One thing is clear from reading ALL of Johnny Cash's biographies and also June Carter Cash's and Rosanne Cash's interviews...Johnny Cash was against Vietnam and against the Iraq War.
His opposition to the Vietnam War is pretty well known-since his most enduring, famous song focuses on it-but he also supported various veterans groups, and the servicemen, throughout his entire career.
The thing that stands out about Johnny Cash is his remarkable ability to transcend petty political or religious divisions.
He seemed to be someone who stood up for what he believed was right, regardless of the perception among elite opinion, or even the public at large.
There's an adage in Nicaragua that in that country, there are no Nicaraguans, just conservatives and liberals.
It's sad to see this country inevitably careening towards that end, but that's the way it looks to me.
There are very few plain-old "Americans" today, and almost none to speak of in this country's entertainment industry, which could just as well be located in Dubai, or Seoul, or Paris.
Johnny Cash was a patriot in the most complete sense of the term, in that he didn't arrive at predetermined stances that were driven by ideology, but decided what he thought was the best policy based upon personal experience, and what would be best for most Americans, irrespective of their political persuasion.
He also didn't try to force his opinion down the collective throat of his audience, something that today's stars could learn from.
I think that's why figures like Cash are so universally admired in this country, regardless of whether you like them politically, or personally, or even enjoy their particular musical genre.
Cash seemed to eclipse all of those divisions and served as a unifying figure of a sort, across generational boundaries.
I remember from the national news back in 1970 a story about a Cash visit to the White House. Nixon wanted him to preform his song "Welfare Cadillac" and Johnny refused.