dixie dictum

"The entire country may disagree with me, but I don't understand the necessity for patriotism," [Dixie Chick Natalie] Maines resumes, through gritted teeth. "Why do you have to be a patriot? About what? This land is our land? Why? You can like where you live and like your life, but as for loving the whole country… I don't see why people care about patriotism."

It's about time. Especially during the whole Iraq debate, the left-wing democrats have been speaking against the war, Bush, etc., and saying that they are the true patriots for doing so -- they are the ones who are truly committed to their country. I think that for the most part this line of argument has been greeted with wry smiles of disbelief -- not because it would necessarily be an untrue statement, but because there is a general suspicion of left-wing democrats who claim that they love their country just as much as their Republican and even moderate Democrat counterparts. It's surprised me a little that they haven't come out and said, "Actually, you're right. We're not very patriotic. We don't love our country above any others, and we think that's a good thing. We think there is no reason to love your country just because it's your country. Instead, we should consider ourselves to be part of one giant global country, with no international lines dividing us." It's a respectable argument (though one I disagree with), and I think that if left-wing democrats (and some of the moderates as well) are to convince the general public of their genuineness, it's one they should make. Apparently it took a Dixie Chick to get it started.

If anyone cares to know why I ultimately disagree with that stance, I'll be happy to take it up later...