Well, you may or may not love 'em, but you gotta give them props for having (excuse me) the balls to say what they said 3 years ago while on tour in Europe. The Dixie Chicks' frontwoman, Natalie Maines made a comment at one of her concerts that got their albums pulled from shelves, songs pulled off the air, and careers temporarily jeopardized.
The were some of the first to formally disagree with the war... and they were a country group!
Such confusion ensued as to how some down-home girls from Texas could disagree and be 'ashamed' of our president. People called them un-American, un-patriotic...
I remember having a discussion with my brother and his wife just after this happened. We were playing mini-golf at a little place in the Dallas area. While they support the notion of 'freedom of speech', they agreed with much of the American sentiment that once we went to war, it was time to stand behind the president... who after all, was elected by the people. And that's fair, you know? Of course fair for them to have their own opinion, but also fair to hope that once a direction was set, that it would be more helpful for the country to support it instead of wavering.
Skip ahead these 3 years or so and I am on a plane headed to Atlanta, and I look over someone's shoulder to read the headline of the newspaper in his hands. It says, "Administration feels that time for accountability is over; Time to move forward."
I felt sick to my stomach. And then I remember why I appreciated that blonde country singer from Texas saying that she disagreed with this war and was ashamed of our president: Because it is so very American and patriotic to hold our leaders accountable, to do our time to make this country what we want it to be, to stop sitting by the sidelines and go out there and help people think!
And we have an administration currently that does not want to look back and take stock; they only want to run ahead enforcing freedom by martial law. Wow.
The notion that being patriotic and pro-American means blindly (or even not-so-blindly) following W is sad to me. I feel sadness in the number of Christians who I have seen adamately support this war and this presidents decisions. Those who can not see the empire and crusade language in all this mess are blinded by something I do not have.
So, props to you Natalie Maines! Even though most of America hated you, I stand by your decision to comment on the war. Cheers to you!
3 comments:
Comment on the war... fine
Disagree... more power to you
Say that Bush is not your president... flat out lie.
I think it's rediculous to say that he is not your president.. like it or not, he is. That's like saying Hitler wasn't the ruler of Germany, yes, yes he was. I mean, I think it was lame how people boycot and boo them, but, remember, that too is their perogative.
I don't know Ryan, I agree in a sense that she had points, but I cannot stand behind the statement. He may not control you, but he IS your president.
Always the Republican rallier, ey Jeff? Just kidding!
I think when we make statements like, "George W is not my president" we are not actually saying that he is "not the president of the nation to which I belong." Of course he is.
It is more of a play on words that he is not my endorsed president.
You are correct, he is the president of the US, and I am a citizen of the US. Is this what you are wanting to have me agree with you on?
BTW, your album is sounding fricking amazing... and we performed You Don't Even Know the other night as Clover. Dig.
George Bush may very well be my president, but Natalie Maines is my hero...
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