I think Mike S. does a good job at breaking down the video:
"You've got to see the video to really understand what they're trying to
say. A lot of bloggers are pointing out the symbolism of the oil
representing blood, and while that may be true, there is actually a lot
more there. The main point seems to be that the chicks are in an insane
asylum (or some type of institution) set in the not so long ago days
when people could be put into institutions for having a different
opinion than the popular opinion. I think they make a strong statement
to say that we obviously haven't come very far past those days (or not
at all) if they are going to be persecuted with death threats and the
like because they have a different opinion than the very conservative
bible belters that make up a good bit of their fan base. Did you know
that there were public bulldozings of their CDs in some places? Is that
any different than book burnings? It's a wake up and smell the coffee
message. It asks the question, "Is this what should happen to people
that have a different opinion and voice it?"
I think you could also say that the oil on the white paper is like a
giant Rorschach test, which again puts into question their sanity
maybe? And maybe the whole idea of the need and greed for oil that our
country has, and drives many of our decisions in the middle east is as
messy as blood would be on the white paper and the white dresses. But
then like a Rorschach test, the meaning is in the eye of the beholder.
So it's really up to you to decide what they're saying.
You could also read something into the stark contrast of black on
white. Are the issues that we face necessarily decisions of black and
white and right and wrong? Is one opinion necessarily better than the
other, and who is to decide? And then there's the white picket fence
amongst the turmoil of the stormy black and white flowing background,
which sort of states (at least to me) that the white picket fence world
that many Americans think they're living in is just an illusion, so
again wake up and smell the coffee about what's going on in the rest of
the world and don't be so smug and righteous about your
opinions...especially those many Americans (less than 5% of us have
passports) that form these opinions without having ever stepped foot
outside of the US borders.
This is by far the most provocative, interesting video I've seen in a
really long time, and kudos to the creative people behind it --
including the Dixie Chicks."
http://blogcritics.org/archives/2006/03/31/073008.php The review is written by a terrible writer and someone with a beef, so ignore the review. Mike S. commented on the review with this, and I thought it was clearer that I would have been able to explain. His bloh is found here: http://flauderthoughts.typepad.com/ But it is not coming up for me unless I check the cache on Google.
I took the boy and went to visit the family and new babies for 2 weeks, as well as celebrate my father's birthday and my friend's upcoming wedding. Then I came home for a day and a half and droppped off E. Then flew to Mexico for the wedding. It was a wonderful time. Beautiful weather, lots of beach time, catching up with friends, sleeping alone for 5 straight nights. The wedding was gorgeous. All in all a fabulous time. I did, however, lose my camera. It is also nice to be home except my house is a disaster, and I am recovering from all the traveling in the last few weeks.
In the time I have been gone, my son's verbal capabilities have skyrocketed. He has been talking for awhile now, but still somewhat unintelligible to most. (I, of course, understand most everything he says.) Now he is so clear. I could not believe how understandable he is now.
