Art + Clothing = communism

Don't you just hate it when people are silent in praise and quick to cry out with criticism? Oh did I get my earfull yesterday!
Everyone who has any contact with me (yes I am a broken record at times) knows full well that I am chairing the Cedar Creek Lake Festival of the Arts to be held in Mabank, Texas on May 23. I have been ruthless in promotion to the best of my abilities and have become a one man army in my obsession and resolve that a town with very little interest in festivals, the arts, or celebration can will (if it kills me) pull off such an endeavor. I'm not complaining, it was my idea. I know that no one will ever be as passionate, driven or supportive as the planner, I get it. I'm not looking for a big bear hug or pat on the back at the end of the day. What I would appreciate though is silence with criticism from those who are not doing anything to help.
So it went down like this. I decided that it would be a great asset to this event to have a festival t-shirt made, raise some extra revenue and enhance the event, class it up a bit (and yes, even a t-shirt classes up an event on Cedar Creek Lake!). The theme of the shirt was woodstock inspired as this is the 40th anniversary of the great music festival that defined the generation preceeding my own. I worked very hard to find graphics that were Woodstock "inspired" but not plagieristic in nature. The guitar, dove and "hippy" like fonts were so well recieved by the public that pre-orders for the shirt have surpassed my hopes of total sales. Feeling happy, proud and successful I patted myself and moved on, no time to celebrate as there were other victories to be won in the following days.
How surprised I was indeed when a business owner across the street confronted a fellow business owner and launched a tirade of unbelievable proportions. The slogan (Make Art..Not War) is said to be an insult to all veterans. A slap in the face to patriotism, this country and every man who died in service to our proud nation. Seriously? I mean seriously? A slap in the face? Against this country? I seriously started laughing, out loud. It was incredible to me.
1. It's a freakin t-shirt folks...let's keep this in perspective.
2. If I'm going to be painted as a USA hating commie bastard it should have been done prior to my last project of placing American flags in front of every businesses on Market street.
3. I didn't even know the accuser of my treasonous acts was even involved. Their record was of silence, no participation and without care (or blame) until they found an opportunity to make a ruckus.
I love this country and am proud of my veteran family members. One of my grandfathers nearly froze to death serving in Korea and the other came home from WWII highly decorated, wounded and carried schrapnel in his body until he died in the 1980's. I am proud of their service to this country regardless of the fact that in my life I have never been so inclined as to follow their paths. Hey...wait a second here. Didn't my ancestors fight for the right for me to express myself? In any way I wish? To defend the constitution of this great nation. If I'm not totally off base here there is an article in that constitution that allows for my self expression? I was not making a political statement by printing "Not War" on a t-shirt. Actually the person who cried out against said shirt DID make a statement. I would assume the he believes all soldiers are Pro-War, which is preposterous.
I am using this as my only source to vent my displeasure at above noted ignorance. I am not going to mar my event by this unfortunate little flap and lack of judgment on the part of the ignorant. I just wanted to bring my town a sense of sorely needed civic pride, increased visibility in times of economic hardships and enjoyment to visitors. Maybe that makes me a bad American. I need a t-shirt to wear so that others will be able to see me coming.