Martin, I am calling you out. What is your background on the subject? Are you a veteran? Do you work in your community to make it better through volunteering? Or are you just another mercenary that was a hippie when it was convenient and now is a right winger because you are a greedy old man with an attitude?

I always am dismayed at those that think patriotism is about slogans like "God Bless America" and "My country right or wrong". Here's a clue for you, so sit down and concentrate. One of the hallmarks of American democracy is free speech. It is, maybe, the most fundamental of our freedoms. This country was born in the caldron of being able to criticize and examine the actions of our government. Another example is flag burning. I am always amazed at otherwise good folks acting like we ought to ban flag burning! It is precisely the ability to do that that caused me to go and serve my country. I think those ideals are the cornerstone and the defining difference in our experiment.

I have criticized my overseas friends who attack this country at the drop of a hat. I believe that in the history of the world to this point, this country has been a shining star. Evidence of this is that many peoples want to imitate it. But we have made many mistakes in that experiment. Think native peoples, My Lai, supporting right wing dictators, Wounded Knee, slavery, much of our foreign policy, and on and on. We are still the best hope for a better world, but only if we operate with respect for our neighbors, and (most importantly) if we retain our reverence for the right as a people of self examination. It is the ability to criticize that allows us to continue to tinker and improve. Idiots who are upset, like you, with the criticism of our current administrations policies, lack any real understanding of what our system is all about.

So .... Martin, what exactly is your record of service? Military or otherwise? I might be wrong, but I suspect you don't have much of one. If I am wrong, I stand ready to offer a sincere apology.

Mick