I'm a huge metal fan - the louder and faster, the more I like it. I'm one of those guys that thinks Metallica sold out to radio with "Enter Sandman." I'd always assumed that Tim McGraw was just another
"hat act" in modern country music. You know, the kind of guy Hank Williams III sang against in the song
"Trashville." But after reading this week's TIME magazine's
"10 Questions with Tim McGraw," I need to buy one of his CDs - he's made a new fan!
As I read his 10 Questions in TIME magazione this week, I was intrigued, then impressed. Here's an excerpt:
You've said that you might like to run for Governor of Tennessee--or maybe Senator. Is that still the plan?
One of these days, if the opportunity's there, that's something I'd love to do. It's a high calling to serve the community, and if you can do it, I think you should.
Oh great, another celebrity who wants to run for office. Just what we need. And a country singer, too, so you just know it's gonna be bad.
But then I read this...
The country-music world seems pretty conservative and Republican, but you've bucked that trend.
It's innate in me to be a Democrat--a true Southern populist kind of Democrat. There's not a lot of those anymore. I'm not saying I'm right or wrong. That's just the way I feel. The issues that matter to me are the social safety nets for people, health care, middle-class concerns. We need to take care of the middle class and the poor in our country. The chasm is getting larger between haves and have-nots, and that's something we need to close down a little bit.
OK, I admit, I was thrown off by the fact a country singer used the word "innate" correctly. But the rest? That blew me away. Everything that "What's wrong with Kansas" said rural people do, he's turned on its head. He's turned those people issues into campaign issues and wants people to think with their heart AND their heads AND their sense of justice, not just some misguided "spiritual" idea about saving America from gays and abortions.
And what about religion, anyway?
In the liner notes to Greatest Hits: Vol. 2, your latest album, there's a verse from I Corinthians 13 ("And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.") You don't talk about your faith much.
It's a personal issue. It all comes down to what the Bible says: it's a personal relationship with God. I'm a private guy, and you don't want to be out there preaching to people. But faith leads you in the decisions you make. You don't always pick the right path, but it's there in your conscience.
Bless his heart, THAT is the way I imagine a Christian leading his country. As my mom tells me, "Well, I support Pres. Bush because he is a Christian," and I ask her - "How do you know? What'd he done that so Christian? He TELLS you he is, but I sure don't see it. How do you know?" And she usually doesn't respond, except for an exasperated look on her face. Because she knows she can't think of anything - no matter how long I give her.
I'd much rather someone with true Christian faith and compassion who didn't feel the need to slap it on every billboard with his face on it at election time than a president who says what he thinks Christians want to hear and then does the opposite. I'll take the candidate who tells me he's a Christian by his actions - caring for others, working for justice, rtaking care of the needy.
I need actions, not words, Mr. President. Your words ring hollow and your actions show your true nature.