What the heck is going on; patriotism litmus tests and star spangled pissing contests? I was taught to stand for the anthem, to recite the pledge, and to honor those who put themselves in harm's way while on Uncle Sam's dime. But I was also taught history and the Constitution and just how sacred and rare are our rights. Dissenting from policies, practices, rhetoric, and such is as American as apple pie. The Declaration of Independence is a treatise of dissent.
Do you ...know that to protest or voice dissent in other countries can get you killed, jailed, or thrown out of the country. While some may be for that now, would you have been so eager to be 'removed' if one's protests against President Obama resulted in your being removed? I'm not touting one theory, political platform or another just saying that if you oppose dissent and speaking out against the president etc.. does that then apply across the board to the presidents with whom you disagree, distrust, or disavow? Should your dissent from them, render you less of an American cause you to be arrested or lambasted in the press, or even fired from your job?
Stop celebrating division! We are a united states, not a divided states. Remember some folks tend to make a LOT ... A LOT of money from our upset, our fears, our angst towards our fellow countrymen - simply because they have convoluted and twisted the freedoms we all enjoy and are entitled to, into their perverted and twisted ideas to make a buck by exploiting our love for our country and those who put themselves in harms way at Uncle Sam's behest.
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
Yes, I'll take a knee to pray for America. Yes, I will still stand for the anthem, the flag, and honor those in service to us all. But yes, I will also take a stand to support my fellow citizens' right to exercise their constitutional rights. I may not have worn my country's uniform, but it still the job of all of us to defend her and her ideals.
Let's Have a Dialog
