To the editor:
Dear Mr. (Donald) Smith, millions of (United States) citizens have worn the uniform of the military over our history in one capacity or the other. Those of us who are still living truly appreciate your service. We all were willing to sacrifice our time and lives, if necessary, to assure the freedom of citizens our country and the freedom of millions of other people around the world.
I refer now to you letter under the story line, “Protests don’t dishonor military,” that appeared in the Sept. 30-Oct. 1 issue of the Daily Journal. Millions of our citizens will vehemently take issue with your comment when you state, “We served so that our citizens did not have to kowtow to a flag, an anthem or a strong man. All Germans were required by the Nazi regime to salute the Nazi flag and the Fuhrer.” This is a gross disservice to you and others who have served under the flag of the United States when compared, in passing, to the Nazi regime.
Over the history of our country, an estimation of at least 1.5 million men and women have made the ultimate sacrifice to protect and preserve the freedom of all of us. Yes, and even to protest peacefully. Is it really too much to ask that we respect our country, our flag and our military to take a few minutes to stand and honor those of our citizens who have died and are still dying to preserve our liberty? I believe that an overwhelming majority of citizens of our country would respond with a resounding no.
Stanislaus Drew, a Christian author and proud American and a member of Palm Springs Baptist Church in Palm Springs, Florida, has written an essay entitled, “Take A Knee.” I quote a few lines from his essay.
“There’s a lot of places to take a knee. Real Americans have given their lives all over the world. When you use the banner under which they have fought as a source of your displeasure, you dishonor the memories of those who bled for the very freedoms you have. That’s what the red stripes mean, it represents the blood of those who spilled a sea of it defending your liberty.”
If you have not read this essay, I would suggest that you might do so.
Thank you, Mr. Smith, for reading and hopefully understanding.
Jess Shively
Franklin
