A Dixie Chick Diatribe...

So, unless you've been living under a rock for the past couple years, or, much like my soon to be four-year-old son, are more of a classic country fan (Johnny Cash, anyone?) and could care less, you're aware of the big splash that Dixie Chicks frontlady, Natalie Maines, made a few years ago when she spoke less than favorably of President Bush. Now, at the time, I was clearly at a different place in life and in my thinking. I sided, at the time mind you, with those who were more of a "What are you thinking?/Move to France if that's how you feel!" standpoint. That being said, here we are, a few years later, a little older and a little wiser.

Now, in hindsight, how do I feel about this statement that was made? I guess that I'd have to say that I defend Mrs. Gaines and her right to make that statement. Was it poor timing and perhaps a little rash? Sure. But who hasn't made such statements. I, I'm sure, offend people all the time, whether by what I write on here or through something I say in passing. It's certainly not intentional and is sometimes emotive and just kind of "shooting from the hip". Natalie could have used better wording and so on. But, the bottom line is this: I think she really does care about our county and the troops abroad. She feels the President has failed us in a few regards and due to some of his actions is not a big fan of his. She is not alone. There are numbers of folks within this country who are not real big fans of the Bush presidency. Can we point it all to one man? No, but he does stand as the figurehead and as such is going to catch the brunt of the jabs.

So, let's lighten up on the Dixie Chicks. We love this country and it's freedoms, so we say, but retaliate so strongly when someone says something we disagree with. Let's defend their right to freedom and choose our battles wisely on both sides. Maybe we should have been more upset over the gleeful disposal of "Earl" in their hit song than in a quip comment regarding our current president?