Flock Off

I was listening to a radio talk show the other day, and the host said nothing is going right in America because politicians are too "afraid to fly away from the flock." I could not agree more, but many see the so-called "damage" done to the career of the Dixie Chicks and fear a similar fate for themselves. I do not listen to much country music, but the Chicks have taken me through many bad times. I was going through a painful divorce when I first heard Wide Open spaces. I remember lying on the trampoline at night after the kids had gone to bed and listening to that song over and over again while crying into the black springy top of the trampoline. Escaping the reality of being deserted and left with the fate of three little people in my hands, if only for 3 minutes, was needed by me to recover from the shock. Later, I remember walking through a nature trail listening to that same song and feeling happy and hopeful enough to skip and spin around with my arms held out like an idiot in a music video. Corny, I know, but there are some songs that do that to you; songs that evoke a feeling of carelessness or happiness that music often provides. The ability of music to produce a memory is an universal feeling.

What did the Dixie Chicks say that was so wrong? Natalie, the lead singer, said, "I am ashamed that the president is from Texas," or close to it. Maybe she could have found a better way to phrase it. How about, "I am against war," or "I don't want the violence perpetuated, more innocent people should not die." Is that a reason to threaten her life, and the lives of her family? When did war become something desirable? Of course 3000 people died in the World Trade Center, and it is tragic. I feel so much sympathy for all of the families who lost someone, but what will war solve? By our own governments assessment, 30,000 Iraqi civilians have died, but many of the estimates place it at around 100,000 civilians. The number is probably in between. Ashamed . . . That may be the right word. But, country music fans got into their flocks and denounced the Chicks, which of course is their right. However, now we have to move beyond the flock and start being individuals. I do not believe Bush is evil. Fine, start from there. I believe both sides should stop flying blindly and start making decisions simply because they are right. Stop disagreeing for the sake of disagreement and find solutions to the problems. Both sides are guilty of mouth service. I have three children, and I would hate for them to have to go to war one day because no one wanted to break their flocks formation. So, I bought the Dixie Chicks CD and I love it. Maybe their will be some forgiveness shown by those who listen to country music. That's what Jesus would have done.