If you haven't already heard in the news, country music stations across the U.S. are censuring the Dixie Chicks music. They've ceased playing it because Natalie Maines, the lead singer, dared to criticize the President and "fans" went ballistic.

Natalie said to an audience in London on Monday while on tour, "Just so you know, we're ashamed the president of the United States is from Texas." She ended up having to apologize on Friday because of the huge negative radio listener reactions. They're getting SLAMMED here in the U.S. and I'm ready to go out and buy a dozen more of their albums, just to support them. You should to. The Dixie Chicks are one of a handful of strong female country music artists who dare to show women as strong, willful, and independent. They've not only sung about things like domestic abuse, they've made the women in the songs something more than angelic victims, they sang about women who took action.

I'm just shaking my head at the ignorant reaction against the Dixie Chicks. You know what, I'm ashamed that Bush is from Texas too! That moron (to quote a Canadian official who had to then apologize) ignored the ailing information technology industry, is STILL ignoring the economy, and has given the U.S a bad name abroad. He's but brought nothing but more ridicule and stereotyping to Texas. It frustrates the heck out of me. Heck even his dad, the former President Bush (Sr.), made some cautionary statements that could be taken as critical of his son.

I heard a radio station on Friday evening announcing the apology. That in and of itself was not unusual - it was just news that was appropriate to the station's audience. But *after* that the DJ went on to ENSURE the audience that their radio station was patriotic and that they played the national anthem every morning, yadda, yadda. It was horrifying to hear this radio station almost pleading to make sure it's audience didn't think they were pinko commies (wait, that was the 50's) .. uh, anti-American.

What the hell is so Anti-American about arguing that we use our skills at diplomacy? After-all, our diplomats have won Nobel Peace Prizes - it's not like we can't do it. What the hell is so Anti-American about wishing our President had the gift of TACT and had approached the problem of Saddam Hussein with more deftness that would fuel cooperation with the world? What the hell is so Anti-American about wishing that Bush had approached this so differently so that we'd be seen as going into Iraq at the behest and pleas of Iraqis to help them rather than as invaders of a sovereign nation?

In the first few months of Bush's presidency I felt like we were in the twilight zone, rolling back the years of advancement swiftly back to the 1980's. Then he started in on women's rights and I got the feeling we'd gone back to the 70's. With the reaction against anyone who dares to criticize the President or the possible war in Iraq I feel like we've speeded back through the 60's and are landing squarely in the 1950's.

Even gender-biased speak is coming back. Instead of reading "human endeavors", occasionally you'll find the phrase, "man's endeavours"...

The election of Bush was suspect. The advancement of our nation has been rolled back. Bush has isolated us from the rest of the world - a world that was SYMPATHETIC to us immediately after September 11. He's sullied this nation's name and character abroad. The economy is in shambles. People are stressed out and anxious. He beats the drums of war and turns us into aggressors and invaders for the first time in our history. Our civil liberties are being trashed. People are afraid to exercise their freedom of speech. It feels like our democracy and Constitution is slowly being dismantled.

What the hell is happening?!?!!?

*sigh*

I know what is happening. It's the end of the American era. I'd talked about this with some of my friends in the early 90's. I felt that unless we really improved our understanding of the rest of the world and unless we survived the rising tide of fundies and conservatives in our own country, that the fall of this Rome was going to happen soon after the end of the cold war. We reigned supreme as a superpower for nearly a decade after our rivalry with the Soviet Union came to a close. But I honestly feel that we're about to take the Soviet Union's place as a superpower only because of our military might.

There were so many missed opportunities and I think we hit a turning point with the election of Bush. There's no going back now. I'd hoped we would revamp our education system and bring down the mosquito net that leaves most Americans in a foggy haze about the rest of the world. I'd hoped that we would grow and eveolve and be the shining beacon of multi-culturalism in the Internet Age. But I don't see it happening here.

With the creation of the European Union I think that we're about to see a cultural shift. They're now struggling with change, and dealing with it reasonably well. I think it's possible that in another couple of decades, the world will revolve around Europe and Asia the way it did around the U.S. and the Soviet Union for so long.

Gods, I can't wait till the next election. I want a bumper sticker that says ANYBODY BUT BUSH. And I'm voting for any woman that survives the primaries. GO Carol Mosely Braun!!! Hell, I'll register with the Democratic party just to make sure she wins the primary.

Economic Outlook Sours "... economic pessimism climbed this month to its worst since 1992, with Americans by more than 5-1 saying the national economy is heading south."

There's an interesting perception difference between the sexes: "Sixty-four percent of women think the economy's getting worse, up 13 points since last month. Far fewer men agree -- 39 percent, up just three points." If Carol Mosely Braun is smart, she'll notice this and capitalize on it in her bid for the nomination of the Democratic party.

Speaking of women, check out this great article from a fellow member of a listserv I'm on Talibanism in Technology.

And there was SOME good news: the killer virus that's been causing such problems in Asia, has been identified.

Despite all the bad news, it looks like today will be a nice day for me. It's gorgeous and mild outside today, and a major meeting with my boss and his boss went decently yesterday so I can move on and get a whole bunch of stuff done today.