The (Un)Dixie Chicks

Many of you know (and have voiced your disgust) that I am a country music fan. Well the biggest story from the Grammys this year is the Dixie Chicks. according to ABC News:

"The band's wry single "Not Ready to Make Nice" won the award for best song...The Dixie Chicks also won record of the year, song of the year and album of the year, in addition to best country album and country performance by a duo or group with vocal."

This is all over the news because the media is spinning it as the Dixie Chicks making a come-back after their infamous statement at a London concert in 2003;

"We're ashamed the president of the United States is from Texas."

This comment sent off a loud cry amid country fans, resulting in the Nashville Country Music Awards banning the band from their awards this year. The fan base of the Chicks were mostly country folks, farmers and the like, from the Midwest and the South...basically the "Red" states. So its obvious that they would be ostracized for their comments...but what made it worse was that they did not say what they did in the United States (even though they are called "brave") but in a foreign European country (Great Britain). That does not take guts...cause why would they care...all it is is passive aggressive slight on out Chief of State in front of our allies.

What I find interesting about all this, is that many people now love the Chicks...people who never would have liked or listened to their music before their comments. The people who are real fans of their music, however, wish not to support them because they have a world view that runs contrary to good ol' fashioned American ideals. These new "fans" don't care about their music...just what they did. This new "Grammy Award Winning Album" has not sold as much as their previous albums...in fact far below the margin...and this is called a "comeback" and a "validation" of the band in the eyes of the American public?

This is just a shift in their fan base, and after this angry album, the band will have ridden the political wave of their appeal, and not needed anymore will sink into oblivion. This whole thing is not about free speech, but rather is a question as to what is traitorous action as public figures representing the core of American beliefs on foreign soil during a war. People need to relearn the distinction between speaking their mind on American soil and on foreign soil, and that as Americans they should honor and respect the Office of President and the virtues of their country. If they can't do that, then leave!