I had the great unfortunate experience of catching the beginning of the American Country Music Awards last night. This was unfortunate because of everything seemed to be pro-Bush this and pro-war that and it just disgusted the hell out of me. Even Reba made a joke at France's expense, and I like Reba. She 'minds me of my kinfolk. And that hurt.

But the most disgusting part of last night was seeing for the first time the country singer Toby Keith, a most disturbed individual who writes lyrics that are so full of contempt for law and order and respect, while in the guise of patriotism. He and Willie Nelson did a duet version of his "hit" country song "Beer for my Horses" which included the lyrics:

Grandpappy told my pappy, back in my day, son
A man had to answer for the wicked that he done
Take all the rope in Texas
Find a tall oak tree, round up all of them bad boys
Hang them high in the street for all the people to see that

And upon hearing them sing that I sat on my couch STUNNED and in awe that it was conceivable that the audience and the network would allow such blatantly racist and disgusting lyrics to go on national television without a whit of commentary. Just goes to show you how bad this whole "patriotism" scene is these days. His other popular "hit," "Courtesy of the Red, White, & Blue (The Angry American)," contains the line: `Cause we`ll put a boot in your ass; It`s the American way

And the thing is his album and single are incredibly popular and number 1 stuff. God, bless HELP America.