INDEPENDENCE FROM BIG MOUTHS

Neil Young may have summed it up perfectly a song called "Looking for a Leader," from his latest album "Living with War"

" . . .because America is Beautiful, but she has an ugly side . . "

The ugliness in America has a narrow focus and a big mouth. It's rude, and its goal is to shout down, pummel and beat on anyone or anything which disagrees with it. It personally attacks people who disagree with it - and it is quick to do so when it cannot refute the merits of the dissent. It issues these personal attacks without regard to its own shortcomings, failings, or outright flaws - even when those flaws are of the same (or worse) characteristics that are the focus of its personal attacks. So it is that 5 draft-deferment Dick Cheney, who has enriched himself beyond imagination by trading his governmental access for millions, can question the patriotism and commitment to American Security of others with impunity. So it is that Rush Limbaugh can rail against drug users and demand their long term incarceration - right up until he is arrested for doctor shopping for high grade pharmaceutical narcotics to feed his own appaarent addiction. So it is that Bill O'Reilly can continue to shrilly castigate the immorality of liberals, despite the revelation of his own extra-marital depravities. So it is that the loudest mouths in the Catholic Hierarchy can agitate to vote for Bush "because he agrees with the Church's abortion views (even though he really doesn't)," and even when now, with a conservative majority on the highest court, and Republicans in control of both houses most of the major media outlets in the country, free and legal abortion is still the law of the land. So it is that the loudest mouths in Congress and on the radio can cultivate the public debate away from issues that really are important - like the Iraq war and its devastating impact on servicemen and women's families, the Iraqi people, the U.S. Economy, and the world's perception of our country - to issues which don't really matter at all (Flag burning) or one's that cannot be solved without a deliberate, non-histrionic, multi-faceted approach (illegal immigration) and a long term commitment. That is the ugly side of America, and as a nation we should again declare independence - from this demagoguery of blissful, self-absorbed ignorance. Make a commitment to Independent thought this 4th. Our Nation's future depends upon it.