Don't mess with my pickup or my president

To the editor:

Country music fans are some of the most patriotic, flag-waving Americans. When the lead Dixie Chick insulted our commander-in-chief on the eve of war, many were shocked and angered. Call it a mistake, a failed marketing ploy or an American group spending too much time in Europe.

Now it's time for Chick restoration. One solution is changing the group's name to better reflect its political views. Appropriate possibilities would be West Coast Chicks, Northeast Chicks or French Chiques. If the Chicks insist on being from Dixie, they could change their musical style. The girls might feel more at home in the world of hard rock, where all ideas are considered valid and the only thing unwelcome is absolute truth.

In all fairness, only one Dixie Chick insulted the president. Let's call her Chick A. Chicks B and C could kick Chick A out of the group and call themselves the Dixie Duet. Here's my message to the Dixie Chicks as well as other musicians, actors and actresses: I can't separate your political statements from your professional performance, so don't mess with my toothbrush, my wife, my pickup or my president.

BOB HILL JR.

Cape Girardeau