Extrememly well said! A Standing Ovation for you!!!
Thanks very much to you both for saying so...after reading this thread, I can see I am not the only one who feels this strongly about the asinine mind set adoped by people like the Dixie Chicks.
The thing is...the Dixie Chicks think they got to where they did on the basis of talent alone. The fact is, it is the American way of life, American history and the structure and environment in the USA that has laid the road for them to get to where they did. Think they would have been a big hit in France or Syria?
Patriotism is the mindset of remembering that America helped you get to where you are, as did all the military people who fought and died to guarantee the freedom to travel that road to success.
Patriotism means always saying thank you to America and the people past and present for making our wonderful lives possible.