Not Ready to Make Nice

Today I heard a song that gave me goosebumps on goosebumps. I'd heard it before, and liked it, but today I really listened to the words. The song is "Not Ready to Make Nice" by the Dixie Chicks. According to the radio station I was listening to, the song was written as a response to the brouhaha that took place almost three years ago when lead singer Natalie Maines told a London audience that she was ashamed that President Bush came from her state of Texas. The lyrics are, in part:

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 have tremendous respect for the fact that the Dixie Chicks are not backing down on her criticism of Bush and the Iraqi War in the face of death threats, etc.

But you know, I think this song has a more universal application. Who hasn’t been in a situation where they’ve offended someone who’s really and truly overreacted? The pressure can be immense to “make nice” when you know, in your heart of hearts, that you didn’t do anything wrong. In the past, I would try to be conciliatory or doubt myself and behave like a scared little rabbit, etc. These days, though, I have to say I’m trusting myself and standing up for myself more. (Although I do pick my battles.) Standing up for myself and insisting on being treated with respect is both scary and exhilarating. In my twenties, I may have stood up for myself when pushed to my limits, but endlessly questioned myself thereafter. Now I do less of the rehashing, thank goodness. I wouldn’t go back to my twenties for a million dollars unless I could bring with me the lessons that I’ve learned! (And then, boy, things would be a lot different!)

Feel free to comment on the song or any of the thoughts in this post.

:)

Eclecta