Defining Patriotism and Support for the Troops

Conservatives and Liberals have long hurled insults at one another, some rarely actually hurt. Yet, some actually do. This past fall American Friends Service Commitee attended a salute to our troops in Kansas, and found themselves being arrested. For what? Having banners that opposed the war. Peacefully Protest! I am all for, but when we are told to sit down and shut up, or told we don't support the troops, or are called un-american or all three and more. I gotta draw the line. I have been arrested, ticketed, and escorted out of a venue where President Raisan Brain was speaking. My arrest, well 2 days after the 2004 election, I was driving to work, pulled over, and asked to step out of my 1976 Volvo. I was then frisked, cuffed, and put in a police car. I proceeded to ask why I was being arrested? I was told to shut up. I asked again. I was then told that I had an unpaid traffic ticket in my Township. I had paid the ticket, had my court notice in glovebox, which the officers would not look at. My court notice said "paid in full". After spending nearly eight hours in jail, knowing that the $140 I had was $40 shy of my bail, I was given my dinner and the "rub". The food expediter informed me, I was pulled over for stickers on the back of my car. "Support our Troops, Bring them Home Now!", and "Defend America, Defeat Bush!" , and "Kerry 2004". I was then released with the aide of family and two months later refunded my bail, with an apology letter of course. Or how about being ticketed for disturbing the Peace while handing out flyers about Peace? Or being escorted out of a Bush rally for wearing a t-shirt with a peace logo on it? What has happened to our country? Being told I do not support our troops is an insult that hurts, being called un-american hurts, especially since I love my country. I believe it is the greatest country in the world, I just don't think we always act like it. America is a country of genuine compassion, yet that compassion is being torn apart with bigotry, relegion, and deciet from both sides of the aisle (generally the right side of the aisle), but political deciet nonetheless. I encourage you to listen to the Mike Malloy moment below. If you are pressed for time, go to the 5 min. mark then proceed. It's where the Conservative rule has taken Progressive Patriots.