Go buy the Dixie Chicks Album

Yes, go now. Leave this blog where it's at on your browser and go buy Taking the Long Way. I'll wait. Go on now. Go!

I'm about to get political on you guys so if you don't want to read, leave now. I don't pull out my politics often sans a few mean spirited jabs here and there. But I'm about to purge my system of a couple of things that are gnawing at my spirit.

As you probably have heard, the Dixie Chicks have been on the outs with many of their fans in the red states. The fallout of a simple statement made at a concert in London by lead singer, Natalie Maines. The quote: "Just so you know, we're ashamed the President of the United States is from Texas."

Fair enough. They are ashamed to share a home state with George Bush. They are ashamed of George Bush. They are ashamed. Fully within their right, if you ask me. To a be a patriotic American does not require you like the president, his government, or his policies. Americans have a duty to speak and act and participate in our democracy. It is the democratic process.

But that quote got Maines and the two other Chicks in a washtub of scalding water. She and her bandmates were called horrible names, their music was pulled off store shelves and radio stations held parties to burn their pictures, cds, concert tickets. etc. They even received death threats. Yes, death threats. Why? Because they don't like the president?

Ann Coulter, the slut who penned the trash entitled Treason (and yes, I did just call her a slut -- she is, look it up) refers to the Democratic Party as "functionally treasonable" and writes of the treason Presidents Roosevelt, Truman, Kennedy, Johnson, Carter, and Clinton are guilty of. Huh. Where is the outrage for this? If Maines cannot even express her shame of the president without getting death threats, one would think Coulter's head would be prominently displayed on a spike somewhere for calling the majority of the last century's presidents traitors.

Where's her head, then, because I wanna see?

I just don't get it and it drives me ape shit. You see, Mike and I live in the military community which is a very hostile place for those with our political views. Really, downright hostile. We see it and hear it and have to take it day in and day out. Swallowing that much bile is bound to make us sick.

A few weeks ago I was at a dinner party. An acquaintance of mine off handedly remarked that Marines assigned to the White House during President Clinton's tenure had refused to salute him. I was stunned to say the least. I was, and a part of me will always remain, a military wife. Saluting is part of the culture of honor held in high regard by those wearing the uniform. To salute the Commander in Chief is such a high honor for any service member that to do otherwise is to sully the very uniform they proudly display. Regardless of party affiliation or personal political beliefs. I was dumbstruck, honestly.

According to Snopes, it is just an untrue rumor. I'd like to believe that. But the woman that told me this is an officer in the Navy and someone I respect and admire and believe. Plus, it wasn't like she read it on a bathroom wall somewhere. She was told this by a man she knew from school, a Marine Corp helicopter pilot assigned to fly President Clinton on Marine One. Given that, I tend to believe it. Which is an utter disgrace. I am ashamed to be from the same country as that pilot.

In defiance of what is becoming a one sided discourse on patriotism, I am going out and buying several copies of the new Dixie Chicks album. Not because I like their music -- personally, I hate that hillbilly shite. But because they deserve a salute for being honest, forthright patriots.

God bless America -- and may the majority of her citizens wake the fuck up before it is too late. Amen.