"Not Ready to Make Nice"

I recently heard the new Dixie Chicks album, Taking the Long Way. I bought it. It's definitely worth it. The whole album has a somewhat slow, almost comtemplative sound, like they have something to say, to get off their chests. But the real kicker is the single.

They never intended to be a political band. But when you exercise your First Amendenment right, and people attack you for it, you just might become one. And that's the thing. They never said to kill the president or anything. They only said they were ashamed to be from Texas.

And a note about our First Amendent: it's our right and priviledge. But more than that. It's our duty. When we see that something is wrong, especially with the political machine that runs our country, or our state, or our city, we have a duty to speak up. How else does change occur? It doesn't. And isn't that what we claim to stand for? Democracy and the right to express ourselves and evoke change and all that fantastic stuff that our soldiers are dying for in other countries?

So, yeah. Speak up, it's your right & your duty. And when you truly believe in something, don't back down. Because then you fail everyone, not just yourself.

Forgive, sounds good - Forget, I'm not sure I could - They say time heals everything - But I'm still waiting - I'm through with doubt - There's nothing left for me to figure out - I've paid a price - And I'll keep paying - I'm not ready to make nice - I'm not ready to back down - I'm still mad as hell and - I don't have time to go round and round and round - It's too late to make it right - I probably wouldn't if I could - 'Cause I'm mad as hell - Can't bring myself to do what it is you think I should - I know you said - Can't you just get over it - It turned my whole world around - And I kind of like it - I made my bed and I sleep like a baby - With no regrets and I don't mind sayin' - It's a sad sad story when a mother will teach her - Daughter that she ought to hate a perfect stranger - And how in the world can the words that I said - send somebody so over the edge - That they'd write me a letter - Sayin' that I better shut up and sing - Or my life will be over - I'm not ready to make nice - I'm not ready to back down - I'm still mad as hell and - I don't have time to go round and round and round - It's too late to make it right - I probably wouldn't if I could - 'Cause I'm mad as hell - Can't bring myself to do what it is you think I should - I'm not ready to make nice - I'm not ready to back down - I'm still mad as hell and - I don't have time to go round and round and round - It's too late to make it right - I probably wouldn't if I could - 'Cause I'm mad as hell - Can't bring myself to do what it is you think I should - Forgive, sounds good - Forget, I'm not sure I could - They say time heals everything - But I'm still waiting