Day By Day© by Chris Muir.

June 19, 2006

Dixie Chicks: Can't Stop Whining

Yes, it's another post about the Dixie Chicks...but these women just get under my skin.

With their careers here in the US in the proverbial toilet, the Chicks' popularity seems to be on the rise overseas. Why? Their famous "dissing" of President Bush three years ago. Anything anti-American, especially from entertainers who have the media as a mouthpiece, is a guarantee for some overseas fawning and admiring. This article from the Telegraph UK is a perfect example.

Sisters Emily Robison and Martie Maguire project a polished Fifth Avenue elegance, and vocalist Natalie Maines is a vision of sculpted cheekbones and smoky eye-shadow.

This paragraph is to assure the reader that, despite being the performers of hokey country and bluegrass music, these women are chic and sophisticated and not to be feared by other sophisticated European types. They're part of the accepted crowd!

A bit later comes the discussion of the "ashamed of George Bush" comment.

"The reaction was as if Natalie had said 'Death to the President' or something," says violinist and vocalist Maguire.

"It was the bullying and the scare factor," shudders banjo and guitar player Robison. "It was like the McCarthy days, and it was almost like the country was unrecognisable."

That's right, ladies, bring in the references to Joe McCarthy and "blacklisting," while you "shudder" for good measure. Ho hum. What they seem to forget is that, despite his hamfisted tactics, McCarthy was right about there being an active Communist party trying to worm its way into our government. No one called the Chicks Communists, but their comments during a time of war were derogatory and therefore highly unpopular -- not only with their usual audience, but with other Americans as well.

The level of debate can be gauged from the way Maines was compared to "Hanoi Jane" Fonda, who was photographed manning a North Vietnamese anti-aircraft gun at the height of the Vietnam war.

This is secret leftist code meaning "childish and without merit." After all, Jane Fonda is a leftwing icon. Who wouldn't be proud of her propaganda tactics for the North Vietnamese, those Communist slaughterers of innocents? She was speaking truth to power, baby, and the Chicks are her heirs apparent.

The Chicks can't hide their disgust at the lack of support they received from other country performers. "A lot of artists cashed in on being against what we said or what we stood for because that was promoting their career, which was a horrible thing to do," says Robison.

"A lot of pandering started going on, and you'd see soldiers and the American flag in every video. It became a sickening display of ultra-patriotism."

The horror! How dare other country artists display patriotism? They should hate their country too. After all, what is being a celebrity if it doesn't mean looking down one's nose at the hoi polloi?

"The entire country may disagree with me, but I don't understand the necessity for patriotism," Maines resumes, through gritted teeth. "Why do you have to be a patriot? About what? This land is our land? Why? You can like where you live and like your life, but as for loving the whole country… I don't see why people care about patriotism."

Ah, the magic words! And through gritted teeth! No wonder the Dixie Chicks are poised to achieve their first number one album in the UK. Despite the fact that Maines will never read these words (and if she did she would scoff at them), let me say a little something about the importance of patriotism:

You live in a country that opens its arms to millions. We are the only country who truly embraces those who want to come here to live a better life (illegals aside). Anyone can become an American who has the desire.

Our soldiers volunteer their services...in fact, their very lives, so that ingrates like Maines and her friends can thumb their noses at America without recrimination. Our laws also assure their freedom to do so. Our free market system allows anyone with talent and ambition to make money beyond their wildest dreams. Not everyone will become a millionaire, but if you have what it takes, no one is going to say, "You can't have all of that money!" (Unfortunately, there are people who are trying to change that.)

The Dixie Chicks achieved fame and fortune in a country that says it's okay to do so. They made their money by other people plunking down their hard-earned cash to buy their music and see them live in concert. What the Chicks don't seem to realize is that there are a lot of us out here who truly believe that America is a country to love and be proud of. It's more than just a place to live and make money. Even if we don't always agree with what our government says and does, we don't think that making inflammatory comments about our president overseas during a time of war is acceptable.

So the Dixie Chicks made their pile and felt that they were under no obligation to honor their roots (or at least keep their opinions private). Fine; that's their right.

That's another thing about a free market economy. If the public doesn't want a product or service, for any reason, they don't have to buy it. Period. The Chicks angered their highly patriotic audience, and now they're reaping the consequences. Free speech is an option for every American, but it can come with a price. For example: as I search for a new job, it's possible that a prospective employer might come upon this site and, not liking what I have to say, pass me over for someone else. That is the chance I take. Is it fair? No. I have free speech rights too, and I keep politics out of the workplace. But it's the way things work. The Dixie Chicks haven't figured that part out yet.

So as they go running to the anti-American press overseas to spin their tale of woe, I have this to say: grow up. Oh, and another great thing about America is that no one forces you to stay. Unlike citizens of Communist countries, Americans are free to come and go as they please. And for celebrities with lots of money, this is even easier! So I invite the Dixie Chicks to join celebs like Johnny Depp, Gwyneth Paltrow and Madonna to leave America for countries who are more sensitive to their needs.

Please don't let door hit your a**es on the way out.

Dear Dixie Chicks: Quitcher bitchin'

Update: Michelle Malkin was all over this during the weekend. Guess I'm a day late and a dollar short!