I just finished watching Shut Up And Sing. It's a documentary about all the Dixie Chicks went through after saying 15 words on a London stage on the eve of the Iraq war.

I bought it at the Austin airport last Friday afternoon. I make no bones about it, I’m a huge fan. I will also disclose that there’s a distant family connection to the band that even they don’t know about: my wife’s cousin’s wife’s sister was the lead singer in the band before Natalie Maines. (BTW, Martie and Emily SO made the right choice on that one.)

The movie itself is a story of the ups and downs of their being true to themselves in the face of adversity; of being authentic. Here are my favorite quotes:

Quote #1, courtesy of Emily Robison. “People like us because we’re real. And when you’re real, sometimes you put your foot in it.” Translation: Yep, you do. Leaders lead and followers follow. Has been, is now and always will be.

Quote #2 is from Natalie as she addresses the first audience the Chicks played to after their “offensive” comment in the UK: “We welcome your boos, because we welcome freedom of speech.” Translation: Nobody’s perfect. Embrace your flaws because they're part of who you are.

Quote #3. Natalie again. “Now that we’ve f’d ourselves anyway, I think we have a responsibility to continue to *f* ourselves.” Translation: Don’t succumb to external pressures to be anything that you’re not.

Welcome to society 2.0 people. Get real.