Last week the Dixie Chicks kicked off the U.S. leg of its ìTop of the World Tourî in Greenville, South Carolina their first since they have become the object of boycotts, ridiculous slurs and satire, plummeting record sales, and non air play on many of the same radio stations responsible for their fame. This unfortunate display of strip mall patriotism when an individual(s) exercise their First Amendment right to free speech that is in opposition to the views of the dominant culture serves only to diminish our collective tolerance for difference.
For those who have forgotten allow me to refresh your collective memories. At a March 10 London concert, Dixie Chicks singer Natalie Maines told the audience, with the United States on the brink of war with Iraq that ìWeíre ashamed that the President of the United States is from Texas.î Immediately, the Dixie Chicks were synonymous with unpatriotic, anti-American, and Saddam loving. My particular favorite is a website that features Saddam and Natalie Maines in an embrace on a CD cover entitled the ìDixie Duo.î And as a promotional event, KRMD 101.1 FM in Bossier, LA held a ìDixie Chick Destruction Dayî as they bulldozed hundreds of the Dixie Chickís CDs.
Albeit extremely silly, I can at least attribute the unofficial boycott of France, and French products in particular, directly to Franceís failure to support President Bushís war efforts, but the Dixie Chicks? Since when did the Dixie Chicks influence world opinion? Perhaps French President Jacque Chirac, when addressing his cabinet said, ìSi Les Dixie Chicks ne veulent pas la guerre, je ne veux pas la guerre aussi!î Translation: ìIf the Dixie Chicks donítí want the war, I donít want the war either.î The prevailing assumption is that the Dixie Chicks were referring to the impending war, what if that were not the case? Suppose the Dixie Chicks were ashamed of President Bush for different reasons? Hypothetically speaking, suppose that no weapons of mass destruction were ever found in Iraq? Would the Dixie Chicks comments still be considered unpatriotic? Would that not be cause for shame? The presidentís spokesperson, Ari Fleischer said on April 10 that the weapons of mass destruction were, ìwhat this war was about.î With the reason for going to war changing no less than five times, only to find out that the reason ultimately decided upon for going to war did not exist, I for one would be ashamed.
The criticism of the Dixie Chicks speaks to a faux patriotism that will not tolerate the very things that make this country unique such as freedom of speech. When WTDR-FM in Talladega, Alabama pulled the Dixie Chicks from the air waves, station owner Jim Jacobs stated: ìThe emotion of the callers telling us about their fathers and sons and brothers who are overseas now and who fought in previous wars was very specific.î Was it specific enough to take the Dixie Chicks off of the air for exercising their freedom of speech?
The fear created by 911 has only served to make this country less tolerant of difference. There is a fear of difference, which has been pervasive in this nation since its origin is now exasperated in a post-911 context. Therefore, there is less interest in understanding what makes each of us unique to the American Experiment. We are becoming a carbon copy of the stores that inhabit the majority of strip malls across the country: prefabricated, one size fits all. It is this strip mall patriotism that comes prefabricated with its own set of ìbill or rightsî that does not lend itself to questioning public policy.
The strip mall patriotismís ìbill of rightsî conveniently expands the definition of support the troops in such a way that is does not allow for any questions concerning the presidentís war policy. It is a brand of patriotism that resembles a closer allegiance to Mao and Stalin than Madison and Jefferson. It seeks silence and consent rather than offering authentic engagement by understanding our unique differences. If that prefabricated box created by strip mall patriotism is too small for the Dixie Chicks how can it fit those of a different color, different religion, different ethnicity, different orientation, or anyone who may simply have a different opinion?