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Politics : The Castle -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: tejek who wrote (1390)	4/2/2003 4:05:05 PM
From: Lane3	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 7936

BTW the head of the NYSE is very conservative in his viewpiont........that might explain al Jazeera's eviction in part. Maybe he's a country music fan. ---------- Patriotism embedded By Cathalena E. Burch ARIZONA DAILY STAR Pop stars hauled out the black armbands and protest songs when tensions began boiling over the Middle East early this year. Country stars unfurled the American flag. In times of international crisis, country music stands firmly behind America's leaders, no matter how unpopular the battle. "Country music is the music of the people. It's the music of the working-class American folks who make up the backbone of this country," says singer Darryl Worley, the latest to chime in on a chorus of pro-American country songs clogging the airwaves in recent weeks. Worley released his pro-American anthem "Have You Forgotten" five weeks ago. Last week, it topped Billboard's Hot Country singles chart, and even some pop stations are playing it. Worley says the song is so popular because its message of support for American and allied troops in Iraq resonates with the majority opinion in America. "I think the people you see protesting (the war) are minorities," says fellow country artist Craig Morgan. "Those artists and those celebrities there in Hollywood don't have their finger on America like the country music people do." The musical take on the war is a study in contrasts: Rocker Lenny Kravitz seeks an end to war in "We Want Peace," while Worley asks if we have forgotten the terrorist acts of Sept. 11, 2001, that disrupted our peace. The rapping Beastie Boys trash American politicians with "In a World Gone Mad," while country rebel Toby Keith plots putting a boot up our enemies' backsides in "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)." And country crooner Clint Black wants to "I Raq and Roll," while rocker John Cougar Mellencamp journeys "To Washington" and a life before George W. Bush took office. The only anti-war sentiment echoed on behalf of country music during the latest Persian Gulf crisis: an anti-Bush comment from Dixie Chicks lead singer Natalie Maines to a soldout concert crowd in London last month. Maines later apologized, but not before radio stations nationwide stopped spinning the band's music. Tucson's KIIM (99.5 FM) has banned the Chicks' music altogether. KOYT (92.9 FM) Coyote Country stills plays the trio's music, although not in as heavy rotation. "We felt it was a very stupid thing for them to say," says KOYT program director Jeff Baird. "It was very un-American." Baird says Worley's song, though, has become the most requested by listeners. The song strikes a patriotic chord that typifies country music. "Country is a red, white and blue format. They wear the flag loudly," Baird said. "Country music is a music from the heart. It reflects the quiet masses," says KIIM's Herb Crowe. Worley and Wynn Varble wrote "Have You Forgotten" soon after returning from a USO tour to American soldiers in Afghanistan last December. The song was intended to honor the soldiers' efforts on the frontlines; Worley never thought it would be released as a single. He also never imagined it would become the biggest hit in his four-year career. He performed it at the Grand Ole Opry in January, earning a standing ovation, which prompted his label, Dreamworks, to release it as a single. As soon as it was shipped to radio, it became a hit. "It's been pretty incredible. I think it says a lot to the country music listeners as far as where they stand on this issue," Worley said Friday from his tour bus outside Montgomery, Ala. "We put it out there not knowing for sure what the response would be. But I think it was a message we really believed in." The album of the same name, Worley's third, was to be released in May. Because of the song's popularity, Dreamworks will release it April 15. Last week, Worley took the song to an audience that appreciates it perhaps the most: a hangar full of soldiers involved in the war with Iraq. Worley performed "Forgotten" moments before President Bush addressed the troops and their families at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida. Worley said the response was "incredible, it was intense." Afterward, he chatted with Bush, who said he liked the song. "It's just been a real fun ride so far," the Tennessee native said. "The cool thing about it is we did it for the right reasons. We didn't think about the money we could make or what kind of overall impact it would have. We wrote a song to honor and respect our troops." * Contact reporter Cathalena E. Burch at 573-4642 or burchce@azstarnet.com. azstarnet.com ------------------ "HAVE YOU FORGOTTEN" Written by: Darryl Worley and Wynn Varble I hear people saying we don't need this war I say there's some things worth fighting for What about our freedom and this piece of ground? We didn't get to keep 'em by backing down They say we don't realize the mess we're getting in Before you start preaching Let me ask you this, my friend Chorus: Have you forgotten how it felt that day To see your homeland under fire and her people blown away? Have you forgotten when those towers fell? We had neighbors still inside Going through a living hell And you say we shouldn't worry 'bout Bin Laden Have you forgotten? They took all the footage off my TV Said it's too disturbing for you and me It'll just breed anger, that's what the experts say If it was up to me I'd show it every day Some say this country's just out looking for a fight After 9/11, man, I'd have to say that's right Chorus: Have you forgotten how it felt that day To see your homeland under fire and her people blown away? Have you forgotten when those towers fell? We had neighbors still inside Going through a living hell And you say we shouldn't worry 'bout Bin Laden Have you forgotten? I've been there with the soldiers Who've gone away to war And you can bet that they remember just what they're fighting for Chorus: Have you forgotten all the people killed? Yes, some went down like heroes in that Pennsylvania field Have you forgotten about our Pentagon? All the loved ones that we lost And those left to carry on? Don't you tell me not to worry 'bout Bin Laden Have you forgotten? Have you forgotten? Have you forgotten?