"I don't see why people care about patriotism"

Gonna copy Drudge here (thought I should site my sources) with my title (it isn't exactly the same as his, but it is from the same article) ...

There was a song quite a while ago (2000 - okay, so it wasn't THAT long ago, but it's been a while!) called "Goodbye Earl". It was by the Dixie Chicks. Most of you who know me know I don't like country music. However, every once in a while, a song comes along that I just love (like Shania Twain's "Any Man of Mine" and "Man! I Feel Like A Woman!"). "Goodbye Earl" was one of those. I thought the Dixie Chicks were a neat band, and I liked that they brought back bluegrass.

Needless to say, I was totally bummed to hear one of their singers had spoken badly about President Bush. Wikipedia.org reminds us -
On March 10, 2003, during the run-up to the 2003 Invasion of Iraq (which would take place on March 20), Natalie Maines (a native of Lubbock, Texas) said between songs during a concert at the Shepherd's Bush Empire theatre in London:
"Just so you know, we're ashamed the President of the United States is from Texas."

Today Jef pointed me to this article in the Telegraph, a British publication.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2006/06/15/bmdixie15.xml

There are so many things on which to comment in this article!
To start with, I will say that I thought Adam Sweeting portrayed a poor example of country music lovers. He made remarks such as the following:
"The Chicks have traditionally been branded a country band, but clearly it's some time since their diet consisted of ribs, tacos and pancakes."
Now this may be in reference to their slimmer figures, but at first glance, it spoke volumes to me of how this man views American country music lovers. It brought to mind images of rumpled, overweight, country-bumpkin-type people (the kind that are only true in TV Land). This man obviously has never met regular Americans.
His other comment was this -
"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.
With their origins as bouffant-haired ingénues playing bluegrass music long forgotten ..."
Ok, so I'll be honest. I wasn't quite sure what "ingénues" meant. So I looked it up! Answers.com gives this definition: "ingénues n. ~ A naive, innocent girl or young woman."
Aside from the comments on their hair (which is better, but beside the point), what is wrong with being naive and innocent? Is it better to be called a slut (they made the May 2, 2003 cover of Entertainment Weekly. The picture is of the trio, naked (albeit appropriately hidden) with words stamped on their bodies. One of the stamps says "Dixie Sluts" another says "Sadaam's Angels")?
Then there is the whole idea that country people aren't refined, or that people who listen to country music aren't refined - that it is better to present a "polished Fifth Avenue elegance". Or, alternatively, that the Dixie Chicks were worse off or not as good when they were just playing bluegrass and being true to who they were.
Later in the article Mr. Sweeting says, "... apoplectic rednecks crushed piles of their CDs with tractors ..." Here again I had to look up a word - Answers.com came to the rescue again:
"apoplectic adj. ~ Extremely angry; furious: 'members of Congress who otherwise become apoplectic about wasteful government spending' (Dan Morgan)."
I don't know if this even happened, but it sounds like justice to me!
Now, on to Miss Maines comments -
This first one is by Emily Robison, not Miss Maines -
"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."
Ok - if it had been like the McCarthy days, we wouldn't have heard about or from the Dixie Chicks!! It was nothing like that! They want to play the victims, when they were the ones who were the bullies.
"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."
Miss Maines should try moving to France. She should see how well they accept her over there. What does she mean, "Why do you have to be a patriot?"?!! Pretty much any other country you go to you will not find it as welcoming and as accomodating as America! This is our land - we have fought for it, we have died for it, God gave it to us and we live to take care of it. We didn't do anything to bring on the terrorists attacks. On that dreadful day Americans were dutifully doing their jobs, taking care of business, taking care of kids ... we weren't wishing evil on anyone. Evil came anyway and we fought back. We fought back for the right of those very Dixie Chicks to dress the way they want, wear makeup, and speak & sing in public. Had terrorism won out, the Dixie Chicks would not be singing, they would not be speaking - they would be covered from head to toe in a berka!
Why is it we Americans so often forget how free we are?
It isn't for the land of America (the actual dirt) that we fight and are patriotic, but for the freedoms and values we hold dear. This land (the actual dirt we live on) provides a place for us to be free. Nowhere else on this world could this happen! America is a great place!! It is our home. If you don't like it, then maybe you should MOVE!
And that's all I have to say about that.