When I first heard that Ted Nugent would be signing books at Borders up in Charlotte, I wasn't sure if I'd go or not.  I recently finished reading God, Guns, and Rock-n-Roll, which you can read about on my Reading Journal.  On Friday, I decided that yeah, I'd like to go meet him.  I told Micki that we may have a long wait to get to see him, but let's give it a try.  We ended up only having to wait for twenty to thirty minutes before we got to the front of the line.  On the way, we picked up copies of Kill it and Grill it, Ted and Shemane Nugent's cookbook, along with Shemane's new book Married to a Rock Star.  Just prior to meeting the Nuge, we got a chance to say hello to his oldest son Toby, then we turned our attention back to Ted, as he was talking to the kid in line in front of us.

The kid, a teenager of about fourteen, asked Ted for his autograph on a paper guitar that he was carrying.  Nugent said "Sure.  You play the guitar?  You're going to stay away from drugs and alcohol, right?  You don't use them now do you?"

The teenager looked away as he replied, "No, I don't use them."

"Look me in the eye and tell me that, " Ted said.  "If you're on any of that crap, I won't sign this stuff." 

The kid managed to do it, and Nugent signed his paper, but shook his head as if he knew a different story as the kid walked away. 

Micki and I spent a minute or two with Ted as he signed our books for us.  We shook his hand, and he told Micki how pretty she was.  We thanked him for the stance he takes, which I'll discuss in a minute, and we walked away.

I've struggled a little bit over where I stand in my opinion of Ted Nugent.  His message is straightforward.  He's pro-gun, pro-hunting, and is more active in conservation than anyone you'll ever meet.  He plants more trees in a year than most tree huggers do in a lifetime.  He's on the board of directors of the NRA, speaks regularly at high school D.A.R.E programs, is a special deputy sheriff in Michigan, runs an archery camp for children, and is extremely vocal to politicians about the right to keep and bear arms.  He is anti-drug and anti-alcohol.  He is a man who stands up for what is right and all that is good.

He's so far right that he makes Rush look liberal.  Of course, being pretty far right myself, I have to admire this.  Where then, is my problem?  It's pretty simple, and I'm quickly getting past it.  It's in his language.  I feel like he uses way too much cussing in his speech... but if that's his biggest problem, then I think I can get past it. 

I admire him for the fact that he will say what he believes, and will not give a feel good, no purpose apology for the things he says.  I can't tell you how much I hate how politicians call for each other to step down when they offend someone. What's the big deal about being offended?  Nugent's language offends me sometimes, but I'm not out there calling for him to step down from his NRA directorship. 

America, get your feelings off of your shoulders.  Quit crying every time someone says something you don't like.  Quit whining about being offended.  Oh, did I offend you with these remarks?  Well, get over it. 

Where do I stand on Ted Nugent?  I love the man.  America needs Ted Nugent.