The man allegedy was protecting a flag on a traffic island. From what, pigeons? Imaginary demons? Certainly not from al Qu'eda. In order to be protecting something there must be a rational threat somewhere. If anyone wants to think that some people are merely victims of their circumstances and devoid of personal responsibility, and that acting irrationally and against one's own better interests is okay as long as one is a veteran then they'd love to live in tolerable and liberal San Francisco, where the streets are unnavigable from the smell of urine and animals are routinely used as shills to obtain more handouts. Liberals usually fall for sad doggie stories and colored press reports of innocent, simple, and happy-go-lucky but unfortunate hero harassed by pigs in park at time of war and surging patriotism. I just find it ludicrous that some otherwise rational FReepers are writing to President Bush because of an uncorroborated rumor about a local police issue, while ignoring the 6,000 homeless vets in San Fransisco who are daily oppressed by drug abuse, exposure to the elements, neglect, hunger, and untreated ill-health.
I would think that the veteran would have rather fought to preserve a good, caring nation rather than to construct a cold, cruel, impersonal, and humanist one which feigns honor by ignoring the honoree and his plight. Apparenty only veterans are to be allowed to point out the fact that people resent not so much being manipulated by media forces but resent most being told they are being so manipulated.
Might be more beneficial to spend some money taking care of a vet or a mentally ill person then to make some unfortunate guy into a girl.