I'm going to do some more thinking on this and give a decent response later.

But it is not, at least for me, blindly following someone's dictates or bowing and scraping before symbols. It IS understanding and accepting what those symbols represent, and that requires study and thinking and if you can't accept the underlying meaning finding something you can accept.

An officer in the US military takes a unique oath: to support the Constitution, not the national leader but the ideas that are the underpinnings of the country.

More later.

(By the way, Alan: At least in the US military you couldn't clutch the heroine to your bosom at the same time you salute the flag. Regulations prohibit it and besides, and I can assure you that it's really awkward. Only in Hollywood....)