Letter: U.S. flag burners just don’t get it

Thursday, July 6, 2006 | 7:25 a.m.

On the Fourth of July, Fox News Channel aired a story about people burning the American flag. The story said that we have the right to do that in this country, in the name of free speech, you know. Concurrently, the news ticker at the bottom of the screen ran news of our troops and civilians in Afghanistan and Iraq being maimed by militant bombers.

Being a veteran with my flag flying out in front of the house, somewhere in my disgust I felt sorry for those flag burners. They just don't get it, do they?

I only have this to say about those who would actually burn the symbol of our great nation: I am vehemently against the burning of our flag, but I would defend with all means your right to do it! That is what I think we are about here in America, and actually exercising that right as they have done only serves to separate true American patriots who "get the message" from the likes of them.

I feel that freedom is one of the things that our flag represents, among many other rights that were bestowed on us at heavy expense by generations past. If you must burn a flag, go ahead, but please do not think that you are destroying the people's character. Most people have confidence in and respect for the ideals, privileges, rights and freedoms that are represented by our country's flag. And, I might add, if you don't place any value on those things, you may also exercise your right to leave.

Frank Musaraca, Henderson