Is this action the action of a "PATRIOT" or a "TRAITOR"?

Question

http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_5784517?nclick_check=1

Rage Against the Machine rages:

Seven years after the quartet broke up following de la Rocha's departure, the band returned with a vengeance to close out the three-day festival east of Palm Springs.

He also railed against the war in Iraq and likened Bush administration officials to Nazi war criminals.

"This current administration is no exception. They should be tried and hung and shot," he said.

Answer 1

Certainly not a patriot. I don't think it rises to the level of treason. It is, however disgusting & no decent, patriotic American should ever buy any of their CD's or attend their concerts.

Answer 2

So, now you're passing judgement upon all performers; based upon whether or not they support the Bush administration?

His words mean that he's exercising his freedom of speech. You got a problem with that?

However...a comment about the First Amendment is in order.

You have the "freedom" to say whatever you like in this country, and most of the time there are no repercussions. Sometimes - as in the case of Michael Richards or Don Imus, or even the Dixie Chicks - there are.

If you're in the public eye, if you're a celebrity, you have more access to mass media than the average person.

As a celebrity, it's your choice as an American citizen if you want to wax political or not.

It's a free market and it's a risk celebrities choose to take.

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But LISTEN to me...you can't have it both ways.

If you suggest that Don Imus' firing was a case of PC, then you have no justification for suggesting that Rage Against the Machine are "traitors."
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And here's another opinion regarding your postings.

When some friends of ours returned from a trip to Amsterdam (a retired semi driver - not some hippy musican), they told us,"You could easily tell some of the tourist students from the local students in the sidewalk cafe's."

"How," I asked?

"Oh, they were the ones using the "F" word excessively."

And what I'm telling YOU is that if you do someting to excess, it loses its impact. It's like putting too much salt in the soup.

So why don't you ease up on the "traitor" rhetoric a bit and upgrade the style of your postings?

You can still exercise your freedom of speech; just at a more mature level.

Answer 3

Weapons not food, not homes, not shoes
Not need, just feed the war cannibal animal
I walk the corner to the rubble that used to be a library
Line up to the mind cemetery now
What we don't know keeps the contracts alive and moving
They don't gotta burn the books they just remove 'em
While arms warehouses fill as quick as the cells

Rage Against the Machine - Bulls on Parade

Being a "traitor" requires action, not words, as does being a patriot. He was expressing his opinion, which is protected by the 1st Amendment.

It's amazing how conservatives say liberals hate free speech. We LOVE free speech. It is, in fact, conservatives who hate it, especially when it goes against the grain.

As for the last line, it is not a threat, it is an opinion - something all of us are entitled to.

Answer 4

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. -- 1st Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America


"You can support the troops but not the president." -- Tom DeLay, 1999

Answer 5

"They changed my life, they made me a liberal"
I think it's about time they called themselves by what they really are instead of making it sound less menacing.
Liberalism is no different then Socialism or Communism.
So why don't they just cut the crap and announce their a Socialist or Communist instead of saying their a Liberal.Liberals were at one point SANE people who only wanted to help make the world a better place.
Now their raving lunatics who should be locked up where they can't hurt anyone and can get the much needed care that they're obviously lacking.
Rage Against the Machine sounds more like Satans work shop than a political movement.
Those people should be deported to Syberia and left to rot as far as I'm concerned.

Answer 6

Rage Against the Machine is a band, and I completely disagree with their political message, although I do love their tasty music.

That being said, I will fight and die, gladly for their right to play whatever offensive garbage they want to spew, because I am a staunch advocate of the first amendment to the United States Constitution.

Part of the problem with most debate over speech today is that people are trying to pin down what is "acceptable." The Founding Fathers knew better. What is acceptable to me is not acceptable to others, but I would never presume to tell them what to say, how to act or who to associate with. It is a Fundamental Right. Part of the most beautiful facets of our Republican form of government is based on the idea that the neo-nazi, the black nationalist, the civil libertarian, the neo-socialist, the orthodox jew, the hard-line republican and the liberal democrat all have a right to contribute to what is called the "free marketplace of ideas."

Sure, Don Imus can get fired for his mysogynistic, racist comment, but I defend his right to say it no matter how much I disagree with him.

The saddest thought of all would be that we lived in a place where Rage Against the Machine didn't have a voice. Then what would we talk about?

My vote is Patriot, only because at least they are doing something to stir debate.

Answer 7

Traitor may be extreme.
However, simple minded idiot's who are completely incapable of formulating their own opinions based on the social climate in America in the months immediately following 9/11. Yes.
The overwhelming majority of America was for the war at its outset, now they want to hang those who had every reason to believe they were acting in the best interest of our nation. Right or wrong, we are there now. And we are not leaving any time soon.

Answer 8

Patriot is often spelled "Dissent".
An unjustifiable conflict for us to engage in the middle east. Thousands killed.

Look, our obligation is to our sons and daughters, whether they be civilian or military. Are we responsible for the actions taken by the Federal administration?

We need to rein in the military and the government profiteering from wars.
That will take masses of us, willing to act, not just judge motives.

Write slanted news for the status quo to remain our masters, if you know what the lies are.

Let the truth be found within.

Answer 9

Sounds like someone exercising his right to free speech. In a democratic society (we are a republic, by the way) it is customary for one to have proof of accusations. Any thing otherwise is just stating your opinion. Right or wrong, living in this society it is his privilege. Abet, on the blood, sweat and tears of others.
Dr. Tommy Skelton Ph. D

Answer 10

Zack has never claimed to be a patriot, he's all for Native American rights, you know those people that used to number in the millions on this land we now call home. He is very anti-US and anti-Mexico. This is like asking if a quote from a klansman is racist.

Answer 11

Being a patriot does NOT mean loving the stupidest person in the history of the country, but standing for what is right for the country. He did that, by openly telling the truth about the aforementioned stupidest one in the history of the country.