Posted on 07/03/2006 7:59:49 AM PDT by Chi-townChief
Your editorial ''Ill-starred flag amendment would do nation no good'' [June 21] was thoughtful, well-reasoned and timely. July Fourth will be the 230th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. That declaration outlined noble ideals and universal rights such as ''life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.''
Unfortunately, in 230 years, the United States has never lived up to those simple ideals. Most of the grievances listed against King George are as valid against President George. President George is undermining the American Constitution and ideals at home while tyrannically imposing his aberrant beliefs on innocent people abroad.
As a Vietnam War veteran, I lost all respect for the flag. It represented a government, stretching from Presidents Eisenhower to Nixon, that lied to the people to get them to support a criminal war that needlessly and senselessly killed 3 million innocent people. No high-level American official was punished for the horrible deaths and suffering inflicted on the Vietnamese, Cambodian and Laotian people. Saddam Hussein looks like a saint by comparison.
Those presidents made every effort to cover up their lies. The current president doesn't even try to do that because he has so little respect for the intelligence and integrity of the American people and their institutions.
The attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, resulted in the needless and senseless deaths of 3,000 people. That was one American for each 1,000 Southeast Asians the United States killed during the Vietnam War. Our leaders claim that Sept. 11 was one of the worst atrocities in history. They can believe that only if they are so racist they put little or no value on the lives of non-Americans.
If different lives have different values, how much value do our leaders place on the lives of American soldiers? They have sacrificed more than 2,500 in Iraq and claim they are willing to sacrifice as many more as it takes to reach their goals, whatever those really are. We should ask them how many lives equal a barrel of oil.
Your editorial should have demanded that respect for the flag be earned, not legislated. Right now, Old Glory is on a level with the swastika in most parts of the world. Is it so difficult to adhere to the values outlined in the Declaration of Independence and follow the Bill of Rights? Apparently, the low-quality politicians we are sending to Washington can't do it.
Harold Taggart, Skokie
The flag is not on par with other "symbols".
If you burn a flag your lefty neighbors will cheer. If you burn a cross on your lawn or paint a swastika on your house they'll demand you be arrested for hate speech.
Respect for flag must be earned
Bullshat Most thinking Americans are Born with it !
Every time i see an American flag the very first thing that i think of is Freedom and the men who died to keep Freedom Alive ...
This guy is a real piece of hate-America filth. I wonder if he would have the same reaction if the rainbow gay pride flag or the Mexican flag was burned "in protest".
Spoken like a true communist.
Got someplace better? Move there. Now!
Or a gay colors flag.
So I guess I can repeat "If ignorance is indeed bliss, Mr. Taggart must be ecstatic."
Wow. This guy is king of the asswipes.
Oh, yea. He lives in AMERICA!
Someone call the Waaahmbulance!
If Taggart happens to read this thread:
"As a Vietnam War veteran,"
Hey Taggart, I am calling you out on this claim. What unit? What time-frame were you in Vietnam? Also, please post your DD-214. I am sitting here with a signed copy of Shelby Stanton's "Vietnam Order of Battle," ready to verify your claims.
Do not claim to be a Vietnam War Vet if you were not there.
He's about a wipe and a half, that's for sure.
He is shown on the web as either 65 yo or 79 yo. in Skokie.
His phone number is readily available (*-) to an enterprising young journalist who would like to interview him for their next article.
Yes, burning a rainbow flag would be a good test of free speech regarding the burning of symbols.
Sophistry.
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