[sauropod]

I would only say to you that those who wear a uniform do not have the market cornered in patriotism.

If you have hung around this forum for any length of time at all and perused the rallies for the troops/ counterprotests/ protests against His Slickness/ impeachment proceedings protests/ and protests against algor stealing the 2000 election you would know better.

Sorry. I'm not buying.

[Colt .45]

No, we don't have a corner on patriotism. However, my feelings come from the abuses suffered in 1974 to 1978. I have seen the all the things you mentioned and congratulate those who have the courage to leave their couches and protest in the streets. But we, who have left home and family behind to go off to some foreign dungheap to fight for your freedom to leave said couch and protest, know more of what the cost of that freedom entails. So I really don't care whether you "buy" the fact that my skepticism is real or not. If you haven't served in the military, you really don't know.