I believe I miss-spoke yesterday when I wrote the following: “As for me, I plan on watching the show, though I may have to travel to Iraq to catch it (I hear they are working on a society over there with all the trappings of free speech and such).”

What I probably should have said was “I hear they are working on a society over there with all the trappings of tolerance of free speech and such”

The distinction is important. My friend Brian pointed out to me that while Ms. Garofalo certainly has the right to free speech, we have the right to not listen to her by means of popular boycott.

Fair enough

I guess the problem I have is the overwhelming view on the right that any criticism of the war effort or foreign policy in general is un-American or un-patriotic. Liberals in Hollywood give aid and comfort to the Iraqi regime. Elected officials who refuse to stand of the pledge of allegiance are traitors to their country. People who speak out against the war while soldiers are engaged in combat should be charged with treason.

Granted, those are the most extreme views of the Right. However, I have noticed similar opinions coming out of the public as well.

Look, you may not appreciate what people like Janeane Garofalo or Martin Sheen have to say. Their arguments may come across as incredibly naive and distorted. However, that does not make them traitors or put them in bed with Sadam Hussein.

Let me take you back a few years to a quote from 6th President, John Quincy Adams:

Wherever the standard of freedom and independence has been or shall be unfurled,
there will be America’s heart, her benedictions and prayers, but she goes not
abroad in search of monsters to destroy. She is the well-wisher to the freedom
and independence of all. She is the champion and vindicator of her own.

Now, I get the feeling that if such a thing were said today, the orator would certainly be labeled as un-American by some sector of the Right. My guess is, they wouldn’t even begin to understand the sheer comedy coming out of their mouths.