Dear Editor:

“A person does not have to be born in America to become American. Dinesh D’Souza became a citizen in 1991. Though born in India, he rightly considers himself American. He notes that an American could live in India for 40 years and even become an Indian citizen, but he could not ‘become Indian,’ and Indians wouldn’t consider such a person an Indian. Being an Indian, he says, ‘is entirely a matter of birth and blood. You become Indian by having Indian parents.’ And that’s the norm throughout the world, but America is unique because ‘becoming American is less a function of birth or blood and more a function of embracing a set of ideas.’” (Live Free or Die by Sean Hannity, 2020)

In stating the above ideals, Americans are American because of what this country was founded on and because our freedoms were fought for. Although we have these freedoms, they are not free. The veterans (men and women that died, were injured, or lucky enough to come back alive, still serving in any war and the armed services) that gave us and protect our freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights, along with their loved ones, are the ones that have paid the price for our freedoms.

The flag is a symbol of stated freedoms. I don’t understand how anyone living in America can be disrespectful of this flag. The flag is not Republican, Democrat, or any other political party. The flag is a symbol of what America stands for. We do have the freedom of speech along with many others. People can do/say almost anything about government policies, laws, and politicians. Although we have these freedoms, where is the respect due to this country and the people who fought? Just because we are able to say anything, should we? Just because we can sit during the Pledge of Allegiance, should we?

In this day and age, youth have a hard enough time learning respect and how to take their liberties and be thankful for them. There is no other country on the planet where people have the freedoms Americans have, and for that alone people should show respect for the flag. As role models we should step up and teach our youth such things. Especially role models that spend many hours a week in our homes. We invite them in on a weekly basis by turning on the T.V. Shouldn’t the professional athletes also be held to such standards? Aren’t there other ways to stand for their issues, beside disrespecting our flag and the ones who fought so diligently for the freedoms they possess? Does standing on the flag or sitting/kneeling during the Pledge of Allegiance really get their point across, or does it just demonstrate to the millions of people (and our youth that look up to them) just how to be disrespectful to the ones who have fought and died for their freedoms? We are not American because we are born in the United States, we are American because of the ideals America stands for. If you can’t respect what these people have done, then just remember, our native tongue could just have easily been German, Japanese, Chinese, etc …

A Patriot of the Constitution of the USA,

Dixie Stoner