Finnegan Posted 8 March 2007 Posted 8 March 2007 Right, I want some opinions. Before we go any further, here's your required reading: aka flagwaving, patriotic toss. Great song (musically), good old cheesy power ballad, if a little bit too country. The song's a good few years old now but it sparked a fair bit of controversy at the time. A fair few more liberal and left wing country music acts (ahaha, yeah, apparently they do exist) branded the song ignorant, claiming it was an attack against an entire culture and people. I can understand, to some degree, what they meant (ie, they're claiming the song's a big F U to Islam / Afghanistan) but I just don't see the evidence in the song. Now don't get me wrong, I think Toby Keith's a cunning stunt. He's bigoted, arrogant, unintelligent and so right wing it hurts my face. I also dislike pro-war, aggressively patriotic propaganda and this song actually epitomizes that attitude. But I can't find the ignorant prejudice in it? In fact I'm almost close to thinking, well, "fair play." I mean I'd like to think no one on here will say they weren't appalled by 9/11. It was a terrible travesty and a gross act against mankind, expecting some retribution seems almost natural. The world couldn't just sit there and let whoever had done that get off without some form of punishment. So. Naziesque, hatefilled propaganda and a bigoted attack on the Islamic faith? Or a slightly extreme, slightly overly patriotic bit of reactionary anger? I can't decide.
lookwhaticando Posted 8 March 2007 Posted 8 March 2007 So. Naziesque, hatefilled propaganda and a bigoted attack on the Islamic faith? Or a slightly extreme, slightly overly patriotic bit of reactionary anger? I can't decide. These people love their nation and they love to wave their flag - this guy is proof of that (just look at his guitar). The guitar says quite a lot, in my opinion. The flag on the guitar was a positive depiction of the United States - it wasn't a negative depiction of Islam/Afghanistan. Besides, I can't find anything much in the lyrics to go on, with regards to a bigoted attack on Islam. It's all about America. There aren't half some wallies out there.
Finnegan Posted 8 March 2007 Author Posted 8 March 2007 A poor mans Bruce Springsteen Bruce Springsteen, as a left-wing, working man's socialist would likely find that greatly offensive.
Zingari Posted 9 March 2007 Posted 9 March 2007 Bruce Springsteen, as a left-wing, working man's socialist would likely find that greatly offensive. good i hope he's reading it right now !!
Finnegan Posted 9 March 2007 Author Posted 9 March 2007 Brucie'd take Lisa any day of the week. esides, I can't find anything much in the lyrics to go on, with regards to a bigoted attack on Islam. Exactly, see. I just can't really find the ignorance or prejudice in it, beyond the fact it promotes a violent ideology. But then a LOT of people felt the war on the Taliban / Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan was justified.
Daggers Posted 9 March 2007 Posted 9 March 2007 Brucie'd take Lisa any day of the week. Enjoy you enforced break from FT
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