WyoWoman,I understand what you say but even in jest I don't agree with it.
Why not go the distance and use Robert Heinlein version? To be a citizen you must have served in the Armed Forces of your country? To express an opinion you must first earn the right of free speech.
I suspect that a lot of the people screaming and suddenly requesting flags would suddenly be indignant, if this simple solution were put into effect.
During my time as a RA, soldier in the United States Army I never had one person say thanks for defending your country.
My friend Frank Bahman was down at the local grocery store in Baltimore Maryland one day. When a guy came up to him and said, "Are You In The Army?" Frank said yes and the guy 'Coldcocked Frank'. When Frank got up the guy had gone and Frank would have left him a bloody mess if he could have found him.
A lot of the Vetrans I know never heard anybody say thank you before the recent wars. (Starting With The Gulf War) And it was not said to them, it was said to the current incarnation of soldiers.
The point is that public fancy runs hot and cold, and if your lucky enough to be fighting a patriotic war that everybody likes, you will do well.
Thomas Paine in Common Sense one of the most influential writings in American History speaks of Summer Soldier, those who rally round the colors in good times.
It's the Winter Soldier of whom I would like to stand with, be they draftees or volunteers.
I served so that idiots and summer soldiers can yell there head off and its the job of our representative to make sure that we act in accordance with our countries beliefs. For want of a better statment. Of Truth, Of Justice, And The American Way.
Look us in the eyes, we stand here ready to serve our country but we allow citizens who have not earned the right to use those pricipals for which many of us have served, fought and died for, without reservation.
Yes I watch the intellectual mahem and it scares me to some degree but as a Winter Soldier, one of the men and women who stand in defense of our country that it is just a passing fad.
There are those of us, Americans who have no where to run and will fight and die for our principle, our way of life and our family.
Wes Prichard
George Washington. The First Rebel