A Day to Remember

I love country music. It occasions all sorts of snide remarks from my family and friends, even those from Mississippi. Some of the better qualities of country music:

1. Songs have a melody, a rarity these days.
2. People who write country songs like words. Who can forget, "If I said you had a beautiful body would you hold it against me?" or "All my exes live in Texas that's why I live in Tennessee" or even "Here's a quarter, call someone who cares"?
3. Country songs have strong women and men who are cheaters, alcoholics, or jailbirds.
4. In country music, life is simple: heartache, partying, and patriotism.

It's this last that concerns me today. Unabashed patriotism is the generally accepted norm, no relativism here. So, on this anniversary, let's share in country's take on 9/11 with a portion of Toby Keith's "Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue."

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.

Hey Uncle Sam put your name at the top of his list,
And the Statue of Liberty started shaking her fist.
And the eagle will fly,
And there's gonna be Hell,
When you hear Mother Freedom start ringing her bell!
It's gonna feel like the whole wide world is raining down on you...
Brought to you courtesy of the Red, White and Blue!

Oh, Justice will be served and the battle will rage.
This big dog will fight when you rattle his cage
You'll be sorry that you messed with the US of A
'Cuz we'll put a boot in your ass
It's the American way.

Hey Uncle Sam put your name at the top of his list,
And the Statue of Liberty started shaking her fist.
And the eagle will fly,
And there's gonna be Hell,
When you hear Mother Freedom start ringing her bell!
And it'll feel like the whole wide world is raining down on you...
Brought to you courtesy of the Red, White and Blue!
Of the Red, White and Blue..
Of my Red, White and Blue