So the crappy local paper here ran a story this morning about the Todd Beamer Foundation. Todd Beamer, in case the name hasn't been pounded into your consciousness, was one of the guys on United Flight 77 on September 11 -- he was the one who alerted the outside world that they were going to try to stop the hijackers, and launched the assault with the phrase "Let's roll."

Since then, the phrase has snowballed into having significance well beyond where it probably should have. Neil Young wrote a song about it (titled "Let's Roll") with lyrics such as "let's roll for freedom." T-shirts, bracelets, hats and even mud flaps bearing the words "let's roll" have become a popular commodity all over the country. Here's the problem. The Todd M. Beamer Foundation, which was established in the wake of September 11, filed for trademark rights to the phrase so that they would be the sole moneymaker of "let's roll" paraphernalia. They feel it's not right for others to make money off of the phrase and that money made off sales from "let's roll" stuff should go through them in order for them to distribute it to September 11th victims and their families.

Now here's my problem. First of all, how in hell do you expect to be able to trademark a phrase that was so widely used before September 11th? I've been using "let's roll" for years as a way to get people to leave with me when we're going somewhere, does that mean I can sue Todd Beamer's estate for infringement? Second of all, not all of the money is going towards September 11th victims, the foundation has to recoup costs for producing the materials they're going to sell, plus I'm sure that the foundation members will want to be well-paid for their time. Third of all, how come this is the exclusive Todd Beamer Foundation? I'm sure there's other groups around that, if they wanted, could set up their own foundations in his name. Will they also get rights to the phrase?

My biggest problem is the total commercialism behind this. The Todd Beamer Foundation says they don't want anyone else making money off this -- except them. Well, there's other ways to commercialize this, I think. Was there a Dunkin' Donuts in the mall underneath the World Trade Center? Was someone buying a chocolate creme filled donut at the time when the planes hit? Will Dunkin' Donuts market the chocolate creme filled donut as the Official Donut of September 11th, with partial proceeds going towards September 11th victims and their families?

You can see where I'm going with this. How far is too far? At first, it was enough to show your patriotism by going out and buying anything, just to jump start our economy, then we all had to go out and buy flags to show that we're true blue Americans. Now I need a t-shirt with a specific phrase on it? Pardon me while I show my patriotism by questioning our blind following in these past few months and wondering where the spirit of an individualized America went, since that's the concept that our country was founded on -- the ability to make our own decisions and act individually without fear of persecution or judgment from and by our government and fellow citizens.