Ain't No Rag: Freedom, Family, and the Flag

Rating:
Summary: What this country needs is a few more rednecks.
Review: All you need to know about this book is to read the other reviews. Isn't it amazing how those from decant liberal infested cities just love to spew their venomous hate- filled rhetoric? Liberals know their unpatriotic, and try to bash those who love America the way ignorant racist blame all minorities for their shortcomings.
Trust a real American-loving patriot when I say, what America needs is more people with plain ol' cowboy sense. 'Faith, Family, and the Flag', is a great book that gives the reader an insight into the mind of a great entertainer and American, Charlie Daniels.
This book hits you with common sense points of view that's not afraid to take on the left, Hollywood idiots, or the pompous press. He celebrates what makes this country so great: America's family, values, and culture. It lets you know exactly what it means to be an American, not the bathhouses of San Francisco or the Starbucks bashing fanatics from Seattle, which the ignorant intellectual liberal loons consider American.
So buy this book, be proud to be American, and always ignore what wacko anti-Americans have to say.
God bless America.

Rating:
Summary: A necessary book by a regular guy
Review: Charlie Daniels is outnumbered. He is one of a handful of celebrities who are conservative and actually admit it. Boy, you know that's gotta be lonely in an entertainment industry in which you are expected to march lockstep with the prevailing liberal worldview.
Like his music album, Freedom and Justice for All, this book reveals Charlie's tender love for his country through his beautiful descriptions of all that great about it. But it also reveals his righteous indignation at everything that's wrong with this country thanks to the erosion of morals that liberalism has brought about. We can thank a succession of liberals from Margaret Sanger to Teddy Kennedy for the perversion of America into a baby-killing, tree-hugging, Christian-hating nation in which obscenity is celebrated as a free speech right but school prayer is outlawed.
I despise the reviewers here who have posted one star reviews, many of them in knee-jerk response to the book without actually having read it. Or they are so ferociously liberal they refuse to see anything any other way. Maybe one day they will be shocked into the realization that their worldview has resulted in the destruction of their families and everything they held dear.

Rating:
Summary: How does he keep track of all the people he hates?
Review: He seems to have more love for land than the people that live on it. And there doesn't appear to be any logic behind his hate. He just hates people because they are not exactly the same as he.

Rating:
Summary: Ain't It The Truth?
Review: I'm no fan of country music, but the first time I heard The Charlie Daniels Band performing "The Devil Went Down To Georgia" in the 1980 hit movie, "Urban Cowboy," I knew country could be cool. With six platinum albums and a career spanning 40 years, Charlie Daniels is riding the celebrity autobiography circuit with his new book, Ain't No Rag: Freedom, Family, and the Flag.

Daniels's book is a straightforward account of his life and outspoken opinions on the hottest political topics. Politically correct he is not. He is a plain and simple man who worked hard to achieve success in the music business - and he loves his country. How refreshing!

The title of the book is taken from his controversial song, "This Ain't No Rag, It's a Flag", and is a collection of columns that have appeared on his band's web site. With plainspoken "cowboy logic", Daniels reminds the reader what it means to be an American: love of country, freedom and God. Divided into three themes: "Cowboy Logic", "Why I Love America" and "Faith and Family," the 241-page book is good reading. Daniels makes no apologies for his simple prose and candid views. Having traveled all over the world performing for fans, including U.S. troops, he's done a whole lot of living. He discusses issues like abortion, welfare, illegal immigration, hyphenated Americans, patriotism and his love for Jesus Christ. Daniels warns, chastises, praises, advises and evangelizes.

And he has more than a few things to say to organizations like the ACLU and the North American Man/Boy Love Association, and to celebrities like Sean Penn and Barbra Streisand. Read the book to find out what he has to say to Jane Fonda and why. It's not quite what you'd expect for the former "Hanoi Jane."

Daniels's sense of humor is worth noting. In one hilarious chapter, he berates France via British rocker Chrissy Hynde--who reportedly said she hoped Iraq defeated the United States in the war--for its anti-American stance. And which country, Ms. Hynde, would be there to help England if attacked by terrorists? "The French?" Daniels asks. "The French are afraid of their own shadow. The only war they ever won was the French Revolution, and that's just because they were fighting each other." Brilliant.

In the best chapter of the book, "My Beautiful America", Daniels waxes eloquent with image after image of the splendor of America: the beauty of watching the sun go down in Hawaii, tasting gumbo in New Orleans, seeing wild horses running across the Nevada plains, and crossing the mighty Mississippi River. "America the free, America the mighty, America the beautiful."

True to his inspirational message, Daniels writes of his hope for a world in the midst of chaos. He recounts an incident he experienced while listening to a news program about Bill Clinton's affair with Monica Lewinsky. "For some reason or another, I flipped the channel during the commercial and there was Billy Graham proclaiming the eternal good news about Jesus Christ, and there it was, the truth of truths, almighty God is still in charge." Ain't No Rag proclaims good news of its own: America is still worth loving and fighting for.

© 2003 La Shawn Barber
Originally published on Townhall.com.

Rating:
Summary: Great book
Review: I'm no fan of country music, but the first time I heard The Charlie Daniels Band performing "The Devil Went Down To Georgia" in the 1980 hit movie, "Urban Cowboy," I knew country could be cool. With six platinum albums and a career spanning 40 years, Charlie Daniels is riding the celebrity autobiography circuit with his new book, Ain't No Rag: Freedom, Family, and the Flag.

Daniels's book is a straightforward account of his life and outspoken opinions on the hottest political topics. Politically correct he is not. He is a plain and simple man who worked hard to achieve success in the music business - and he loves his country. How refreshing!

The title of the book is taken from his controversial song, "This Ain't No Rag, It's a Flag", and is a collection of columns that have appeared on his band's web site. With plainspoken "cowboy logic", Daniels reminds the reader what it means to be an American: love of country, freedom and God. Divided into three themes: "Cowboy Logic", "Why I Love America" and "Faith and Family," the 241-page book is good reading. Daniels makes no apologies for his simple prose and candid views. Having traveled all over the world performing for fans, including U.S. troops, he's done a whole lot of living. He discusses issues like abortion, welfare, illegal immigration, hyphenated Americans, patriotism and his love for Jesus Christ. Daniels warns, chastises, praises, advises and evangelizes.

And he has more than a few things to say to organizations like the ACLU and the North American Man/Boy Love Association, and to celebrities like Sean Penn and Barbra Streisand. Read the book to find out what he has to say to Jane Fonda and why. It's not quite what you'd expect for the former "Hanoi Jane."

Daniels's sense of humor is worth noting. In one hilarious chapter, he berates France via British rocker Chrissy Hynde--who reportedly said she hoped Iraq defeated the United States in the war--for its anti-American stance. And which country, Ms. Hynde, would be there to help England if attacked by terrorists? "The French?" Daniels asks. "The French are afraid of their own shadow. The only war they ever won was the French Revolution, and that's just because they were fighting each other." Brilliant.

In the best chapter of the book, "My Beautiful America", Daniels waxes eloquent with image after image of the splendor of America: the beauty of watching the sun go down in Hawaii, tasting gumbo in New Orleans, seeing wild horses running across the Nevada plains, and crossing the mighty Mississippi River. "America the free, America the mighty, America the beautiful."

True to his inspirational message, Daniels writes of his hope for a world in the midst of chaos. He recounts an incident he experienced while listening to a news program about Bill Clinton's affair with Monica Lewinsky. "For some reason or another, I flipped the channel during the commercial and there was Billy Graham proclaiming the eternal good news about Jesus Christ, and there it was, the truth of truths, almighty God is still in charge." Ain't No Rag proclaims good news of its own: America is still worth loving and fighting for.

© 2003 La Shawn Barber
Originally published on Townhall.com.

Rating:
Summary: He likes NASCAR? What a shock!
Review: If wrapping yourself in the flag was all it took to be a great patriot, Daniels would win the "Patriot Of The Year" award hands down. Its great we live in country where people can express their views (no matter how extreme) and not have to worry about reprisal. Yet, after reading through this book I get the feeling Charlie Daniels is more interested in making America conform to his arbitrary standards, rather than embracing the concept of a truly free society which our flag represents. I feel Mr. Daniels totally misses the point of the flag by going on a one-sided tirade, dismissing his political opponents as freedom-hating anti-American infidels.

Having said that, there is something for everyone in this book. Obviously conservatives will love it because it echoes everything Rush, Hannity, et al have been screaming about for years. Liberals with a sense of humor will get a big chuckle, while freethinking agnostic moderates such as myself regard this book as proof that neither the left or the right controls the printing press...yet!

Whether you agree with his politics or not, Charlie Daniels is an American, just like Sean Penn. The fact that neither one of them is in jail or dead for expressing their passionate political views is very comforting. Let's just hope neither guy ever becomes president.

If you're a close-minded conservative or an open-minded liberal, then give this book a try. However, if you're an Islamic lesbian Barbara Streisand fan of French heritage, you probably won't enjoy Mr. Daniel's take on "The Flag".

Rating:
Summary: He likes NASCAR? What a shock!
Review: If wrapping yourself in the flag was all it took to be a great patriot, Daniels would win the "Patriot Of The Year" award hands down. Its great we live in country where people can express their views (no matter how extreme) and not have to worry about reprisal. Yet, after reading through this book I get the feeling Charlie Daniels is more interested in making America conform to his arbitrary standards, rather than embracing the concept of a truly free society which our flag represents. I feel Mr. Daniels totally misses the point of the flag by going on a one-sided tirade, dismissing his political opponents as freedom-hating anti-American infidels.

Having said that, there is something for everyone in this book. Obviously conservatives will love it because it echoes everything Rush, Hannity, et al have been screaming about for years. Liberals with a sense of humor will get a big chuckle, while freethinking agnostic moderates such as myself regard this book as proof that neither the left or the right controls the printing press...yet!

Whether you agree with his politics or not, Charlie Daniels is an American, just like Sean Penn. The fact that neither one of them is in jail or dead for expressing their passionate political views is very comforting. Let's just hope neither guy ever becomes president.

If you're a close-minded conservative or an open-minded liberal, then give this book a try. However, if you're an Islamic lesbian Barbara Streisand fan of French heritage, you probably won't enjoy Mr. Daniel's take on "The Flag".

Rating:
Summary: If he cracked open a history book instead of his mouth...
Review: One sentence from this book will suffice to show the author's grasp of history: "The French are afraid of their own shadow. The only war they ever won was the French Revolution, and that was only because they were fighting themselves."
What about the Hundred Years War, Mr. Daniels? What about the Thirty Years War? Not a resounding triumph, but settled on French terms. What about World War I? Yes, they took a lot of unnecessary casualties in that war. Dirty little secret, Mr. Daniels: so did we.
You wanna dwell on World War II? Sure, the French got their butts whipped. They still did much better than we would have done, had we had to fight Hitler on land in 1940.
It's deeply ironic that Daniels has morphed into the kind of back country ignoramus that he satirized in "The Ballad of the Uneasy Rider."

Rating:
Summary: More than a singer a man of common sense
Review: Patriotism is great love for your country and no one has exemplified this more than Charlie Daniels. With songs like "In America" and now with this book Charlie Daniels is a true American and his book is one of the best I have read in quite some time.

Ain't No Rag is more than a simple tale of how this great nation has become and what freedom means and what it costs. Ain't No Rag is the personification of what every American should strive for.

Daniels pulls no punches and stops the "political correctness" in every page of every chapter. Daniels takes on the "Elite Left" wing, Hollywood, and all those who bash the president. Daniels gives praise to those who deserve it and respect to those who serve this country.

If you want a good old fashion helping of common sense and sensibility than get a hold of this book quickly. Regardless if political persuasion, with an open mind everyone should find this interesting if not enlightening.

Rating:
Summary: Yeah, right...
Review: Peer inside the mind of a neanderthal! A close-minded, syrupy rant from someone who should spend more time with his gitaur, and less behind the keyboard.

It's quite astounding that there are people in this country- a first world, industrialized superpower- who still have their heads lodged in the 19th century. Even more astounding that people would PAY to read this kinda treacle.

If nothing else, this book is proof that the educational system has failed us utterly. That a book like this could worm it's way into print is proof that there are a great number of people in this country who are seriously lacking fundamental education.