A most certainly overused term. Anti-American has become the
intellectual terror weapon of choice for the
so-called right. It has replaced
communist sympathizer in that regard, and joins the
litany of debate killing words co-opted by the left, such as
sexist pig,
racist, and
fascist. The
vast majority of people who desire changes within
America,
love America.
Opposing one's government policy is not the same as hating one's country. Were abolitionists of the pre Civil War era Anti-American? Anti-American is a propaganda device. I tend to be very suspicious of people who invoke that label towards their opposition. It is never used against certain groups, even those who it clearly would apply to (according to the common usage of the term). The most Anti-American group ever to have lived since America was a nation are Native Americans. Native Americans generally opposed US government policy, policy which coincided with the popular opinion of the people. Don't hold your breath waiting for neocons to say that, though. They give lip service to injustices of the past, but learn few lessons from them.
Disliking cultural trends within the nation is also not Anti-American. Do we consider civil rights workers in the sixties to be Anti-American? How about pro life protesters of today? By the logic of some, anyone against fornication is Anti-American. If even 1% of the American public is genuinely Anti-American, meaning they wish America to either be destroyed or completely changed from its professed ideals, I would be shocked.