Flag respect
Reading the Rocky Mountain news this morning
I served my country at the end of WW 2 and again during the Korean conflict. I spent some of my army time in the hospital in Japan and came home in one piece, it’s really sad because some of my buddies weren’t so lucky, some stayed there and you can see them if you travel over there, others are still coping with their disabilities here at home.
I stand up when the American flag passes by and remove my hat, hold it over my heart when we sing our anthem and I feel ashamed when someone desecrates my flag by flying it upside down and I don’t care what the reason is. When some one installs my flag under another and parades it around no matter what the reason, I feel ashamed for them, for they are maligning my Country and Old Glory when they sing their national anthem instead of ours. This aggravates me.
These people want every thing we fought for and they want it for free. They are insisting we Americans owe them. Like free medical care, food stamps, free education, social security, job security, housing, etc. and yet they show no respect for our country, our laws or our way of life.
We DO NOT owe them. If they are legal they should not participate in any anti American program and if they are illegal they should go back to where they came from. I’m sure their country will GIVE them the things that they demand from us.
This letter has not been edited.
You went from war protesters to illegals in 30 seconds.
You so badly mixed up the two that you have taken "segue" to Olympic levels.
It is not your flag, it is our flag.
Posted by Sharon B. on August 17, 2007 02:06 PMand flying it upside down is not desecrating it, it is a method of protest.
this is coming from a vet in myself too.
get over it. it is just a flag.
I do agree with you on the illegals that come here freeloading off us though
Posted by Fresh on August 17, 2007 02:46 PMSharon,
As a vet it is so much more his flag. He fought wars for our nation to protect your freedoms. So keep you silly thoughts to yourself. Of course he is right, the illegal population in our country have no right to use the flag of the United States of America to further their agenda. Nor do they have the right to disrespect our flag. It is a vets flag before it is a liberal spewing idiots flag.
Posted by Mickey on August 17, 2007 02:48 PMNo, Mickey, it is EVERYONE'S flag, no matter how much you hate that. And BTW, being a vet makes one no more of a citizen than anyone else. So shut your stupid trap, and keep your anti-American ideas to yourself.
Posted by Whatever on August 17, 2007 02:50 PMMickey:
Your ideas are the antithesis of what America and our flag are supposed to represent.
Posted by Charles B on August 17, 2007 02:52 PMDear Mr. Wedding,
First, my sincere thank you for your service to our country. Second I would like to apologize for the knee jerk reactions expressed above. I read your letter again and didn't see where you claimed it was your flag. I also could not find where it was that you said that you were more of an American then those above with an obvious axe to grind. I do share your feeling of sadness at seeing the symbol of our country treated with disrespect. I also missed where you advocated outlawing this disrespect. Apparently our feelings don't count and we have no right to feel ashamed for those that show disrespect for the flag of our country. So in the future you should really check first with Sharon B and Fresh before you express an opinion. After all they get to decide how you are suppose to feel.
Sharon B.
You went from stupid to moronic in less than two seconds.
Posted by on August 17, 2007 03:42 PMMickey, Let me respond in a non silly way.
I thank him for his service. He fought for a country, its people and its ideals, not for the flag.
This is not ancient Rome or Greece where soldiers have a larger citizen quotient then civilians. And even if it were, you do not get to judge others.
Illegal aliens have nothing to do with this protest of the Bush administration.
All of us love and honor the flag for what it represents, not for what it is.
Keep the two subjects separate and that flag business in the school is not the kind of thing that adults should get so worked up over.
Liberal spewing idiot I like, that has venom. But don`t ever call me silly.
Posted by Sharon B. on August 17, 2007 03:50 PMJack. Yes, thank you for all you have done. Both of my granfathers fought in WWII, and I have so much respect for them and all they, and my grandmothers sacrificed as well.
That said, you did refer to it as "my flag." Yes, as a vet it have immense meaning for you, but the flag has incredible meaning for others in this country as well, and those meanings can be different. (Before I go further I will tell you that I have the same respect for the flag that you do, taking off my hat, not letting it touch the ground, etc... as my grandfather taught me)
However, the flag is also a symbol of our right to dissent, to express ourselves freely, even if to some that means disrespecting the flag. The flag is also a symbol of a great nation forged from those who stood up and fought the existing government, who dissented and battled bitterly for freedom.
I do respect your opinion, and share your love for this country, just understand that demonstrating being an American, comes in many forms.
Posted by JB on August 17, 2007 03:59 PMPosted by on August 17, 2007 03:38 PM:
"First, my sincere thank you for your service to our country. Second I would like to apologize for the knee jerk reactions expressed above. I read your letter again and didn't see where you claimed it was your flag."
...since you have reading comprehension issues:
"I feel ashamed when someone desecrates my flag by flying it upside down..."
Not "the" flag or "our" flag, my flag.
Posted by Charles B on August 17, 2007 06:10 PMMuch is made of the fact that the troops currently in Iraq all VOLUNTEERED (this is either in all caps or italics to drive home the point) for military service, so I don't think it too impertinent of me to ask Jack Wedding if he VOLUNTEERED for his stints in WWII and Korea or was he drafted. Just wondering.
Posted by Hans Christian Brando on August 17, 2007 06:58 PMMr. Wedding,
Thank you for serving America. Thank you for standing and protecting the liberties we enjoy as American citizens, and thank you for defending our flag. I’m guessing many of the mouths here will wonder what the heck happened to those liberties and rights, when someday they wake up and realize America no longer exists. But there actually are some of us that honor and respect what men and women like you have done for this country.
I often wonder if those lives lost in the defense of this country were for nothing when I see another nation’s flag displayed above ours, and read that the language of the nation is up for debate; or see hundreds of thousands of criminal invaders demanding “immigrant rights.” They want the benefits of living here and don’t want the free ride to end. I’m guessing if they had to fight for the rights American citizens enjoy, many of them would be running for the border and back to their homelands where their true loyalties lie.
Flying the flag upside down is an officially recognized sign of distress.
That some people choose to express their distress as a symbol of protest is one of the most fundamental things that flag stands for.
And to "Keeping US"...I, too, would be interested in seeing how many of the illegal immigrants living in America would volunteer to serve this countries armed forces if they didn't have to fear deportation.
Why don't we suggest just that so we find out?
They're already talking about reinstating the draft because our forces are depleted and demoralized by 4+ years of war and recruitment is down.
So, let's make an offer to illegal immigrants. Let's give them the opportunity to earn legal citizenship by joining and completing a pre-designated tour of duty...say, at least 4 years.
My guess is that many of them would jump at the chance and not just because it's the chance to be legal but also because I think they love this country more than people like you give them credit for. They were willing to risk alot to come here. I bet they'd be just as willing to risk alot ot stay.
Jack,
I too feel the same way that you do. I am a Vet also. I fly My father's flag, my brother's flag, and my uncles flag at different times during the year. The one's that covered their caskets. Thank you for being you. And thank you to all defenders of freedom.
Shame on all of you. Here we have a REAL American trying to express his distress at how a symbol that represents how much he and others like him sacrificed so that silly libs like you could take his argument and turn it around to fit your own anti Bush agendas. (and yes, flame me all you want but I think it does make him more of an American than some of you, after all he fought for your freedom. What did you do?) His generation probably wouldn't have volunteered if there was no need but they sure as hell went when called, and did thier duty without all the bellyaching you hear now.
He's just wants others to treat what he feels is a symbol of the greatness of what this country stands for with a little respect. I understand its your 'right' to disrepect and protest anything you want. Just keep in mind that it doesn't make it the right thing to do.
Go take your protests elsewhere, you have internet, TV, Radio and Print. Leave the symbol he loves alone.
Thanks from a non vet to all those that gave and gave to ensure I'd be here. I'm forever grateful.
Posted by Avatar on August 17, 2007 11:21 PMThomas,
The question you asked should be geared towards those who voted for this administration anyway...after all they are the ones that put our armed forces in such a mess.
Why don't they all sign up if they were so gung ho about the chimp and his war? Where is the actual support from these people? Sign Up!
If you voted for this administration there is absolutly no reason why your ass shouldn't be over there right now.
If you are too old then send your children or grandchildren. Or drive transport for KBR or Halliburton (tax free income btw)
Where is the support of those who voted for this administration???
Why is it ok for you to vote for this but sit back and have another family send their loved one off to war while all you do is slap a yellow ribbon (made in china) on the back of your SUV and say you support the troops?
Do soldiers serve or sacrifice? Some never leave the country and have great benefits from the military. Ordinary citizens are what keep the society functioning every day, not just in war time. Did the rescuers who died in that Utah mine, not "sacrifice".
If vets can`t value the people they protect, because those folks use their freedoms to protest an unnecessary war, then maybe we all need to understand more about what the police, firefighters, medical personal, teachers, etc do for this country.
This business of lumping the flag protesters with the illegal aliens in the country just muddles the issues. Lets keep them separate. As well as the language issue, in state tuition issues etc. The flag protest is to benefit the nation, to help end this occupation and bring those troops home. People we love are in Iraq for what? For Bushes private, Jesus coordinated war? My grandsons friend Caesar, whose parents were probably illegal, is in Iraq because of the amendment that let him be a citizen.
Give illegals the chance to serve in the military and lets see what happens. That is a great idea.
Anon at 3:42 get your own shtick.
Maybe we all just need to find a good pub and sit around having beers together and sharing our life stories more. Maybe we all love and value each other, but the country has problems and we are growing farther apart instead of pulling together.
I will buy the first round, in this virtual get together, if we can start trying to understand each other more.
My ancestors (two of them) fought in the Revolutionary war, you don`t think our DAR family loves the flag and the country?
We love it enough not to be clouded by divisive issues like language and flag usage in high schools.
Posted by Sharon B. on August 18, 2007 06:42 AMMichelle,
Please understand...I loathe this president, this administration and this war.
I also loathe the scapegoating of immigrants that has become the cause du jour for too many people. None of them can seem to answer why illegal immigrantion wasn't such a hot button issue for them until a couple years ago when politicans like Tancredo and Bush latched onto it as a new topic to divert attention away from the quagmire in Iraq.
But I do think giving illegal immigrants the option to earn their citizenship through military service is a very logical and viable one. And I think it would put to rest some of the vitriol being spewed. SOME people would finally come to realize that these people love this country.
Posted by Thomas on August 18, 2007 07:32 AMSharon B.,
They can't even pour some water on the lawn, much less blood. People like you want to trust freedom to fugitives who butted in line to start with. Get real!
The American flag has both singular and plural connotations. One aspect is as a personable symbol that one believes in what America stands for, the other is as a national symbol of what this country stands for as a whole. So it is one's flag and also is the country's flag. There is nothing disrespectful about either case nor is it wrong to think about it both ways. Case closed.
Posted by Allen Campbell on August 18, 2007 10:16 AMleftys are the party of hate,as expressed multiple times in this thread.Grow up!
Posted by on August 18, 2007 12:10 PMIf and when we have a terrorist attach in the homeland, you will see I-25 southbound bumper to bumper. And a million yellow support our troops on their trunks.
Posted by on August 18, 2007 12:20 PMI have never seen an American flag fly at a home where amnesty was granted. Have you?
Posted by on August 18, 2007 12:23 PMI have seen the Mexican flag being held by protesters that I assume many of them are here illegally. They are protesting against U.S. immigration law; I have seen some U.S. flags in these prostests too; I think this connects Mr. Wedding's reverence to illegal immigrants (they want to be here but they are flying the Mexican flag). Our U.S. flag, I believe represents what our country has and does stand for including our right to dissent. Does the Mexican flag stand for the same thing? I wonder if I were to protest in Mexico in the same manner what would happen to me? Are immigrants that come here looking to change the U.S. or are they coming here for something better then where they came from?
Posted by Brain on August 18, 2007 02:17 PMIf the illegals hate our immigration laws, why don't they just go home! When a service man/woman get killed....the coffin is draped with a flag....tell thier loved ones it is not that person's flag!
Thomas Aug 18 7:32 AM
The SCAPEGOATING OF IMMIGRANTS?
Why wasn't the immigration issue such a hot button topic a few years ago?
BECAUSE OF THE NEGLECT OF THIS GOVERNMENT"S ENFORCEMENT OF THE IMMIGRATION LAWS WE ARE NOW
EXPODING WITH ILLEGALS, THAT'S WHY!!!!
People have had it up to their eyeballs with illegals who are not expected to obey our laws,and excuses for WHY they don't, being shoved in our faces EVERY DAY.
By the way, Mr. Wedding, I love and respect the flag as you do. My flag has flown EVERY DAY since 9/11 and I will continue to fly it, never taking it down except for bad weather. It flies for you and the job you did defending this country and for the men and women defending our country today. I respect the flag and what it stands for. I resent another flag being waved in protest for rights that people here illegally do not deserve. The red, white and blue is the flag of this country. It makes me proud to fly it and in this troubled time every American should display it with pride, not just on holidays a few times a year.
IT IS THE SYMBOL OF FREEDOM!
Posted by c on August 19, 2007 08:24 AMI'd rather see more HUMAN respect than flag respect. I am a vet and fought wars to defend the PEOPLE of this country not some damn flag. It sickens me that the current administration has more repsect for the falg than it does the very people they are supoosed to serve. The people who never served seem more caught up in images and symbols than actual human beings.
Posted by Cap on August 20, 2007 06:57 AM