Toby Keith, Country Music, and America 

    I did not know much about him, but I knew a few of his songs. I am not much of a country music fan, but his songs still percolate into the culture and consciousness. He was part of my country, my culture, my world, my collective consciousness. I pay tribute to him and his shortened life. Sixty-two is too young for most of us to die. Better than many, but below average for most.

    Country music has more patriotic songs in the United States than most genres. I appreciate that thought, those sentiments, but the music itself can grate on my nerves. Each genre of music of music has its pros and cons. Rock n' roll can be incessant and noisy, or repetitive and trite. Jazz can be tedious and bothersome. All the other types can get tired, tawdry, profane, and boring. 

    Including country.

    But at the end of his life in this tribute, I am grateful for his love and artistry, speaking of the strength and inherent goodness of the country.

    We believe in it, many of us do. I have been reading some thoughts and beliefs of a socialist who was friends of my sister growing up. Perhaps the U.S has been a greedy, capitalist, empire oppressor-like nation, and the intervention into Iraq a generation ago was totally mistaken.

    But, as I think that Toby Keith might agree: I don't think so.

    The U.S. does mostly the right things. Many mistakes, but we do things with the right values. The intent of ridding Iraq of Saddam Hussein and the threat of Weapons of Mass Destruction was correct.

    Flawed and annoying, and twangy, but true.

    Kind of like country music.