Patriotism and Peace in Country Music
Patriotism and Peace in Country Music
Music truly does have the ability to move our hearts and our minds. It is often difficult to explain why you like a particular song or singer. There is something intoxicating about a rhythm or a beat, or maybe the artist’s unique vocal range, that you feel somehow connected to and you enjoy just hearing it. At times the music itself is emphasized and at other times the words are the focal point. As a result, there are many songs that I really enjoyed until I stopped to listen to the words and other songs that have powerful messages without a catchy tune.
Because of music’s enchanting character, it can be used as persuasion towards a particular view. First music can attract attention to your message. Once people are singing along, they internalize the message and make it their own. People are much more likely to agree with something with which they already feel ownership. Psychologically they want to justify their ideas and prove them right rather than admitting they are wrong.
Certain songs are intended to make you feel proud to be an American. The national anthem at a baseball game serves as a perfect example. As a community of sports fans, the audience comes together to share in their appreciation for the freedom their country allows them. This ritual is not taken lightly; hat-free individuals wear solemn expressions and dutifully sing along. The very fact that most people know these words, even if they can’t reach the high notes,
And people are angry if their sacred tradition is violated. When Rosanne Arnold sang her rendition of the anthem, the crowd booed. Her untraditional voice and disregard for the seriousness of the song brought extreme disapproval as she waved unappreciated gestures towards the crowd.
In addition to the traditional patriotic songs, nationalistic messages became obvious in popular music recently during the war against Iraq. On the local country music station, I heard songs attempting to garner support for the war. They addressed protesters and criticized them for lacking patriotism, compassion, and a desire for freedom. These songs probably served to stimulate people who already support the war, but the messages that the music attempts to convey is powerful nevertheless. Ultimately these songs are unconvincing in my opinion, but the very fact that popular media is used to support the government’s fiascos remains a startling realization.
Country music is an especially appropriate venue for these messages masked in patriotism. The vocals are clear and stand out over the music, unlike in rap or rock where often the words are more difficult to understand. Country songs often use the format of a story and bring in personal examples so there is a strong connection between the singer, the listener, and the music itself. As a big fan of country music, I am sorry to see the stigma against the art form, as it is often characterized as simplistic and tasteless. Unfortunately, some of the songs I have heard lately support this stereotype. They encourage a thoughtless, ignorant, and violent way of life. Three songs in particular stood out, and I have reproduced these in their entirety at the end of this paper.
The first song I examined is Darryl Worley’s “Have You Forgotten?” This song sits at the top of country music charts. Essentially, the song supports the war and justifies it because of the tragedy of September 11. It implies that anyone protesting the war has “forgotten how it felt that day / to see your homeland under fire / and her people blown away.” The song first speaks sensitively to the entire audience, because everyone can acknowledge the fear and pain they experienced as a result of that day. Then the song attempts to logically take these emotions and project them towards an enemy, namely, Iraq. However, since there is no definitive connection between the September 11th attacks and Iraq, the argument is fatally flawed. Families of those lost in the attacks spoke out against the war in Iraq, and some were disgusted that their loved one’s death was being used as an excuse for entering Iraq.
Additionally the song implies that war is not only the reasonable step to take – it is the only choice. “Some say this country’s just out looking for a fight / After 9/11 I’d have to say that’s right.” Of course Americans felt sad and some even angry after the attacks, but to use these attacks to justify more killing in an unrelated country is foolish. Yet after hearing this song, without other sources of news and information, one would be led to believe that Iraq was responsible for the attacks and that they need to be punished and feel the pain that we felt. Furthermore there is absolutely no discussion of nonviolent alternatives that might produce a more lasting outcome. The possibility that a violent invasion might create more problems than it solves is not addressed in this song.
A similar neglect of peaceful alternatives is found in Clint Black’s “Iraq and I Roll.” It also begins by criticizing protesters by claiming that the right to protest, along with other freedoms, is only able to be protected by taking a strong military stand against countries we disagree with. Then during the chorus, which makes a joke out of the very name of the country, he proclaims, “IRAQ and I roll / I’m back and I’m a high tech G.I. Joe / I pray for peace and prepare for war / and will never forget there’s no price too high for freedom.” Surely he is not genuinely praying for peace, because he has been playing with G.I. Joes and preparing for war. Peace is possible when war is no longer a viable option. As long as people in the back of their mind think that if a peaceful alternative fails, war is the answer, it will be difficult to achieve peaceful alternatives. These options have never been exhausted before a country has jumped into war.
If while listening to this song you have not been convinced by the rhetoric, there is a warning at the end. “It might be a smart bomb, they find stupid people too / If you stand with the likes of Saddam / One just might find you.” This statement can be interpreted to mean that if you oppose the war, you are for Saddam, and you deserve his fate. Alternately, it can be seen as a warning to other countries, that they must be on the US’s good side or be subject to attack. The feeling that the US government is entitled to make decisions about killing foreigners is clear; it is assumed that US intentions are always moral, superior, and right.
The last song I looked at has an angry and violent attitude and tries to generate support for violent actions. “Courtesy of the Red White and Blue” by Tolby Keith is subtitled “The Angry American,” which sets the tone quite well. The song takes pride in the attacks we wage on other countries, feeling justified by September 11 and our innate American glory. “Now this nation that I love has fallen under attack / A mighty sucker punch came flying in from somewhere in the back / Soon as we could see clearly through our big black eye / Man we lit up your world like the Fourth of July.” The use of the word somewhere is appropriate, since many Americans would probably have trouble finding Iraq on the map. There is a certain sense of accomplishment and triumph in the bombing of others when it is described with awe in this way. The basic message of the song is don’t mess with us because we have so much military power that we will crush you. “You’ll be sorry you messed with the U S of A / ‘Cuz we’ll put a boot in your ass / It’s the American way.” Unfortunately, it is all too true that it is the American way to retaliate with force whenever problems arise. I don’t think this is anything to be proud about and this aggression is definitely not worth such glorification.
Popular music artists have the ability to spread their views to a wide audience. Whereas some chose to use their fame to raise support for the war based on false pretenses, others used their popularity to voice their opposition to the war. The Dixie Chicks were banned from radio stations across the country because of their public disapproval of the war and President Bush. Furthermore, many listeners boycotted stations that still played their music. Apparently dissention is not completely tolerated in the name of free speech.
These songs drum up patriotism and expose the danger of having such nationalistic tendencies. Without an understanding and appreciation of other countries, we are sure to treat them improperly. There is a find line between pride in one’s country and a dangerous feeling of world ownership and domination.
After all, what really makes us so different from foreign people? We all share the same capacity for love, reason, and morality. Simply being born in the USA does not make you a superior human being, with the right to use brutal force upon others at will. Empty platitudes and catchy tunes serve to support this blind nationalism. Understanding our similarities with others, not highlighting our differences, is a much better way of dealing with conflict.
Americans are constantly encouraged to hold a sacred vision of their government and its actions, which discourages them from thinking individually and seeking out the truth. When even the popular music stations are praising the war in Iraq and justifying it as retaliation against terrorists, Americans are further misled. The songwriters are entitled to free speech and have the ability to send out their message to millions; it is unfortunate that they promote violence as the only option. It leads me to think that they are uninformed and have not learned much about the power of nonviolence. Unfortunately, these unaware musicians are sources of information and teachers to many, which is like the blind leading the blind.
These songs represent a new way that art can be used for persuasive means. Unlike the propaganda of previous wars, this work is generated from the genuine, non-government voice of an artist. Nevertheless, it is still strikingly similar in its intentions and results. There is nothing wrong with artistic expression; after all, free speech is one of our most coveted liberties. However, what worries me is the public approval and embracement of these messages.