Are you patriotic, punk?

What does it mean to be a patriotic in America today? The answers vary, depending on who you talk to. Some feel it is their duty to provide unfailing support to President Bush, while others devote all of their energies to speaking out against the corruption that runs rampant in political factions like this one. Any way you look at it, taking a stand and promoting your ideals is a form of patriotism. \nBut isn't that the beauty of democracy in the first place? That America is a place where individuals can share their opinions and question all aspects of our governing body, with no fear of reprieve? In fact, we're entitled and encouraged to do so. That's what my American education taught me, anyway. Freedom of speech is one of the principles America was founded upon, but lately, the "freedom" part seems more of a lofty ideal than an active policy. People are continually facing adversity for speaking out and its effects are being felt everywhere. From FBI spy planes flying over Bloomington, to the orchestrated ridicule of musicians, it seems that speaking your mind nowadays comes at an increasingly high price. \nCase in point: The Dixie Chicks. These down home darlings were recently boycotted by radio stations across the country for speaking out against President Bush. About a month ago, when the Bush administration was enthusiastically initiating its war campaign, the Chicks lead singer, Natalie Maines, told fans at a London concert that she was "ashamed the President of the United States is from Texas," their home state. American media organizations freaked out, publicly criticizing Maines for speaking her mind. Radio conglomerate Clear Channel pulled the Chicks music from radio playlists at many of their 1,200 radio stations across America. As part of the anti-Chicks tyranny, one radio station in Louisiana even staged an event where a 33,000-pound tractor smashed a bunch of Dixie Chicks albums. Is this ridiculous to anyone else? Honestly, this is what the Dixie Chicks were talking about. \nWhy was the group persecuted for Maines exercising her First Amendment right? More importantly, why was the media backlash so severe? Maybe Clear Channel was just being patriotic in its own right, infiltrating individual ideas onto a broadcast medium. But wait, patriotism was hardly the issue. The boycott was designed to further the company's own interests (surprise, surprise). It was flexing its corporate guns and promoting specific agendas like any huge conglomerate that monopolizes an industry. \nIn the last decade, Clear Channel has grown into an enormous corporate giant, largely because of the deregulation laws instituted by the Telecommunications Act of 1996. Currently, the Chairman of the FCC, Michael Powell (Colin's son) is pushing for more deregulation, which means that Clear Channel will be able to grow even larger and perhaps start to infiltrate into television. Thus, the company wants to keep the Bush administration in power and the money and "favors" rolling in. Clear Channel will do whatever it takes to keep influential people in check, and keep "anti-American" commentary out of the airwaves. \nBut the fact remains, knocking the Bush administration isn't necessarily anti-American. It is our duty as Americans to question the leaders we vote into power or, more accurately, those who rig the elections. Artists are perfectly entitled to speak out and comment on governmental practice, but for groups like the Dixie Chicks, a little dose of free speech could spell economic disaster. It presents a real threat for artists, but luckily, all is well once again for the group. Maines issued a public apology, and for the upcoming U.S. tour the Chicks sold out 51 of their 59 tour dates on the first day, breaking existing ticket sales records. \nThankfully, musicians are finding other, somewhat indirect ways of speaking out. System of a Down and Madonna recently enlisted the help of filmmaker Michael Moore to convey opinions through their music videos. Though these artists may or may not care to associate with Moore's eccentric personal beliefs, there is no question that he presents a legitimate and worthwhile opinion, one that deserves exposure. His view is one that many Americans agree with, and still others are seeking out as an alternative to pro-war propaganda. Regardless, Moore's voice and others like it deserve to be heard and, like it or not, the views he expresses are representative of a portion of the American public. Artists like Thurston Moore are finding a voice on the Internet. The former Sonic Youth guitarist recently started a website, www.protest-records.com, which features over 60 anti-war songs. According to Rolling Stone, the site received over a half-million hits in its first three days of operation, and a ridiculous amount of hate mail.\nMy advice is to find your voice, be patriotic in your own right and don't hate on others for doing the same.