Protest!

All this wailing and gnashing of teeth over Arizona's new immigration law makes me think that a pent up protest urge is involved. (that's why the quotes on the German language below -- I had it in my head that there was a German word for it: the urge to protest. Didn't find it though) Anyway can you imagine the protestorial down-shift that many Bush haters went through when Obama was elected? "Wait a minute, Bush isn't president anymore, what are we going to do with our Saturdays?" The excuse to protest was gone.

And to add insult to injury, then they had to witness the other side protest. This no doubt came as a shock -- seeing crowds with signs, and not a single Bushitler, Bush-in-a-noose, or Bush-chimpanzee anywhere. Then began the other mental shifts and shuffles required to reason themselves a new worldview: that now protest is unpatriotic, seditious even.

But Hallelujah! A cause has come. And I imagine there are thousands out there gleefully gearing up -- "Honey, have you seen my keffiyeh? Or my red Ché t-shirt?" So it's understandable if some of them are a little rusty:

Opponents of Arizona's new anti-immigrant law are calling for a boycott of the state's products - including the popular Arizona Iced Tea.

The problem: Arizona Iced Tea is actually brewed in New York.

Online, misguided tea fans vowed to switch to Lipton or Snapple.

"Dear Arizona: If you don't change your immigration policy, I will have to stop drinking your enjoyable brand of iced tea," Twittered Jody Beth in Los Angeles.

"It is the drink of fascists," wrote Travis Nichols in Chicago.

The company did not return messages asking if they planned to set the public straight.

Is that wonderful or what? Maybe counter protesters should boycott Mexican restaurants.

OK truth is that I haven't read the Arizona law, but I understand that it specifically prohibits racial profiling, as it should. I'd advise the eager protesters to approach this thoughtfully, maybe even find out what the cause is before going off half-cocked.

Because unlike the tea party protests, your protests will be televised. You don't want to get caught out with a Mercedes peace symbol. And spelling, ok: Hispanic, fascist, alien. And just for the heck of it, find out what's in the law.