Not Ready to Make Nice

Okay, since I’ve broken up with the radio, I've been a little bit slow on the news of the popular. I just listened to the interview of the Dixie Chicks by Terry Gross on Fresh Air. The Fresh Air web site linked to a version of "I'm Not Ready to Make Nice," a song that the Chicks wrote about the "situation" where Natalie Maines said that she was ashamed that the president of the United States was from Texas, thier home state, and the world of country music backlashed against the Dixie Chicks for this psuedo-political reason.

Now, I really like this song. I like that they're bracingly, bitterly angry. I've listened to it for almost two hours straight now. But I don't understand the message they are trying to send.

I'm not ready to make nice
I'm not ready to back down
I'm still mad as hell
And I don't have time
To go round and round and round

Good. I get it. You're mad. Screw the people who send you death threats, burn your CDs, and teach their children hatred and intolerance. Fine. I totally understand. But then...

It turned my whole world around
And I kind of like it
I made by bed, and I sleep like a baby
With no regrets

Okay, what? You're mad, but you're glad it happened? You like what it did to your life? I mean, maybe you like the outcome - you claim the bandmates are closer to each other than ever, but are you hapy about the death threats? Happy about the people who hate you? Happy about people burning CDs, radio stations banning your music, country music sliding into backwardness?

In the interview, the Dixie Chicks spoke about how back in the day, country music was on the cutting edge of current events and cultural changes (Loretta Lynn singing about "The Pill," for instance), but now it's just the last bastion of the narrow-minded, backwards, God-loving rednecks. Well, why don't they write a song that doesn't have mixed messages then? Just say, "Look, I'm pissed. It hurt me. and then write a song about why this war is bad? Why don't they take some responsibility?

I agree with the Dixie Chicks. They have a right to say whatever they want. If they are anti-war, they should be able to say so. But I wish they would back themselves up. Don't get mad at Toby Keith. If he can write a shitty song about America as a beast (or rabid dog or whatever the hell it is) in support of the war, you can write a better song about why it's bad. Get equal airtime. Take responsibility. Don't just write songs like this, songs that leave your listeners completed confused and with no solid foundation with which to defend you.

Look, I know this feeling. I've behaved badly, been upset, said things I shouldn't have. Later, I apologized, but the apology wasn't accepted. It was hard for me. I was upset that someone wouldn't take my apology. But I worked. For YEARS, I worked hard to get back in the esteem and respect of the person whom I had hurt. I understand, I think, what they want to say. They want to say, "we aren't sorry, but it's made us stronger," but it really just makes them seem weak and uncertain.

Fight back, sisters. You have talent. Use it well.

Cooler Weather = Harder Choices

There was a bit of a cold snap this weekend. We went to the drive-in, anyway. We saw a typically heartwarming Disney pic and I fell asleep during the second feature (no big giveways here, but it was a disappointing sequel about pirates). We ate popcorn and cuddled in the back of the pickup under a couple of blankets, while listening to the woman in car next to ours talk on her cell phone for two hours straight. Good times. But the conversation before we left for the drive-in was amusing.

I was looking quite festive in my bright pink trench coat (perfect fall/spring wear) and was about to leave. As I went to pick up my purse, I noticed it was ORANGE. "I can't wear a pink coat and an orange purse," I say to Biker Boy as I shrug off the jacket and head to the closet.

"You're going to give up the jacket because of a purse?" Biker Boy is incredulous about this.

I dig around in the closet before pulling out an alternate purse. "Of course not," I scoff. "How many times a year can I actually wear this coat?"

That's right, folks. Fall has begun. A list of important things to do during the brief period of autumn.

1) Carve a pumpkin
2) Haunted House
3) Bike ride to Fort Snelling
4) Hot cider
5) Roasting marshmallows
6) Rake leaves
7) Take cat outside and force him to sit in the leaves for a picture
8) Many, many, many walks around the lake
9) Use three boxes of Kleenex (DAMN YOU, RAGWEED)
10) Get to a state park for a hike