I have a single comment on the content of George Bush's nonsensical State Of The Union address tonight. Amidst the lies and sound bite-ready propaganda, every good point in the plan for America he presented, such as increased education, energy independence, health care for the average American, increased safety for the nation... every single one of these and all the rest are opposed by the massive network of corporate business interests the Republican party is owned by.

But all that was designed to roll down the media pipe like oil to your car. The real issue tonight, and one which should ring warning bells in every head, was the arrest and removal from the House Gallery of anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan prior to the commencement of Bush's address.

Sheehan was an invited guest, present legitimately. She never uttered a sound, never caused a physical disturbance. The cause for arrest? She exercised her Constitutionally guaranteed right to free speech.

Sheehan wore a t-shirt, which said: “2,245 Dead — How Many More??”

If you're an American, you may feel the wearing of a t-shirt bearing a political statement to a President's State Of The Union speech is inappropriate. I have some points I'd like you to take a look at.

1) Sheehan is an American citizen, just like you and I. We are all guaranteed the right to free speech by our Constitution. Not just in designated areas, not some of the time and shut-the-hell-up when it's bothersome to those in charge... it is our right every day of our lives.

2) Freedom of speech as a fundamental right is what makes us, literally, a free people. Without the right to express our views, the potential for joint action against those who might arise in our society to oppress us is severely limited. Freedom of speech, freedom to publicly criticize and call to others to take up your cause, freedom for the least of us to take the largest to task... these are freedoms people don't have under the governments in China, Iran, North Korea.

3) George Bush is a public servant. As an elected official, he represents you, me, Cindy Sheehan and every other American. He is accountable to every American, including Cindy Sheehan. Let me say it again: George Bush is a public servant, not a King. He's paid with our tax dollars. The entire State Of The Union address is paid for by us.

Since when are we paying for censorship?

What I want to know is not how many more American soldiers will die in Iraq.

What I want to know is: how many more signs do we need before we realize our government is no longer ours?