Who's the Patriot?

I recently read a letter to the editor of the local newspaper. The letter was from a parent who was complaining about the November 2nd student walkout to protest the war in Iraq. This parent was vilifying any student who would dare to speak out against President Bush. My first thought was, Hello, this country is a democracy. EVERYONE has the right to speak their beliefs and thoughts. If you don't like this, then you can easy move someplace where the freedom of speech is prohibited. There seems to be a movement lately that claims that if you speak out against our government then you are unpatriotic, un-American and engaging in treason. Baloney! Do these same people feel that the founding fathers who laid the foundation of this great country were treasonous? (they might still be British colonials if they believe that!). That would also make the Boston Tea Party an act of terrorism and treason (again, it would be if you were loyal to King George).

If the government makes a bad decision, then it is our right as Americans to speak out!