Sorry guys...a friend mentioned the Grammys last night and it brought up fresh memories of something I feel very strongly about. Free speech. I loved the segment with Corinne Bailey Rae, John Legend and John Mayer. They are a very soulful collection of talented artists singing about life. Life can be good...it can be hard..but rarely is it easy for anyone. Many of us work very hard just to survive. Whether you want to say it's luck, God or just life...it happens. Some people have it much easier than others, but alot of people work VERY hard to get ahead and then are criticised once they get there. Oprah wasn't just handed her money and status. She worked to get there. There are actually some people that use their power to give back..for good, to help others. But lately I have noticed some stars using their status to satisfy their own agenda against the government because they are unhappy with the war and decisions our President has made.
What an INCREDIBLE country we live in! I look, read and hear (hubby and cousin in Iraq) about life outside of the US. People are arrested and/or just disappear for simply working as a professor in a university and teaching their countrymen/women about democracy. Many reasons could be considered as free speech here in our country or a simple misdemeanor, where you would get a fine or community service. People are being slaughtered in 3rd world countries simply because they exist or are a certain religion/nationality. My son got upset last night because he's on restriction (grades) from the computer and I wouldn't let him check his email. NO...I didn't start spouting off or jump up on my box. But I cringe sometimes when I hear my children gripe because of some "hardship" they have endured.
The Dixie Chicks were a favorite country group of mine. But several years ago while in Paris (I believe) they were on stage and began saying how embarrassed they were to be from the same state of Texas as the President. Of course with anti-war views at a high with the French they received a standing ovation where they continued ranting and raving throughout the concert against our country. MOVE. Go anywhere but back home. Our country became what it is because of the belief we have in freedom. I don't always agree in how, what or why. But I am free. I hate the fact that I am taxed 6 different ways on the money I have earned before it goes into my childrens mouth...or to keep them warm. But I have the opportunity to be what I am and are willing to work for. People work in other countries and may make $300 or less A MONTH and they live on rice and community water that I wouldn't want to give my dogs. Last night the Dixie Chicks sang a song about "not ready to make nice" and it is about the fact that they believe strongly about what they do about our President and government and they won't apologise. At least they have that option and won't be arrested as they enter the US. At least they won't be beheaded. They can believe what they want...I'm not their judge and jury. But I don't have to listen. I can turn the channel. I have my rights as well.
I can debate with the best of them. I can complain with the rest of them. But I can vote in the next election and teach my children to do the same. But I won't bore you any more with my tirade. I have family and friends in the military and it upsets me for them to be upset and feel that the country doesn't support them. We don't live in a perfect world and I agree there are so many things that should/could/can be different. But look how far we've come. Could be worse. But at least I have the opportunity to make things better for my family.
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5 comments:
Good post!
I USED to like the Dixie Chicks too. Now I won't even rent their CD at the public library.
Just the fact that the newspaper hinted they might win a Grammy was enough for me not to watch.
I never really cared for the Dixie Chicks, and I dislike them a lot more now.
I love Toby Keith, though.
I come from a family of veterans. My dad fought in WW2. My brother in Vietnam. My husband's a twenty year veteran. I have a sister station in Germany now, and her son is in the Air Force.
I myself served in the Air Force.
And I'd do it all over again.
I choked when I heard they won 5 awards. Every category they were nominated for. I am on a mission to find out who votes for those awards. It will be interesting to see if it is a board and to research their political affiliations. They lost a huge fan base here in Oklahoma because of their fued with Toby Keith. He is an okie born and bred and we see him often at OU football and basketball games. People with military ties feel pretty similar because of their military views.
I'm not into country music at all, so I've never paid any attention to those "chicks."
You're right that we need to be thankful for the country we live in, but since I come from the protest generation I believe that people need to speak up. The music of the 60's was basically protest music that came from the first group of young people with enough guts to challenge the things they saw as wrong. If Martin Luther King had kept his mouth shut, I wouldn't be living the life I have now. But there is a way to do it without being obnoxious.
So true Chicki! I totally agree. The Dixie Chicks have had a huge fued ongoing with country music and artist Toby Keith in particular because they feel that some groups/singers are TOO patriotic and shouldn't support the President or the war. They have said some really outragous things that have made them sound pretty ugly towards our men and women in the military. They even sold t-shirts at their shows that said FUTK. It was a vulgar slam (bad word **** u Toby Keith) and they feel that the soldiers should go awol before sacrificing and going to Iraq. They are an example of going beyond the normal protest. They've had to cancel concerts all over the country...even recently, because they didn't sell enough tickets to pay for putting on the show. The Grammys may have forgiven them but several articles this morning mentioned that country radio has and will continue to ban their music. I haven't heard any of their songs on the radio in quite awhile.
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