Ain’t That America?

By Tammy Derouin

I can only think of one place in today’s entertainment industry where part of a performance would involve a gigantic American flag.  How about a gigantic American flag made of lights, proudly displayed as the backdrop on stage?  Not only did the Country Music Awards acknowledge our flag as a positive, the first several songs acknowledged this great nation in which we live.  Ain’t that America?

The entertainment industry and I parted ways a long time ago.  Music was the first casualty.  I was a teenager in the 1980’s so when the radio stations changed their tunes and the sound I loved disappeared, I stopped listening. 

Television began to fall out of my nightly routine.  Investigative news programs disappeared as fluff replaced substance.  Good shows were hard to come by as so called reality shows replaced drama.  Well thought out storylines transformed into plots of how to bring out the worst in human behavior.  Is it any wonder the younger generation doesn’t get it?  They grew up not only watching bad behavior but they watched as bad behavior was encouraged.  The government’s bad behavior is the accepted reality in our transformed country.

There was once an endless variety of sitcoms.  I remember trying to figure out which ones would be recorded and which ones would be watched in real time.  Do you remember when Al Gore told a group of kids that they have a better understanding, of some things, than their parents?  I think about that every time I see a show where the kids are the “stars.”  The parents are portrayed as idiots and the kids have all the intelligence.  Wrong!  In this upside down world in which we live, that is the new reality in the land of make believe.

I can’t even think of the last movie I wanted to see in a theatre.  Good stories disappeared.  Bad behavior is glorified as anything has become acceptable to get a laugh. Hollywood has always pushed boundaries, some for the better and some for the worst.  Whether it’s television or film, Hollywood has become a one party entertainment industry.  The agenda of the left has been woven into the storylines. 

I surprised myself this past week because I actually looked forward to watching a prime-time show, an awards show no less.  The Country Music Awards aired last week.  For the first time, in more years than I care to count, I knew all but a couple of the contenders. 

Music has re-entered my life.  Today’s country music is very similar to the music I listened to in the 80’s.  It is easy to see where their inspiration originated as many of today’s country music artists pay homage to the artists of the 80’s. 

It isn’t just the music that is so inviting about country.  Although, I must admit, I loved watching one of my favorite artists from yesteryear team up with one of my favorite country singers.  Actually, I think it was Keith Urban’s sound and style which brought me back into music.  So watching him perform with John Cougar Mellencamp was incredible!  Ain’t that America?  Of course, Keith Urban pays tribute to him in his latest song.  Where else but country is, “John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16” understood?

Keith’s accompanying video sums up Americana.  He gets it and he was born in New Zeeland and raised in Australia.  He came to America, realized his dream and embraces our culture.  Imagine, a foreigner, who sees and understands the benefits of our country.  He acknowledges, from his point of view, we are all entitled to our own opinion, “The prettiest country from Georgia to Tennessee.” Now, ain’t that America?

Unfortunately, in this land of the free, our individual thoughts, beliefs and opinions are being demonized if you disagree with the ruling party.  It amazes me that so many on the left cannot see their eventual doom.  They cheer and applaud the agenda of their party while mocking those who disagree.  They can’t even imagine that one day their party will turn on them, but it will.

So, for a couple hours I felt like I went back in time.  It was so refreshing to see and feel pride in America.  That’s what I love about the country feel; it’s the values and the standards we once demanded of ourselves and those around us.  God, country and family are what hold us together.  We never apologized or minimized those beliefs because that was America, the home of the free.

“Oh but ain’t that America for you and me, ain’t that America somethin’ to see baby, ain’t that America home of the free, little pink houses for you and me.”

John Cougar Mellencamp