I was listening to
"Wide Open Spaces" by the
Dixie Chicks (
MySpace) on the radio today, and I remembered the
altercation between them and
Toby Keith and the original
comments made at an overseas concert that sparked it.
If I were a native of Texas, why would I be proud of George W. Bush, who started an unjust war and strengthened the National Government at the expense of the Constitution, opposing everything good about the Southern political tradition? Paleoconservatives and paleolibertarians would not disagree with the sentiment the expressed about George W. Bush as a man or as a Texan. The Dixie Chicks were accused of being unpatriotic for opposing the war. The National Review has done the same with respect to paleoconservative and traditional conservative critics.
Besides the fact that so many from the South now serve in the military, the fracas is an additional reminder of the refashioning of the South after the War to Prevent Southern Independence and "Reconstruction" into a dutiful vassal state that sends its sons (and daughters now) to fight in wars started by Washington, D.C. Any criticism of Washington D.C.'s warmongering is batted down.
Nonetheless, what is the line between disrespect of the office and legitimate criticisms of the man holding it? And do the circumstances alter the morality of the act? Or contribute to scandal? Is criticism of the president in a foreign country equivalent to airing dirty laundry among those who should not be hearing it? Even if such a statement were made to preserve the good image of the United States and to separate the country from the Chief Executive, did it turn into ridicule because it was said overseas first? Was it politically embarrassing?
1. Should they, as artists, voice a political opinion to their audience?
2. And should this have been done in a different country?
Natalie Maines
issued an apology for disrespecting President Bush. If it was a sincere apology, did she believe the disrespect was to be found in her statement itself, or was it due to the venue in which it was said?
I had a nice lunch today with some friends from high school, and someone who had been MIA before her senior year showed up today. It turns out that she has been living in the area for the past 15 years, after finishing college. There was some discussion at the table today during lunch about
Sarah Palin's candidacy for Vice-President, and how she turned people away from the Republican ticket. A common complaint? She is too much of the "far right" and only chosen to placate social conservatives. As if Sarah Palin, even if she were to become president, would do anything to go against the status quo...
