It is absolutely true that protesting by not saluting the flag or standing for the national anthem is a level of disrespect that I cannot fathom, and could never do myself. I served on active duty for over 28 years. I knew people who came home under the cover of the flag on their coffin. I know how sacred that is.
I also know that all of them, like me, took an oath to "support and defend the Constitution of the United States" and to do so with our life, if called for. They died for protesters to have the right to protest. They died for the right to stand (or not) for the anthem. They died for the right to salute (or not) that flag. They died for all of our rights and freedoms.
There are too many countries where a person can be persecuted, publicly vilified, mocked or even killed for expressing a view the leadership does not like. We should be proud that we allow dissent, even as we try to convince the protesters the error of their ways.
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Glenn Green
East side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.