Most US Vets Don't Get What's Really Sacred

[AFTT47]

It's not a cloth, a bellicose song or any other symbol. It's what that symbology stands for. Chief amongst that (IMO) is freedom of speech. All of our other rights have their origin in ideas put forth through speech. They need to be defended by speech to survive. I wouldn't want to lose any of my rights as an American but the one I'd hate to lose most is free speech. Lose that all the other freedoms are in jeopardy.

You would think the uber-nationalist vets who always get their panties tied up in a wad when someone like the SF 49ers QB uses a national symbol like the national anthem to make a point would get this. We didn't serve in the military to defend symbols.

The symbols of different countries stand for different things but in the case of the USA, if you make the symbols sacred, you tarnish what the symbols stand for. Because the symbols of the USA stand for the fact that nothing is above criticism - including of course, the symbols. Unlike the kings and queens of old who could have you executed for insulting them, no aspect or entity of the US Government is above criticism. That's what keeps it good! The moment you make it sacred and above criticism, the moment it begins to corrupt.

I know I'm probably preaching to the choir in this forum but I had to get if off my chest. I'm a veteran and a war-time veteran at that and I say more power to 49er QB for sitting during the anthem to protest murderous police. I'm so sick to death of the song anyway. The last time I liked it was when it was sung by Leslie Nielson as Frank Drebbin as Enrico Palatzo.