Lee Greenwood, draft-dodger, wrote a song that is played everywhere: "Proud to be an American." I hate him. I hate that song. I know nothing about Lee Greenwood except that he dodged the draft. If, say, Elvis had written that song, I would love it.

Context. That's what I'm talking about.

Do I put Toby Keith in the same league as Lee Greenwood? Hell no. So let me explain what I meant by saying Toby Keith was uneducated in the American Way. You guys are right: We dominate, we have hit lists, we decimate our enemies in detail. And you know what? That makes me feel good. I'm not critical of Toby Keith's song because of it's content. But in it's context.

Now. If I don't have anything against Toby Keith's past, such as draft dodging or international broadcasts bad-mouthing his country's leader, where does the "wrong" context come in? You know what? It's not so much about the commercialism as it is the attitude. Wrong attitude. Like I said, I'm happy and sleep well because I don't have to worry about guerilla warfare in the streets. But we shouldn't glorify our might in song. The Japanese General in WWII who ordered the attack on Pearl Harbor called us a Sleeping Giant. That's what we are. We are THE superpower (well, us and China). But we don't have to be so damned arrogant about it.

Another song by Andrew W.K. says, "You better get ready to die, you better get ready to kill, because it's time to pay." He wrote that song for a friend of his that is in the SEALS. That has now become the SEAL anthem. In my opinion, it should have stayed with the SEALS, and not have been released to the public. Why? Because I don't want a bad image painted over what I respect so much: THE MILITARY.

As far as flag-flying goes, if I had a yard, one would be flying in it. I have a mini flag inside my apartment and it stands next to the Air Force Flag. I will stand at attention during retreat, salute the music, and feel good about it because I am part of a service. What I do on a daily basis, in the very long run, supports the safety of my country. And if we have to put a boot in someone's as to do it, so be in. Boys, a year ago I was passing coordinates for targets and for a week, it was my job to pass DMPIs, or air strikes. Those are big boots and I'm proud to have had my toes in those boots. But when I came home, I didn't talk about all the targets we hit or all the people we killed or all the shit we broke. Because that's not the American Way. Being boisterous and boastful of our powers and abilities is not what our focus should be. Our focus should be on the freedoms. Speech. Free trade. Choice of employment. Unrestricted movement through the states. Enterprise. All those things that not all other countries in the world have. That is what the American Way is to me.

In short: There is a time and place for everything, and though this is the time for putting a boot in someone's ass, the place for it's celebration is not on the radio. It's on the USO tour (which I think is great), it's up in those caves, it's out in those horrible deserts, that's it. Back in the US, pride for our troops needs to be in place when it's meaningful. Back in the US, our liberties need to be cherished, shared, and exercised. "The statue of liberty is shaking her fist" The Statue of liberty faces east to welcome other nations, not to fight them. The fighting is done by Mount Rushmore...and that's a huge difference.

In short (again): Toby Keith could have used more caution in his word choices, and the end result is a song that misrepresents the meaning of the Red, White, and Blue.

That's all I have to say. Thank you all for your candor.

Peace and Love,
Mungo


PS--Eddie, by the way, that girl's name is spelled A-A-N-D-R-E-A. That's three a's, not two!
PPS--My mission cnx'd due to sea states. Good surf out there, supposedly the best we'll see all year. 8-15 foot swells...pretty big for this part of the Gulf.