Wonder where the stereotype came from...

It's things like this that make me so embarrassed by my country sometimes. A guy in a pickup truck allegedly drove over the memorial that Cindy Sheehan has set up outside of President Bush's ranch in Crawford, Tx. This patriotic American drove his truck over "over 500 crosses and 40 American flags," and I'd bet anything that he's the type of guy who things that flag-burning ought to be illegal and prayer in schools should be mandated. Granted, I don't know that for sure, and he could've just been struck by a sudden lack of sense. If he did;: so be it, we've all done regrettable things in the heat of the moment. Pay your fine and apologize, and all is good. Something makes me doubt that that's how it'll play out, however.

This just makes me more proud to be American:

The protest has drawn counter protests from supporters of the U.S.-led war in Iraq and the ire of some neighbors -- including one who fired shots into the air Sunday, telling reporters he was "getting ready for dove season."

And this:

Ranch neighbor Melissa Harrison said she also was concerned for the safety of her children.

"Who else is going to come up there?" she asked. "We don't know who all is up there protesting, what type of people it's bringing around, and I don't think they know everybody's background. So that's just my concern there."

Yeah, you better watch out! Those liberals, with their...desire to end an illegal war, and, uh...have the President take some responsibility for his decisions. Better keep those good America-lovin', bible-thumpin', boot-wearin', tractor-drivin' kidlets inside. Might get contaminated by the liberal infection, and before you know it, they're going to be turning gay on you and growing their hair long and protesting peacefully! Instead, we want them all to grow up and join the Marines. That way, you can be like Brook Park, Ohio, and lose 19 Marines in two days.

Bush is taking a five-week vacation. Somehow, I really doubt that many of the men and women who've been killed in Iraq come from families that can afford five weeks of vacation. I bet that's partly because the lower- to middle-class makes up a huge majority of the military. I bet it's also because military pay and benefits are so terrible that even those with good careers within the military are going to be solidly middle-class unless they come from money to begin with.