The Big Lie must be countered again and again

So I was listening one of the alt/punk channels on my Sirius Satellite Radio and they read a few listener comments. One of the listeners blasted them for playing Green Day because the group is 'anti-American.'

A few years ago, I might've flipped out over slander like that. But such vile slime equating anti-Bush with anti-American has become routine in today's atmosphere where it's only permissible to say anything bad about terrorists and liberals/progressives (their alleged apologists/collaborators). These are the descendants of McCarthy and Nixon so perhaps it's not shocking.

While I don't flip out anymore about such unconscionable filth, Americans with a shred of decency shouldn't let such garbage go unanswered, about a band or about any other American.

Refusing to toe the Leader's line doesn't make one anti-American. Criticizing the Leader is not a luxury for when He feels like permitting it. It's necessary for a functioning democracy to work properly.

Troops, even those at war, are patriotic enough to realize that it's absurd to shut down democracy at home in order to supposedly export it abroad. Those who do not realize this aren't fit to wear the uniform, it's that simple. Democracy is not a zero sum gain, contrary to what some imply. These Big Lies need to be answered at every turn.

Opponents (on all sides of the political spectrum) of the president and his reckless policies were silent, or at least reticent, for too long. Patriotism used as a muzzle takes a lot of courage to stand up to. But it must be done. A lie unanswered becomes accepted as truth.