As America gears up for almost-certain military action in Afghanistan, and who knows where else, the peace-marchers are out in the streets once again. Just like they did during the Gulf War, they're marching in DC, protesting on college campuses and making a big din for peace, love and an end to anti-arab/moslem bigotry. And, as usual, they're fighting a real uphill battle to get people to listen to what they're really trying to say.

Chances are you've seen them out there, waving a peace banner in a town near you. Chances are that if you're one of those 'average' Americans the press likes to talk about, you don't like them that much. Chances are also good that "don't like them" is putting it mildly... But whatever you may think of them, or what they have to say, do your country and yourself a favor? Please don't fall into the trap of calling them "un-American"; That's not only a highly foolish and intellectually-lazy thing to say, but it stands counter to everything that America really stands for in the first place.

Why?

Well, look at where you are and what you call our own. America is the home of the free and the land of the brave. You can speak your mind anywhere, anytime, and all opinions and viewpoints - however unpopular - are tolerated. The most hateful and spiteful have the same rights as the most thoughtful and kind, as evidenced by the continued existence of the American Nazi Party, Ku Klux Klan and other such groups.

So in a land where someone like David Duke can run for Governor, what's so "un-American" about voicing opposition to war?

In fact, how can there really be an 'un-American' statement made, when all viewpoints are protected by the Constitution? You could make the case that calls for censorship are un-American, but even that's a stretch; The Constitution also protects the rights of those who would see it amended, altered or done away with.

That's one of the reasons why I am proud to be an American. It seems like only we have the guts to protect the rights of people who'd work within the laws to take those rights away from everyone else. We trust in the people to debate such matters in an environment of free inquiry, and take their issues to their elected leaders and, ultimately, the ballot box. We don't need the government to protect us from unpopular ideas: we can do it just fine on our own.

Besides, there's very little that's "un-American" about demanding the government act in a certain way: the last I checked, that's what the whole point was about. You might as well call every voter, calling-in Dittohead, column writer or "man on the street" who gets interviewed by the paper un-American, too... provided you disagree with them.

And if we're going to be totally honest about it, isn't that where all this talk of being "un-American" is coming from?

So the next time you see the protesters out - and I bet you'll see them more and more as time goes by - call them what you like. Call them naive, or annoying, or whatever: who knows? You might even be right in a few respects.

Just don't call them un-American: that's a cheap shot that not only promotes lazy thinking, and stands counter to our nation's principles, but also feeds the impression that only unthinking, rabid, flag-waving morons are in favor of using military force.

If you don't think that's true, then don't prove it. Easy, huh?