things. At least she's honest about it and was trying.

MW: Let's get some opinions from you. Do you have any thoughts on gay rights?

CARTER: I think that gay rights should exist.

MW: Let me be more specific. What about the possibility of gay marriage?

CARTER: That's hard for me, because I'm very old fashioned, very old-timey. So that idea is hard for me. On the other hand, maybe the most loving marriage that I've ever seen is a gay marriage. It has not been codified as such by the church, but it is a marriage. And has been for years and years and years. But to answer your question, I have to work through what marriage means -- and the first thing in my mind goes to is that marriage is for the procreation of the race. It's a sacrament to unite people so that they can begin a family and have children. But Hal Holbrook and I got married at an age past when we can expect to have children. So here I am in a very happy marriage that I think is fine. So if I feel that way about my marriage to Hal, why would I have a problem with a gay marriage? Still, it's hard for me. I'm very traditional.

MW: Another issue that's been raised recently in a big way is called "reparative therapy," where gay people are saying they've been cured through various ministries led by the right wing.

CARTER: I think the word cure is insulting, isn't it?

MW: Yes. And of course the danger is that it suggests homosexuality is a disease, which it's not.

CARTER: Tell me, are these people who are "cured," are they ever going to be happy?

MW: It's hard to say.

CARTER: Well, down the line, it will be discovered whether or not they will be happy. I hate to use this corny expression, but everybody has got to find out who they are and what their needs are. And putting yourself in a straight jacket for appearance's sake is not going to get it. But as I've said, I'm old-fashioned. I'm still trying to work through [the idea of] women preachers. I am a person for whom change is difficult. I don't agree with the way that children are brought up now for the most part. I can't bear to see them in those little tennis shoes they put on children. Please. And those vile colors. I just want to see little babies in white. I want to see them in pastels. I don't want to see little children in red and black. You know? I don't want to see them in those orange and black things that they wear. I feel like such an anachronistic person, but I am slowly coming around -- my children are slowly getting me close to where I should be. Maybe by the turn of the century, I'll be up with everybody else.

MW: I'm guessing you must have really had a problem with President Clinton's disclosure on national television the other night regarding his inappropriate relationship with Monica Lewinski.

CARTER: I just wish that none of us knew about it. I just wish we could back to the days of Jack Kennedy. That's all I can tell you. I supported Mr. Clinton when he ran for office. What you can do in office -- we elect on the basis of that.

MW: Whose fault do you think this mess is? Clinton's? Ken Starr's? The media's?

CARTER: It's the American People's fault! The American People are busy lowering their standards in every possible direction. In the movies, in television. What we require of our children in school.

MW: What's the answer? How do we get back on the road to salvation?

CARTER: Make Michael Kahn president.

MW: The Religious Right might not like that, because then we'd have a gay president.

CARTER: So? We'd have a brilliant gay president who has answers. Who has a sense of an elegance and style. And who has a sense of history and a very intelligent perspective. I'd vote for Michael Kahn for president in one second. That's my answer.

[Q]

Posted: 4/14/10 at 1:44am

Anyone who dismisses Republicanism out of hand has no validity to me. The current situation with that party doesn't invalidate an arguable socialogical point of view. The fact is, there are many within the party who struggle with what seems to have taken over.

Demonization is shallow and unthinking - and in no way invites discussion.

And the dismissal of an individual human life based on the surface designation of 'party affiliation' - with NO attempt to see or understand the individual perspective - makes YOU the enemy, in my eyes.

[Almira]

Posted: 4/14/10 at 2:21am

Well if a couple unpopular posts on an obscure theatre-related website make me the "enemy." So be it. I actually wish I had the power that such a label bestows.

I still stand by my statements. If you support those who work against the rights of gay-american - no matter how much poise and grace and whatnot - you are no better than them.

You can speak "kindly" and "gently" on subject, but at the end of the day it is just lip service... no matter how elegant the lips are.

[Q]

Posted: 4/14/10 at 2:44am

You don't deserve Margaret as an avatar.

[Tom1071]

Posted: 4/14/10 at 11:38am

Almira, you are clearly a stupid twat.

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 4/14/10 at 11:57am

That interview JG2 posted is a beautiful document of a woman struggling to reconcile what she's been taught with what she knows to be right; to navigate the boundaries between tradition and experience.

I stand by my earlier statement: she was a great performer and a great lady. To that I'll add a great model of an evolving human being.

[JailyardGuy]

Posted: 4/14/10 at 12:16pm

I have nothing to add sentiment wise, as I shall miss her gifts as much as the rest of you. I know her singing was a love-it-or-hate-it sort of thing, but for those who are familiar only with her vocal turns on DW (my favorite was the little "O Sweet Mystery Of Life" moment, though "How Great Thou Art" is legendary..."That feels like the highest note in all of hymndom!"), I'd recommend checking out Dixie Carter Sings John Wallowitch: Live At The Carlyle. She really knows how to put a song over, and what she lacks in vocal beauty and technique she makes up for in song artistry and understanding of a lyric.

[Calvin]

Posted: 4/14/10 at 2:27pm

Also remember that the gay marriage debate of 1998, when that article was done, is light years away from the gay marriage debate of today. Before Prop 8, before Massachusetts, even before Vermont offered civil unions.

I also had the privilege to see Ms. Carter in Master Class. RIP to a classy, talented lady.


eta: reaction from Jean Smart Updated On: 4/14/10 at 02:27 PM

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 4/14/10 at 3:43pm

That's a good point, Calvin. I think she comes across as far ahead in her thinking than many people now, much less more than a decade ago.

I also noticed that several online sites reported the passing of "Dixie Carter, Gay-Rights Advocate."

[PalJoey]

Posted: 4/14/10 at 4:03pm

I've said this before to Roscoe, but it bears saying again to Elvira:

If the only people we allow on our side are the people who start out on our side, we will never achieve anything.

Dixie carter was eloquent about her evolution on the issue of gay marriage. If anything we need MORE people to move from disapproval to acceptance.

[Dolly_Levi]

Posted: 4/14/10 at 8:16pm

That interview JG2 posted is a beautiful document of a woman struggling to reconcile what she's been taught with what she knows to be right; to navigate the boundaries between tradition and experience.

Very well said, Reginald.

ETA: Jean's mini-interview is touching. Thanks for sharing Calvin.

Laughter is much more important than applause. Applause is almost a duty. Laughter is a reward. Carol Channing

Updated On: 4/14/10 at 08:16 PM

[nmartin]

Posted: 4/15/10 at 5:27pm

An article about Dixie's funeral, which was held today in West Tennessee.

Dixie

[Calvin]

Posted: 4/15/10 at 5:36pm

Had she and Holbrook been living in Houston? I know she did at least a couple things at the Alley in recent years. Or were they just there because of the cancer treatment centers?

[Tom1071]

Posted: 4/16/10 at 9:37am

From what I gather they had just been in Houston for cancer treatment.

In the attached photos of the article about the funnel, Delta Burke looks devasted. It says that she wepted throughout the ceremony.
Updated On: 4/16/10 at 09:37 AM