It's been three years since Natalie Maynes, the lead singer of the country band The Dixie Chicks, made an offhand remark at a concert in London (England) that she was ashamed that the president was from Texas
And ever since, her brave band of women has suffered for that remark. Country music (often an oxymoron) fans vilified the band. Stoked by numerous country DJ's and right-wing political activists, the band suffered through boycotts, public CD destructions, and even death threats, to the point where they had to install metal detectors at concerts.
But they were not shrinking violets. From posing nude on the cover of Entertainment Weekly (google it) to their latest single from their new album, "I'm Not Ready to Make Nice", these fine women demonstrate the finest qualities a citizen of this country can demonstrate:
1) Willingness to express an unpopular opinion
2) Refusal to waver from that opinion even in the face of overwhelming popular opposition.
3) Unwillingness to even partially modify that opinion, even when those who originally opposed them now display some attitude towards reconciliation.
This is the spirit of a true American. Sticking by an unpopular opinion, no matter what others think of it, is the only way things ever change for the better.