I had a lengthy post prepared, but the computer ate it.
Either Emerson or Thoreau said that I may not agree with what a man has to say, but I will defend with my life his right to say it. I believe in this with great conviction. Let him or her preach abortion or not, let him or her rally against capitol punishment, or fight to see it installed. Let the individual and the masses publish peace, or cry war. It is their right under our flag to do so. I will defend that right. I may or may not agree, but I will defend that right.
For those who would burn the flag, these have no such right. The flag has been bought with too high a price. In it is wrapped the blood of fathers, sons, brothers, husbands, friends. No cost may be laid to it's fiber. The right to protest and to assemble under the flag has been bought at dear cost to life, with the breath and hope and dreams of tens of thousands of young men and women...not one of whom will ever have the chance to curl their fist in anger, or shed a tear at the burning of that flag.
The freedom to protest has roots in acceptance and right only so long as those who oppose enjoy the same opportunity. This is not so in burning the flag, for those who bought that right lay cold and silent. To burn their honor and reject their gift is to steal that which cannot be purchased, that which is beyond price.
Those who oppose freedom are my enemies; those who burn the flag are terrorists. Terrorists who sacrifice their freedom and their right in their vile act; such deserve no quarter, such are unworthy of the great gift that flies in each thread and each color of that flag.
I pledge allegience to the flag of the United States of America; one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all, again. And again. And in that pledge I hope for the peace that it offers, that has been bought at so high a price, so many times. I pray for the day, though I do not expect to see it in this lifetime, when we shake hands rather than squeeze triggers. When the open hand replaces the closed fist, when we look upon the flag with a head bowed in reverent rememberence, rather than curled around a cigarette lighter or a match. When those who enjoy freedom can remember to be grateful for it, to appreciate the cost, and to live worthy to receive it.
When one protests for peace, he or she may not revile. He may lay down, pacifistic in the act, and I will protest along side him. She may stand firm in the face of opposition, against those who would decry the right to protest. I will stand before her, and I will defend with my life his or her right to have their say. Under the flag that waves above my free right to do so, I will defend with my last dying breath that sacred right.
Burning the flag is not a wish for peace, nor a democratic statement. It is a treasonous act of terrorism. Such I will fight against, and will not defend. Peace will never be found in spitting upon the symbol of ultimate sacrifice, of liberty, or justice, of freedom. Protest only has value when dedicated to positive change. There is nothing positive in the unholy desecration of the flag and the nation for which it stands. In this there is no peace. I pray for peace, never wavering in my resolute willingness to pay the price to earn and keep it.
The true value of our republic is opposition; we are free to oppose. Where one value rises, there will be balance. One presses for removal of the ten commandments on the steps of a courthouse, another opposes. Votes are cast, we live together, think together, work together. One nation, filled with individuals who have right right and privilege to oppose, to reach a balance. When one burns the flag that balance may never be reached, for those who have earned the right to have a voice in it's defense are most silent; in this there is no democracy. Those who would burn the flag would rob the dead in their filthy act of cowardice, where the dead lie in quiet honor with no voice. No such freedom exists; those who burn the flag are terrorists, freedom takers, enemies of peace.
On no uncertain ground I stand for peace. Wage peace. Peace is active, it requires effort; it must be bought and maintained, and there is no small cost. The only excuse for war, is to make peace. Where there is war, my prayer has always been that it be short, that the end be achieved, that right prevail, and that the flag still stand. Beyond that, this affiant sayeth naught.
Either Emerson or Thoreau said that I may not agree with what a man has to say, but I will defend with my life his right to say it. I believe in this with great conviction. Let him or her preach abortion or not, let him or her rally against capitol punishment, or fight to see it installed. Let the individual and the masses publish peace, or cry war. It is their right under our flag to do so. I will defend that right. I may or may not agree, but I will defend that right.
For those who would burn the flag, these have no such right. The flag has been bought with too high a price. In it is wrapped the blood of fathers, sons, brothers, husbands, friends. No cost may be laid to it's fiber. The right to protest and to assemble under the flag has been bought at dear cost to life, with the breath and hope and dreams of tens of thousands of young men and women...not one of whom will ever have the chance to curl their fist in anger, or shed a tear at the burning of that flag.
The freedom to protest has roots in acceptance and right only so long as those who oppose enjoy the same opportunity. This is not so in burning the flag, for those who bought that right lay cold and silent. To burn their honor and reject their gift is to steal that which cannot be purchased, that which is beyond price.
Those who oppose freedom are my enemies; those who burn the flag are terrorists. Terrorists who sacrifice their freedom and their right in their vile act; such deserve no quarter, such are unworthy of the great gift that flies in each thread and each color of that flag.
I pledge allegience to the flag of the United States of America; one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all, again. And again. And in that pledge I hope for the peace that it offers, that has been bought at so high a price, so many times. I pray for the day, though I do not expect to see it in this lifetime, when we shake hands rather than squeeze triggers. When the open hand replaces the closed fist, when we look upon the flag with a head bowed in reverent rememberence, rather than curled around a cigarette lighter or a match. When those who enjoy freedom can remember to be grateful for it, to appreciate the cost, and to live worthy to receive it.
When one protests for peace, he or she may not revile. He may lay down, pacifistic in the act, and I will protest along side him. She may stand firm in the face of opposition, against those who would decry the right to protest. I will stand before her, and I will defend with my life his or her right to have their say. Under the flag that waves above my free right to do so, I will defend with my last dying breath that sacred right.
Burning the flag is not a wish for peace, nor a democratic statement. It is a treasonous act of terrorism. Such I will fight against, and will not defend. Peace will never be found in spitting upon the symbol of ultimate sacrifice, of liberty, or justice, of freedom. Protest only has value when dedicated to positive change. There is nothing positive in the unholy desecration of the flag and the nation for which it stands. In this there is no peace. I pray for peace, never wavering in my resolute willingness to pay the price to earn and keep it.
The true value of our republic is opposition; we are free to oppose. Where one value rises, there will be balance. One presses for removal of the ten commandments on the steps of a courthouse, another opposes. Votes are cast, we live together, think together, work together. One nation, filled with individuals who have right right and privilege to oppose, to reach a balance. When one burns the flag that balance may never be reached, for those who have earned the right to have a voice in it's defense are most silent; in this there is no democracy. Those who would burn the flag would rob the dead in their filthy act of cowardice, where the dead lie in quiet honor with no voice. No such freedom exists; those who burn the flag are terrorists, freedom takers, enemies of peace.
On no uncertain ground I stand for peace. Wage peace. Peace is active, it requires effort; it must be bought and maintained, and there is no small cost. The only excuse for war, is to make peace. Where there is war, my prayer has always been that it be short, that the end be achieved, that right prevail, and that the flag still stand. Beyond that, this affiant sayeth naught.
