Not Ready to Make Nice

I've been sitting on this title for a while. It's an amazing song by the Dixie Chicks, who have been much-maligned (by the country music establishment) but are also much-admired (by me). Tonight, they have been honored for the music that was born of their "incident" in London on the eve of the current war. They have lost their home on country radio and they don't really fit in to any other pre-programmed genres so you have to make an effort (read: spend money) to hear their music. I am so happy for them to be recognized.

I am not the kind of person who voices my opinions about politics or the state of the world unless pressed. I believe everyone has an opinion and I know they are not all the same as mine. I don't appreciate it when other people try to force their opinions on me and I avoid discussions about this sort of stuff, except in large generalizations. Even writing this post seems like a leap for me -- and I know the average blog is read by 2 people.

Those three women had the guts, in a very dangerous time, to speak their beliefs and when challenged they didn't back down. They may not have been particularly eloquent and could have picked a better venue, but really, those are details that should not overshadow the message. At the heart of it all, they spoke for another America, one that lost it's voice in the face of a war. I still can't figure out why more people didn't see that the freedom for Natalie Maines to voice her opinion was the very thing we were (at that time anyway) talking about fighting for. They had their lives threatened, their careers trashed. Three years later, most people I know agree with them.

There is an auto body shop I pass each day on my way home. I always try to read their marquee as the owner is surely a Canes fan and the sign always says something cute about the team. For most of the summer it read Congratulations Stanley Cup Champions then it went on to count down the days to opening day and later notes about upcoming games (Get Even With the Caps Sat Night, or, Blow Leafs Blow). Now it simply reads Bring Our Troops Home. I wonder what it said three years ago?