My Toby Keith post (see below) is now officially the most-commented post ever on words mean things. I figure it’s probably because people were searching for information about the song itself (just like I was). I was looking for the lyrics online, didn’t find them, so I downloaded an MP3 and transcribed the words.
Apparently, all that effort was worth it. And welcome to my new conservative readership. If you hang around, I’m sure you’ll find even more to be outraged about.
UPDATE: Just to give the conservatives a head start, I probably don’t have to say that I agree with Peter Jennings objecting to Keith’s appearance on the ABC Fourth of July special – if it was in fact Jennings’ decision, which seems unclear.
UPDATE Episode II: Some interesting reading on Metafilter about this issue. Especially over the meaning of the word “censorship,” which Keith used to describe his removal from the TV special lineup.
An interesting thing to note about Keith’s comments on Peter Jennings’ Canadian background: Jennings moved to New York in 1964 to work as a foreign correspondent and has worked here ever since (I don’t know his citizenship status, but I find it hard to believe that he could maintain a US work visa for nearly 40 years). Keith was born in Oklahoma in 1961 and spent most of his time playing football (culminating in an ill-fated stint with the USFL), before pursuing a career in country music.
Keith just happened to be born an American, and didn’t really do that much here until recently. Jennings chose to be an American and has made his life’s work reporting on important domestic and international issues and helping uphold American freedom of expression.
So when you look at it that way, who’s more of an American? That’s why it’s dangerous to start playing that game.
Well said, Jon-Jon.
So, Jon-Jon, if you find it hard to believe that Jennings could maintain a US work visa for nearly 40 years while spurning US citizenship, does that mean that when the fact is confirmed, you will acknowledge that he has received special treatment?
Special treatment? I don’t know whether that has anything to do with the issue. My point was: Jennings chooses to live and work in the U.S. — he participates in our culture voluntarily. Keith, on the other hand, is a U.S. citizen by default. That being said, how can anyone honestly or objectively say which one is “more” of an American? Questions like that smack dangerously of xenophobia and a brutish, spear-rattling nationalism.
I think it is sad when the truth can’t be said. My personal opinion ( for what it is worth) is that the USA should put a boot up the ass of any country or individual who does what was done on 9/11. When do we start to actually stand up for our own instead of just talking about it. You keep right on singing your song Toby and I will be proud to stand with you. This is a serious song and it is long past time for serious action.
Since when does a TV personality get to dictate who can or can’t be on television? If you don’t like what’s on, change the channel or turn off the set. That’s the American way. As for Toby’s song, I too will stand with you. It’s about time we say enough is enough and quit worrying about everyone’s feelings. Don’t like this country? Get out. I guarantee you’ll be back. It’s the GREATEST country in the world.
Jon-Jon, the man refuses to become a citizen. How can you call that “participation” in “our culture” and imply that to just visit a country makes one an “–an” of that country? (I use “-ian” as in “Austrian,” “Canadian,” “American,” “German”)…see how weird it sounds? That’s because we have to make up a word to twist and turn ourselves to the concept you are implying… that if I eat a croissant on the Seine, I might be considered French. The true word and concept is “citizen.”
Toby Keith is a citizen; Jennings is not, by his choice. It’s a slap in the face that the content broadcast on US *public* airwaves (that’s what makes this, INDEED, a *censorship* issue–the government regulates broadcast channels) could be determined by someone who snubs us, over the desire of citizens.