Shut up and Sing

I put the Dixie Chicks on my blog yesterday. I always liked them as artists and I have to say liked them even more after watching the documentary Shut Up and Sing. I was very impressed at the way the group stuck together during the enormous backlash that occured after Natalie Maines commented that she was ashamed that the president of the US was from Texas. It would have been very easy for the other ladies to insist she apologize as they watched their career take a nosedive. The very cool thing is that they did a great record and were embraced by a totally different group of fans.
I had known about all the fuss but not realized the extent to which it went. They were basically dropped by the country music industry for using their constitutional right to free speech. Everyone had an opinion on the topic: Bruce Springsteen had it right when he said that he did not support what she said but that he supported her right to say what she thought. The sad thing is that it was made into a huge thing about them not supporting the troops in Iraq. They made it very clear that they supported the troops for doing their job but not the decision that sent them there in the first place. I understand that many people were outraged she spoke up about the president, but two years later, everyone was saying the same thing. The fact that she criticized the president seems to me way overblown. Citizens should be able to question the decisions of their leaders. That is what keeps them accountable. The fact is the US hadn't had any real right to invade Iraq, that the government had knowingly lied to the American people etc. I have to say that I personally don't feel that the invasion of Iraq should have taken place, but the troops are there and giving their lives. They and their families deserve the support of all. To me this would include decent pay when so many of the serving troops families in the US (and Canadian) army live under the poverty level. This should shame us all. They are doing work none of us want to do and risking their lives to protect us, they should not have to worry about their families not having enough to eat.
Natalie Maines, my hat is off to to you for not being afraid to voice your opinion.