NOW LET"S MOVE ON to some prominent Americans who have affected the country in both good and bad ways. Again, this is just a list I came up with. There is no reason or order to it. Some might say these musings are the product of a damaged mind. But, of course, folks who would opine that way are Pinheads. to some prominent Americans who have affected the country in both good and bad ways. Again, this is just a list I came up with. There is no reason or order to it. Some might say these musings are the product of a damaged mind. But, of course, folks who would opine that way are Pinheads.

ROBERT KENNEDY Unlike Dwight Eisenhower"s view of the man, I believe RFK was a great Patriot for two reasons: First, as attorney general under his brother the President, he aggressively took on organized crime when FBI director J. Edgar Hoover would not. And secondly, Kennedy spent an enormous amount of time disrupting the corrupt local and state police system in the South that was brutalizing African Americans during the civil rights era. Both actions make Kennedy not only a Patriot but a true American hero.

So how do I know what Kennedy did? Well, federal wiretaps from the early 1960s show top-ranking members of La Cosa Nostra ("our thing") venting their hatred for RFK. One thug is quoted as saying, "Bob Kennedy won"t stop until he puts all of us in jail all over the country." When killers hate you-that"s a good thing.

Because of Kennedy"s campaign against the Mafia, Director Hoover was forced to sign on as well, signaling a change in the way crime business was done in America. In fact, the heat on organized crime became so intense that a number of bosses, including New Orleans thug Carlos Marcello, discussed a.s.sa.s.sinating President Kennedy in the hopes of getting rid of Bobby as AG. To this day, some believe that the Mafia had a hand in the murder of John Kennedy.

On the civil rights front, a great source of emotional information on the b.l.o.o.d.y and disgraceful resistance to African American rights can be found in the movie Mississippi Burning Mississippi Burning. If you have not seen that film, starring Gene Hackman, rent it right now.

As part of my historical source material collection, I own a letter written by Robert Kennedy to Louisiana Senator Allen Ellender, who was fighting hard to maintain the unfair racial status quo in the South. Ellender had challenged President Kennedy"s order for the National Guard to restore order in Alabama after Governor George Wallace, a major Pinhead who repented before he died, refused a federal mandate to integrate the public schools in his state. On August 21, 1963, Attorney General Kennedy wrote this to Ellender: The cause for the call and use of the National Guard in Alabama was the obstruction of United States court orders for the entry of qualified students into the University of Alabama. On June 11, 1963, the President issued a proclamation commanding the governor of Alabama and all other persons engaged in the unlawful obstruction to cease and desist therefrom. When it appeared that the commands of that order had not been obeyed and the obstruction of justice was continuing, the President, on the same day, issued Executive Order 11111 authorizing and directing the secretary of defense to take all appropriate steps to remove obstructions of justice in the State of Alabama....It is apparent that the Alabama National Guard was properly called into federal service....

It should be noted here that President Eisenhower did not confront Alabama and some other states over their denial of rights to American citizens. But the Kennedy brothers did act decisively and succeeded in imposing justice where it had been denied for two centuries. Even though I generally respect Eisenhower, I simply can"t understand his disdain for RFK, who did the right and courageous thing while Ike did not. Maybe that"s it. Perhaps the old general knew he had failed blacks in the South and was galled that the young, arrogant Kennedys trumped him. That"s pure speculation, but it"s absolutely possible, is it not?

In this letter, RFK, a true champion of civil rights, defends the decision to send the National Guard to Alabama, where in one of the most historically Pinheaded moves ever, Governor George Wallace attempted to stop desegregation.

Author"s Collection Photographed by Ryan Eanes It is also interesting to note that the Kennedy brothers used the National Guard to protect American citizens from unfair behavior that harmed them. Do we not see a parallel to putting the Guard on the Southwestern border today? As mentioned earlier, I have been calling for that action during the past ten years because millions of Americans are being adversely affected by illegal alien chaos. So here"s the question: Would Robert Kennedy have backed me on this? Impossible to call. Most committed liberals oppose taking strong action against illegal immigration. They see these poor immigrants as oppressed and in need of help, which indeed they are. But allowing federal immigration laws to be broken by millions of people is not a solution to anything and has caused considerable damage to America. Would RFK have seen that? I simply don"t know.

Like his brother John, Robert Kennedy was a complicated man who did some bad things with his power as well. But the human condition dictates that we all do bad things on occasion. We all have balance sheets.

Robert Kennedy was a Patriot for understanding that evil, such as organized crime and inst.i.tutional bigotry, cannot be allowed to stand unchallenged, especially in the n.o.blest country in the world.

CeSAR CHaVEZ Largely forgotten these days, Chavez was, in many ways, the Hispanic American equivalent to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. In 1942 the high school dropout became a migrant worker and experienced the pain of brutal physical labor for incredibly low wages. Chavez then devoted his life to improving the lives of the mostly uneducated men and women working in the fields.

Using nonviolent methods, Chavez formed the United Farm Workers Union and as a result became a lightning rod of controversy. Accused by some of being a communist, the militant Chavez cultivated powerful people, including movie stars, and embarra.s.sed many companies into upgrading benefits for migrant workers, at least somewhat.

Like Dr. King, Cesar Chavez understood economic exploitation and was not an ardent capitalist. That alienated him from some Americans who might otherwise have admired his cause but felt his political leanings were too far Left. Be that as it may, the record shows that by sheer guts and determination, Cesar Chavez helped millions of hard-working people improve their lives. For that alone, he was a Patriot.

JOHN EDWARDS I know what you"re thinking. Why bother? The guy defines the word Pinhead. His wife has cancer so he goes out and has an affair with a frenzied fan and winds up impregnating her. Then he lies about it on Nightline Nightline. Good grief. And this guy was a vice-presidential nominee? Paging John Kerry.

My primary beef with Edwards came before his cruel and outrageous personal conduct. As a candidate in the 2008 presidential primary sweepstakes, Edwards dishonestly used the plight of injured veterans in an effort to win votes.

You may remember that the former litigator ran around the country saying that there were hundreds of thousands of dest.i.tute vets living under bridges because they couldn"t get jobs. Edwards wailed loudly about the apathy and injustice in America. How could we let this happen?

Well, we checked out the homeless "living under a bridge" claim and found it to be completely bogus. The Veterans Administration has enough beds to house almost every homeless vet in the United States. In fact, the VA will drive pretty much anywhere to pick up a vet who does not have shelter.

The truth is that a significant number of American veterans have substance abuse and mental health problems, just as a significant number of people in the general population do. These unfortunate citizens have a hard time functioning in a job situation and often wind up broke. Fox News military a.n.a.lyst Colonel David Hunt works with some of these vets in Boston, so I know the landscape. Edwards knew it, too. He just didn"t care about the truth. He wanted to exploit the vets by demeaning the country, so he did. If you want to see the worst of America, catch up with John Edwards as he jogs back to his multimillion-dollar mansion in North Carolina. Don"t even bother calling him a Pinhead. Don"t talk to him at all. The man deserves total silence from his fellow citizens.

GEORGE SOROS Here is another obvious Pinhead, but I just can"t resist the opportunity to call attention to that fact once more.

Forbes magazine says the guy is worth $14 billion, and some estimate that he has spent $7 billion trying to impose his Far Left view on the world by funding despicable organizations like MoveOn.org. That was the outfit that accused General David Petraeus of betraying his country by successfully commanding the war in Iraq. The "General Betray Us" ad by MoveOn.org will live forever in infamy. magazine says the guy is worth $14 billion, and some estimate that he has spent $7 billion trying to impose his Far Left view on the world by funding despicable organizations like MoveOn.org. That was the outfit that accused General David Petraeus of betraying his country by successfully commanding the war in Iraq. The "General Betray Us" ad by MoveOn.org will live forever in infamy.

And so will George Soros. If you want the nuts and bolts on this guy, please read my book Culture Warrior Culture Warrior. If you don"t have the time, let me type up his resume for you: is an atheist wants open borders for America wants to legalize narcotics convicted of felony insider trading by a French court through the Open Society Inst.i.tute, which he founded, gave $20,000 to defend attorney Lynne Stewart, who was eventually convicted of a.s.sisting terrorists gamed U.S. election laws by donating close to $25 million to more than five hundred political organizations, all dedicated to humiliating President George W. Bush.

To be fair, Soros has given a good amount of money to help people in need, but not nearly enough to buy his way out of Pinhead status.

No, you"re not seeing double. This is one of my least favorite guys, George Soros, in a shot that says to me, "I"m twice the Pinhead most people are!" What does it say to you?

a.s.sociated Press/AP Photographed by Jacky Zhao/Color China Photo/AP Images AS YOU MAY KNOW, I consider myself a warrior in the public arena. But my position there does not even come close to the courage and sacrifice of American military warriors. Let"s take a look at some of the famous and infamous Americans on the battlefield. I consider myself a warrior in the public arena. But my position there does not even come close to the courage and sacrifice of American military warriors. Let"s take a look at some of the famous and infamous Americans on the battlefield.

GENERAL GEORGE ARMSTRONG CUSTER He was a crazy guy and most likely a Pinhead, but his loyal wife, Elizabeth, would have taken great issue with that. After Indians killed her husband, she traveled the country promoting his legacy and succeeded in making him a national hero whose name endures to this day.

After graduating dead last in his 1861 cla.s.s at West Point, Custer demonstrated bravery as a cavalry officer in the Civil War and was promoted to brigadier general at age twenty-three. Catching the eye of General Grant, Custer partic.i.p.ated in the last battle against General Lee as Confederate forces fled Richmond. The young Custer relished fighting, and that proved to be his undoing.

After the Civil War, Custer moved West and fought Indians, achieving some success in the campaign against the Cheyenne in 1868.

Eight years later, Custer was still at it, chasing the Sioux and Cheyenne into Montana. The rest, as they say, is history.

Ignoring orders to wait for reinforcements, Custer divided his men into three groups. His crew, numbering 266, attacked a sprawling Indian village inhabited by legendary warriors Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse. This did not turn out well. Thousands of Indians counterattacked, surrounding Custer and his troops in a field near the Little Big Horn River. The battle was brutal, with no survivors among Custer"s troops. All the bodies were mutilated except for the general"s, which the Indians left largely intact.

I have walked that battlefield and it is well worth doing. General Custer"s arrogance killed him and his guys. The lesson for all of us is that if your head swells, somebody is sure to come along and knock it off. Custer felt he was invincible. n.o.body is. He became a Pinhead and died from it.

GENERAL GEORGE PATTON This man was truly a fascinating guy. Immortalized by actor George C. Scott in the movie Patton, Patton, the general was a lot like Custer but not quite so impetuous. He fought against Pancho Villa in Mexico, then alongside General John Pershing in World War I, where he was wounded twice and won a slew of medals. Patton continued his heroics in World War II, driving the Germans out of North Africa and Sicily. (He had a lot of help, of course.) the general was a lot like Custer but not quite so impetuous. He fought against Pancho Villa in Mexico, then alongside General John Pershing in World War I, where he was wounded twice and won a slew of medals. Patton continued his heroics in World War II, driving the Germans out of North Africa and Sicily. (He had a lot of help, of course.) Then came General Patton"s media moment. While visiting a hospital full of wounded GI"s, he slapped one of them because he thought the man was malingering. The press went wild. It was a hundred times worse than the General Stanley McChrystal Rolling Stone Rolling Stone incident. But unlike President Obama, who fired the unfortunate McChrystal, General Eisenhower did not sack Patton, who then went on to orchestrate great victories on French and German soil. incident. But unlike President Obama, who fired the unfortunate McChrystal, General Eisenhower did not sack Patton, who then went on to orchestrate great victories on French and German soil.

Was Patton a Pinhead for slapping the guy? Sure. No need to do that. If you think a soldier is faking an injury, investigate and, if he"s guilty, cashier him. But a true leader should never show the lack of discipline that Patton demonstrated.

Unlike today, however, the press did not have enough power to get Patton fired, even though I believe many in the media wanted that to happen. Back in the 1940s, there was no television. The print press had some power and Patton did get hammered. But he survived and the United States was better for it.

So here"s my question: Would President Obama have fired Patton? How about Presidents Bush-the-Younger or Bill Clinton? As we know, FDR deferred to Eisenhower, letting Ike keep his strongest field commander in place. I could be wrong, but I suspect that in today"s America, Presidents Obama and Clinton would have sacked Patton. Bush is a wild card. He never cared much about what the press thought or even public opinion for that matter. So he might have kept Patton in place.

It is troubling that today, in a time of war, the media has so much power. A third-rate magazine like Rolling Stone Rolling Stone should never have altered the course of the Afghan war, but it did. You may remember that many in the media called the firing of General McChrystal a "brilliant" move by the President. And with General David Petraeus now in charge in Afghanistan, that might turn out to be true. But the situation troubles me. should never have altered the course of the Afghan war, but it did. You may remember that many in the media called the firing of General McChrystal a "brilliant" move by the President. And with General David Petraeus now in charge in Afghanistan, that might turn out to be true. But the situation troubles me.

General Patton would have slapped silly the man who derailed McChrystal, writer Michael Hastings. Hastings is a Far Left zealot masquerading as a journalist. On my TV program, soldiers close to McChrystal said Hastings used "off-the-record" quotes to embarra.s.s the general. Hastings denies that. I wasn"t there, so I don"t know. I do do know, however, that Hastings is a rank Pinhead for being proud of destroying the general"s career. Unfortunately, General McChrystal himself is a Pinhead for allowing a guy like that within a hundred yards of him. I mean, think about it. McChrystal served his country with courage and honor, yet a punk writer brings him down? Awful. know, however, that Hastings is a rank Pinhead for being proud of destroying the general"s career. Unfortunately, General McChrystal himself is a Pinhead for allowing a guy like that within a hundred yards of him. I mean, think about it. McChrystal served his country with courage and honor, yet a punk writer brings him down? Awful.

As for George Patton, he"s obviously a Patriot. His skill and bravery helped defeat a tough enemy, the German army. That is a fact. And we should give Eisenhower credit for saving him.

AUDIE MURPHY All Americans should know about this guy and, indeed, many do. His grave is the second most visited site at Arlington National Cemetery, only behind the eternal flame at John Kennedy"s memorial shrine.

Born on a farm outside of Dallas, Texas, Murphy was drafted during World War II and a.s.signed as a private to the Third Infantry Division. For three years, Murphy and the Third fought their way across Europe, experiencing some of the most h.e.l.lacious combat ever known. Along the way, Murphy was wounded three times, killed approximately 240 enemy soldiers, and was decorated an astounding thirty-three times, including being awarded the Medal of Honor, our nation"s highest award for bravery.

When the war ended, Murphy had been promoted to 2nd lieutenant and was a legend in America.

Here is a case where the press actually did its job. Audie Murphy"s heroics were covered in detail, and his incredible courage was brought home in print for Americans to read and think about. It was a cla.s.sic American story: a poor boy from Texas putting his life at risk countless times to defend his country from the vicious Third Reich. Does a news story get any better than that?

Well, no, not in this case. In fact, the story takes a turn for the worse. After the war, the legendary actor James Cagney invited Murphy to Hollywood. Because the ways of show business were alien to him, Murphy struggled to find his place in California. He became homeless, sometimes sleeping in a school gymnasium. In time, his fortunes changed, and Audie Murphy achieved movie stardom.

Murphy"s 1949 rags-to-riches autobiography, To h.e.l.l and Back, To h.e.l.l and Back, became a bestseller and eventually was made into a movie starring the war hero himself. In a little-known fact, that film was the highest-grossing picture Universal released until became a bestseller and eventually was made into a movie starring the war hero himself. In a little-known fact, that film was the highest-grossing picture Universal released until Jaws Jaws came along in 1975. From there, Audie Murphy went on to make dozens of action movies, often portraying a cowboy, always playing the good guy. came along in 1975. From there, Audie Murphy went on to make dozens of action movies, often portraying a cowboy, always playing the good guy.

Then life took another sad turn for Murphy. Suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, he became addicted to sleeping pills. He kicked the habit by locking himself alone in a hotel room for a week. After that, he began publicizing the horrors that millions of combat veterans have experienced, bringing PTSD to the public"s attention.

Audie Murphy was just an everyday guy. He had no advantages in life. He simply had courage. He exemplifies what Patriotism is all about. He put his life on the line for his country, then followed up by overcoming adversity and doing good things with his postwar life. Every school kid in America should know his story.

Lt. Audie L. Murphy of Farmersville, Texas, is pictured here receiving the Congressional Medal of Honor. He"s a true Patriot who deserves as many badges for the things he accomplished after after the war as for those he did during the war! the war as for those he did during the war!

a.s.sociated Press/AP Photographed by James Pringle DAVY CROCKETT Back in the 1950s, every kid learned the story of Davy Crockett, at least the Disney version of it. "Born on a mountaintop in Tennessee," the theme song began. And then actor Fess Parker, dressed entirely in buckskin, appeared on my small TV screen. To say I was mesmerized is a tremendous understatement. I was "all in" for Davy Crockett. I wore my c.o.o.nskin cap all day. Only because my mother made me take it off to sleep did it ever leave my head (except for church). Thinking back, I believe that"s why my hair is thinning today.

Walt Disney"s Davy was a complete hero. He fought Indians, but only if they attacked him first. He killed bears, but only to get clothing (same thing with racc.o.o.ns). He took on a variety of bad guys with help from his loyal sidekick, Georgy Russell (played by the Jeb Clampett guy, Buddy Ebsen). And, very sadly, Davy Crockett finally met his end, heroically defending the Alamo against the invading Mexican Army. All day long I sang, "Davy, Davy Crockett, king of the wild frontier."

But was he really the king of the wild frontier?

In 1814 the real-life Davy Crockett fought under Andrew Jackson at the battle of Horseshoe Bend, which pitted the U.S. military and its ally the Cherokee against the Creek tribe. The Creeks lost big-time.

However, sixteen years later, Jackson turned around and double-crossed the Cherokee people, forcing them to move off their land in the South and march west across the Mississippi. Crockett was a U.S. congressman at the time and voted against the Indian Removal Bill, a risky political move since anti-Indian sentiment was running high in America. Davy put his vote in no-spin terms: Several of my colleagues told me that I was ruining myself. I told them I believed it was a wicked, unjust measure, and that I should go against it. Let the cost be to myself what it might...that I would sooner be honestly and politically d.a.m.ned, than hypocritically immortalized.

Crockett"s side lost in the House, and the terrible removal of the Cherokee commenced. But, obviously, he was a Patriot in his stand-up defense of the Indians.

As for the Alamo, it was a case of standing on principle again. Crockett and his 138 fellow defenders could have abandoned the San Antonio mission and lived to fight another day. They chose not to for a variety of reasons, with honor topping the list.

So while old Walt Disney went a bit overboard glamorizing Davy Crockett, he could have done worse. The man from Tennessee was a Patriot.

CHIEF JOSEPH This is another warrior to whom time has not been kind. As the leader of the Nez Perce tribe in the Pacific Northwest, Joseph gave the U.S. Army all they could handle and did it with dignity. Unlike most other Indian leaders, he forbade his warriors to mutilate U.S. soldiers who were killed or captured in combat and strictly prohibited violence lodged against women and children.

In another of a long line of unfair impositions on the Indians, President Grant ordered the Nez Perce off their lands in 1877, directing the tribe to move to a government-controlled reservation in Idaho. Reluctantly, Chief Joseph commenced a fight.

Thus began a one-thousand-mile guerrilla war by the Nez Perce, who numbered just eight hundred. Soldiers sent to hunt the tribe down failed time after time. Finally, after three months of trying, U.S. forces trapped the Nez Perce in Montana near the Canadian border. Rather than see his people ma.s.sacred, Joseph surrendered, saying, "From where the sun now stands, I will fight no more forever."

The chief lived for twenty more years watching his tribe slowly dissipate. That broke his heart. Joseph was a n.o.ble man and much more of a Patriot than many famous historical figures.

ANNIE OAKLEY Somehow I"ve got to get a woman into the historical mix and Annie is my gal. How"s this for a resume: no education and no family life. In fact, she was inst.i.tutionalized as a girl because her mother could not afford to raise her. When she finally got out of the brig, she became a child servant and was abused physically and mentally. It doesn"t get much worse than that.

But wait a minute. Isn"t a frothy musical play called Annie Get Your Gun Annie Get Your Gun based on Ms. Oakley"s life? Yes, it is. But in reality, the play has little to do with the real Annie. based on Ms. Oakley"s life? Yes, it is. But in reality, the play has little to do with the real Annie.

Born Phoebe Ann Mosey in Ohio on August 13, 1860, she stood just five feet tall, but could shoot a rifle better than almost anyone. Don"t believe me? Annie could hit an airborne dime from ninety feet away. Try that sometime.

Even though her childhood was harsh, Ms. Oakley"s spirit remained strong. For almost two decades she toured the country with Buffalo Bill (an uncouth wild man, by the way) and became one of the most famous women of her day. She was so beloved by her husband, Frank Butler, that after she died, he committed suicide by starving himself to death. Life was indeed tough back then.

For overcoming incredible obstacles and succeeding in a man"s world, Annie Oakley was a Patriot.

BABE RUTH Unquestionably the most famous baseball player of all time, Ruth might also have been the most talented man ever to play the game. Raised in a Catholic orphanage, Ruth demonstrated amazing natural athletic ability, and by his late teens he was pitching professionally, working his way to the Boston Red Sox. Then the Pinhead running the Red Sox sold him to the New York Yankees and there you go.

Ruth was so famous that during World War II, some j.a.panese troops in the Pacific yelled "to h.e.l.l with Babe Ruth" as they charged into marine fire. Based on his lifestyle, hookers in all the American League cities might have yelled that as well because Ruth was a frequent customer. Problem is, he was married. Over the years his wife reportedly suffered greatly because of his indiscretions, which actually got him suspended from baseball for a time.

Despite his Animal House Animal House demeanor, Yankee Stadium in New York is still known as "the house that Ruth built," and there is no question that our national pastime came of age because the Babe hit so many dramatic home runs. But on balance, the guy was a cad whose unsavory activities were often covered up by corrupt sportswriters, some of whom actually accompanied him to the brothels. In my book, his talent doesn"t mitigate his Pinhead status. When G.o.d blesses you with great talent, you owe Him something back. demeanor, Yankee Stadium in New York is still known as "the house that Ruth built," and there is no question that our national pastime came of age because the Babe hit so many dramatic home runs. But on balance, the guy was a cad whose unsavory activities were often covered up by corrupt sportswriters, some of whom actually accompanied him to the brothels. In my book, his talent doesn"t mitigate his Pinhead status. When G.o.d blesses you with great talent, you owe Him something back.

NOW WE TURN to people who have made an impression during my lifetime. Most of these folks are icons and have become part of the American culture, for better or for worse. We begin with perhaps the most famous woman in the world, an incredible forty-eight years after her death. to people who have made an impression during my lifetime. Most of these folks are icons and have become part of the American culture, for better or for worse. We begin with perhaps the most famous woman in the world, an incredible forty-eight years after her death.

MARILYN MONROE Like Annie Oakley and Babe Ruth, Marilyn spent some time inst.i.tutionalized as a child. Her mother, a single woman, had mental problems, and so little Norma Jeane Mortenson bounced from one foster home to another-twelve in all.

Undoubtedly, that affected Norma Jeane, who changed her name to Marilyn Monroe upon entering the shark-infested waters of Hollywood. For her entire adult life, Ms. Monroe led a turbulent existence, bouncing from one man to another before finally dying alone at age thirty-six from an overdose of pills.

Much has been written about Marilyn Monroe and her sensational private life. But that does not interest me much. If you have ever seen Marilyn in a movie, you know why so many people idolized her. Vulnerable yet beautiful, funny and charming, Ms. Monroe had charisma to burn. Perhaps never again will there be a movie star of this magnitude.

But, in the end, Marilyn squandered her talent and fame. Like Elvis Presley, perhaps the only star who has equaled Marilyn"s screen presence, she simply could not handle the pressure of being someone adored by so many. On the set of her last released film, The Misfits, The Misfits, she was almost out of control from drugs and paranoia. Her costars, the veteran actors Clark Gable and Eli Wallach, felt helpless in trying to a.s.sist her. When I spoke with Mr. Wallach about the situation, he said it affected him deeply but by that point, she simply could not be reached. she was almost out of control from drugs and paranoia. Her costars, the veteran actors Clark Gable and Eli Wallach, felt helpless in trying to a.s.sist her. When I spoke with Mr. Wallach about the situation, he said it affected him deeply but by that point, she simply could not be reached.

So you might think that Marilyn Monroe deserves a Pinhead label for self-destructing. I"m not so sure. Like Babe Ruth, she brought joy to millions of folks who watched her movies. Unlike Ruth, she primarily hurt herself, not other people, at least as far as I can tell.

Therefore, for overcoming tremendous odds and achieving worldwide icon status, I am calling Marilyn Monroe a Patriot, with some reservations.

MADONNA I don"t know much about this one and care even less, but she did rise from working-cla.s.s Detroit roots to worldwide icon status as well, so she"s worth a few words.

Using s.e.xual shock tactics combined with a few catchy tunes, Madonna Louise Ciccone has become ma.s.sively wealthy and hideously famous. That means that she has no life other than the one played out in front of the public. That is indeed hideous fame. Ask Elvis and Marilyn (if only we could).

But here"s my measure on this. What exactly has Madonna done with all her money and notoriety? Yes, she has helped some charities (primarily in Africa), and once in a while she does a benefit for some kind of trendy cause, but not much else. Bono, for example, uses his money and clout to help people all over the world, as do many other celebrities. Not so much Madonna.

On a personal note, the faux English accent gets me. Here she is from the Motor City running around trying to sound like Princess Diana. She even moved to Great Britain for a while. What is that? So here"s my talking points memo to Madonna: America afforded you the opportunity to use your talent, and fate allowed you to rise from modest circ.u.mstances to wealth beyond comprehension. The United States gives opportunity to people like you and me to realize our dreams and potential. Nowhere on earth does the opportunity to pursue happiness exist on the level that America provides.If you had been born in England, you would have been subjected to a cla.s.s system that would have made your road much tougher. The Beatles proved it can be done, but by donning a phony British speech pattern and occasionally saying nasty things about your own country, you have become an embarra.s.sment both to England and to the United States.Also, you have achieved Pinhead status. And now you know why.

And that"s the memo.

MEL GIBSON What a shame. Here"s a self-made guy who was once loved by millions all over the world for entertaining us with movies like Braveheart Braveheart and and Lethal Weapon. Lethal Weapon. I met Gibson when he optioned my novel I met Gibson when he optioned my novel Those Who Trespa.s.s Those Who Trespa.s.s for a movie and enjoyed his company on a few occasions. He"s basically a shy guy with an explosive amount of energy. Unharnessed, that energy has turned destructive. for a movie and enjoyed his company on a few occasions. He"s basically a shy guy with an explosive amount of energy. Unharnessed, that energy has turned destructive.

Gibson"s movie about the death of Jesus, The Pa.s.sion of the Christ, The Pa.s.sion of the Christ, made close to $1 billion worldwide but was vilified by many in the media. When I watched the film on the Fox movie lot in L.A. before it was released, I thought the violence was so explicit that it distracted from the overall story and told Gibson that. But I admired his take on good and evil and believe, to this day, that his faith in Jesus drove him to make this unforgettable film. I did not buy the accusations from some critics that the movie was intentionally anti-Semitic. made close to $1 billion worldwide but was vilified by many in the media. When I watched the film on the Fox movie lot in L.A. before it was released, I thought the violence was so explicit that it distracted from the overall story and told Gibson that. But I admired his take on good and evil and believe, to this day, that his faith in Jesus drove him to make this unforgettable film. I did not buy the accusations from some critics that the movie was intentionally anti-Semitic.

Then, in a drunk-driving incident, Gibson made some anti-Semitic remarks to a police officer. Not good.

Of course, the media flayed Gibson over that and, like his movie about Jesus, the intensive coverage was painful to watch. Whether it was overkill or not, I"ll leave for you to decide, but please keep in mind the history of the Jewish people and how they have been brutalized. As with African Americans and Indians, Patriots should strive to understand that sensitivity is needed in certain situations involving groups of people who have been unfairly punished.

I lost contact with Mel Gibson after his bout with the legal system and was surprised to read that he broke up with his wife of twenty-nine years. Apparently, he then took up with some Russian woman and things got nasty with her. She secretly taped him saying more inappropriate things, including using the n n-word to describe blacks.

There is no excusing any of this. Mel Gibson was admired by many but has squandered his talent and legacy in a series of Pinheaded moves. I have to tell you, though, it is painful to watch the public destruction of a human being. No one should be enjoying it.

JANIS JOPLIN AND JIM MORRISON Now these were two screwed-up peas in a pod. Like Madonna, they both became famous in the music industry, rising to icon status in the 1960s.

Then they both used heroin to kill themselves.

The Port Arthur, Texasborn Joplin was buried at age twenty-seven after overdosing in Hollywood, a place that remains ground zero for self-destruction. Her best moments onstage came with her band Big Brother and the Holding Company, and Janis could definitely sing those blues. But it didn"t really matter. Like so many other rock stars in the "60s, Janis embraced excess and degenerated into a complete mess. Was it her fault? Yeah, it was. Unlike Marilyn Monroe, she had a comfortable upbringing and could have led a rewarding life. But, no, she ingested ma.s.sive amounts of chemicals until her body said "enough."

The same was true of Jim Morrison, the lead singer of The Doors. Blessed with great looks and one of the best rock voices of all time, Morrison never even paused at a rest stop on the highway of self-destruction. Like Joplin, he was found dead at age twenty-seven. He was lying in a bathtub in Paris, France. A postmortem cover-up took place, but authoritative sources say that heroin killed Morrison-no surprise because the guy took pretty much everything he could get his hands on. According to his bandmates, Morrison had even ingested drugs given to him by strangers without knowing what they were. No question, Morrison did not really care what happened to him. So he died.

I"m not sure which made a greater impact on our culture-this talented rock star"s love of drugs or his love of music. As this museum exhibit suggests, he"s still an influence on many today, for better or for worse.

a.s.sociated Press/AP Photographed by Matt Sayles The reason that I am including Janis Joplin and Jim Morrison in this book is that millions of young people all over the world idolized them and followed their lead into the world of drugs. I saw it up close and personal. Three of my boyhood friends died from drug addictions they acquired in the chaotic late 1960s. Rock stars in that era had a tremendous influence on the culture. I mean, few knew that Elvis Presley was a prescription drug junkie, but everybody knew that Joplin, Morrison, Jimi Hendrix, and legions of other rock performers were often stoned out of their minds. It was cool, far out. Like a band of demented pied pipers, these blanked-up rockers led many of their fans right into h.e.l.l.

That"s why they are Pinheads. And the same holds true for many stars in the music business today, especially rappers who peddle hate and debauchery. You guys are loathsome and destructive. And I"m calling you out!