Blast Off! Radio today at 4:00 pm EDT: In remembrance

It is, I think, difficult to strike the appropriate tone for a webradio show on Memorial Day that is at once unabashedly snarky, generally pacifist, nearly always irreverent, and proudly hyper-liberal. But I firmly believe, contrary to the opinions of some who criticized me after the Pensacola Tea Party last month (and others), that it is possible to oppose current military actions while still honoring the service, courage, and sacrifice of our men and women in the military, past and present. In short, it is not the fault of the servicemembers that our armed forces were sent into wars that were misguided, unnecessary, and illegal, nor is it their fault that those undeclared wars continue today even after the schemers and criminals who sent them into battle have left office.

And so, on an at-least-partially-military-themed edition of Blast Off! Radio today, we will take time to recognize and express gratitude for those who serve in the American military, but also will express sorrow and, quite likely, indignation as well that they still are being put into harm's way for reasons that are unjustifiable under U.S. and international law. In addition, we will talk about the "don't ask, don't tell" policy, later codified into federal law, that enshrines open discrimination against the GLBT community into American jurisprudence, and we'll talk about how on this very day, some northwest Florida wingnuts, by inaccurately and irresponsibly protesting the federal government, are trashing the memories of those who gave their lives to protect that government.

There are some non-military topics to discuss as well, of course, including the Florida political scene as it comes into focus for the 2010 elections and how Greater Wingnuttia is getting even more unhinged (if that's even possible) over topics like prayer in public schools, federal stimulus money, and the so-called "debate" over torture.

As always, though, the show relies on you, the listener, to really make it work. Your calls, chats, and emails are the lifeblood of Blast Off! Radio ... and it's so easy to be a part of it, why wouldn't you join in? Here's how to do it:

TIME: 4:00 pm Eastern TODAY

Click here to listen

Call in number: (646) 716-7543

E-mail: blastoffradio-at-gmail-dot-com

I sincerely hope we'll avoid the technical difficulties that marred the end of last week's show ... so please make a point of spending one meager hour of this patriotic holiday exercising your right to free speech through Blast Off! Radio!