Don't use the flag to smother freedom of expression

There is a pervasive abuse of the flag going on these days, but it’s not by kneeling NFL players. The flag is being used as a blanket to smother freedom of expression. Americans have a Constitutional right to peaceful dissent. Every member of the military who has come home draped in that flag took an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution – not to force everyone to follow a tradition. Disagree with the stance of these players if you will, but you are not free to deny them their right to take that stance.

That these men have gained economic success is irrelevant to their Constitutional rights, as is their occupation. That they should just be “grateful” for what they have, without wanting more from society, is the same message blacks have been given since the end of slavery.

If these players were, in fact, “unpatriotic,” then they would not be willing to take a stand to hold America, their homeland, accountable to its own proclaimed identity of being “one nation … with liberty and justice for all.” ALL.

It has been said by some that “If they were in North Korea, China and Russia, they would have no choice.” Quite true. But it is our right to dissent that is supposed to set us apart from those regimes. If we do not have the right to choose whether we stand or whether we don’t, then we have BECOME one of those countries. God help America.

This story was originally published October 14, 2017 at 3:55 PM with the headline "Don't use the flag to smother freedom of expression."