Who better to start with? Dixie Chicks Please!

    
     When watching a film in my Politics class recently (Naomi Wolf - The End of America), Naomi Wolf refers to a society where people are becoming so censored that they can no longer speak what is on their mind; without worrying about what the backlash will be.  She then brings up The Dixie Chicks and George W. Bush's head-butting that took place in early 2003, after The Dixie Chicks lead singer Natalie Maines (a Texas native herself) opened her song Travelin' Soldier to a full stadium in England by stating,
             "Just so you know, we're on the good side with y'all.  We do not want this war, this violence, and we are ashamed that the President of the United States is from Texas."
                                                                               -Natalie Maines (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dixie_Chicks#Political_controversy)
     This comment, was a response to the 'rushed' decision made by the President of the United States, George W. Bush to invade Iraq in March of 2003.  Many believed that there were other ways to deal with the situation that ultimately have led to a war that has been going on since September 11, 2001.
     Backlash against Maines's comments made at the concert in England in March of 2003, began right away.  The main critisism made towards her comment was that she should not have said such a thing on international grounds.  If anything, Maines should have kept her personal beliefs to herself, or at least should have said what was on her mind in her home country of the United States of America.
     Although at first, Maines did not make any attempt to discuss what she had said to the public, she released a statement a week after stating,
            "I feel the president is ignoring the opinions of many in the U.S. and alienating the rest of the world."
                                                                             - Natalie Maines (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dixie_Chicks#Political_controversy)
    As Maines's original statement of apology did not work, she released a longer statement to the press just two days later that stated,
           "As a concerned American citizen, I apologize to President Bush because my remark was disrespectful.  I feel that whoever holds that office should be treated with the utmost respect.  We are currently in Europe and witnessing a huge anti-American sentiment as a result of the perceived rush to war.  While war may remain a viable option, as a mother, I just want to see every possible alternative exhausted before children and American soldiers' lives are lost.  I love my country.  I am a proud American."
                                                                              - Natalie Maines (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dixie_Chicks#Political_controversy)
     Although some fans were dissapointed in The Dixie Chicks for even making a statement of apology to the press, others were impressed with The Dixie Chicks for doing the right thing.  Even with an apology to the press, it was noted in a poll that 76% of previous Dixie Chicks fans would no longer buy their CD's and would return old CD's if they could.  (http://www.cnn.com/2003/SHOWBIZ/Music/03/14/dixie.chicks.apology/)
     After the original message was spoken at The Dixie Chicks concert in March of 2003, the band began to use their new found spot in the public eye as a way of getting their message across. The band donated $10,000 to help fund the website, Rock the Vote, with the initial goal being to get more young women registered to vote. 
     When Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita hit the Gulf Coast, The Dixie Chicks made their newest single, "I Hope", available for download with all of the proceeds going to Habitat for Humanity and the American Federation of Musicians Gulf Coast Relief  Fund.  This was yet another display of The Dixie Chicks voicing and showing their political and social views with the world. 
     In 2004, The Dixie Chicks joined the Vote for Change tour performing in the 'swing' states that could ultimately have led to a change in the outcome of the 2004 election.  In 2005, The Dixie Chicks collaberated with over 30 recording artists to create a 2 disk release entitled, Love Rocks, which was made in support of 'relationships of all kind, regardless of sexual orientation'. 
     Finally, as a result of the initial comments made by The Dixie Chicks in early 2003, The Dixie Chicks released the first single off of their new album released in March of 2006 called, "Not Ready to Make Nice".  The song directly associated with the previous years of struggle faced by The Dixie Chicks due to comments made by lead singer Natalie Maines.  In a direct response to death threats and comments Maines and the band had heard, the lyrics state:
     I made my bed and I sleep like a baby
    With no regrets and I don't mind sayin'
    It's a sad story when a mother will teach her
    Daughter that she ought to hate a perfect stranger
    And how in the world can the words that I say
    Send somebody so over the edge
    That they'd write me a letter
    Sayin' that I better
    Shut up and sing or my life will be over
     The song "Not Ready to Make Nice" appeared on the album, Taking the Long Way, which debuted at number one on the U.S. pop album charts as well as the U.S. country album charts.  This was the beginning of The Dixie Chicks rise back to their previous popularity.
     Whether you agree or disagree with the comments, ideas, and views of anyone in a position such as The Dixie Chicks, who have the utmost power to make good change in a society that so desperately needs it,  it is clear that these women aren't going anywhere, anytime soon; and hell, I'm glad they aren't.  Anyone who can confidently tell the world that they do not agree with the President's view and back up their beliefs like Natalie Maines has done over the past 6 years, is a person I respect greatly.


To find out more about The Dixie Chicks, Naomi Wolf and the War on Terror, please check out these links:


Naomi Wolf - The End of America 
Wikipedia - The Dixie Chicks
Not Ready to Make Nice - The Dixie Chicks
Wikipedia - War on Terror
CNN - War in Iraq