"Sure, I Wave the American Flag. Do You Know a Better Flag to Wave?" --John Wayne

I am not a materialistic person. Yes, I own many things but I'm not emotionally attached to them. And yes, Marie Kondo, they do bring me joy:) However, if my house caught on fire, I would be upset but ok. As long as my family and animals were safe, I would be bummed, but then get into a problem solving mode. The things that do matter to me are in a fire box in my house (like important papers) and thus would not burn. Photos also mean a lot to me and I have all of them (yes, every photo I own) uploaded onto my Google account. Other than that, everything is replaceable.

I'm also not sentimental, big on symbolism, or hold stock in what people say. I am more of the "actions speak louder than words". But I also have a lot of respect for things. For instance, I greatly respect Lake Michigan. It is a vast body of water that can kill you. We have many drownings every year because people will get drunk while driving a boat and crash. Or people will not respect when we have wave warnings or rip currents. You don't mess around on the lake. Enjoy it responsibly. I also respect animals. I love wild animals but I keep my distance. When we went to Yellowstone, it was fabulous to see all the bison and other animals. But we kept our distance. They are still wild animals and we don't need to be in their face. I also love dogs, but they are animals too and can bite. You just have to respect nature.

I'm also not big on symbolism. National flags, songs, pledges--they are nice but they don't carry a lot of weight with me. I do get choked up hearing "America The Beautiful" but I also get choked up when the fans sing "Go Cubs Go" at the end of a game that the Chicago Cubs just won!

To me, respect and what is in your heart matters most. This is my personal opinion only. Everyone feels differently about different things. For me, burning the American Flag means nothing to me. For me, the American Flag symbolizes America but it is NOT the United States. It doesn't mean I will burn the American Flag. No, I'm the person who has many American Flags that are meaningful--they were on the casket of my dad and grandpa. And I have an American Flag on our flagpole. It will never touch the ground. There is a spotlight on it. And when it starts to look worn, I will replace it. And yes, I'm the person who will take the old flag and donate it to our local American Legion who will burn it with a ceremony. I do all of this because I respect the flag. In my heart, the flag, like nature, deserves respect. Will I burn it? No. But I don't begrudge those that feel they do need to burn the flag.

For me, our Constitution is the United States. I don't just respect the Constitution. I think it is a living, breathing document that shows us who we are as the United States. In National Treasure, Nicholas Cage and the other actors revered the Constitution (even as they stole it:) I believe without our Constitution, we would not be a country. I don't feel the same way about our flag.

In our Constitution, it says in the first amendment "Freedom of Speech", among other freedoms. Our Supreme Court has held that Freedom of Speech is not just the spoke word. It is words, actions, thoughts, feelings, etc. Because of this, burning the flag is our fundemental right. Fundemental means basic, or in the beginning. When those white men wrote the Constitution in 1770's, they said we had freedom of speech. And that meant we could burn the flag.

Because it says it in the Constitution, because our forefathers wrote it, and because our Supreme Court has interpretated it, flag burning is legal. In fact, when it is done in demonstrations or rallys, hopefully people see it as a cry for help.

But know this. Burning the flag is a very rare event. Do you remember seeing anyone burn the flag on television? How long ago was that? Has anyone ever witness first hand someone burning the flag? No, I have never seen anyone burn the flag in front of me. Burning the flag is not something you see, if ever, but if it does happen, then it instills in us the magnatude of the situation in which people feel the need to burn the flag.

Because we have the right to freedom of speech and because we have the right to freedom of assembly, then these freedoms are more about who we are as a country than any flag. I don't like seeing the flag burn--it still makes me cringe. But I hate more someone telling us we no longer have those freedoms. That burns my ass! Don't abuse your power that the American people gave you and take away any of our freedoms.

The reason we cannot burn the flag? "Burning this representation of America may incite violence and riot".

Like a lot of people, if you tell me I can't do something because you don't like it, then be damn prepared for the consequence.

I literally see people now going out and burning the flag because you took away their right like a bully. I read in the paper today. Hours after the order was signed, Jim Carey, a disabled 20-year combat vet, set a flag on fire in Lafayette Square, acrosss from the While House. ne "It was my right as a citizen...under the first amendment to proteest in whatever way I see fit without hurting anyone. I had fought for this flag, my friends died for this flag, and he does not have the right and he is not allowed to make these illegal rules and laws just because he's the president".

Boy, does he have a point!

Shame on you to inciting this poor vet to do something you know hurt his soul. You are now just enraging people to do something they wouldn't think to do in the first place. If we see more instances of flag burning, this is all on you.

Leave our Constitution alone. Yes, people have the right to freedoms (1st Amendment). Yes, people have the protected right from unlawful seizures (4th Amendment). Yes, people have the protected right from excessive bails and fines (cashless bail; 8th Amendment). Yes, people born here are United States citizens (birthright citizenship; 14th Amendment). We ALL get to vote the best way we can (15th and 19th Amendments).

What other amendments are you going to shit on? Because now I am mad!

Hell have no flury like a menopausal, retirement woman!!

P.S. Congrats to Taylor and Travis. You deserve your own "Love Story"!

However....

It is a PE teacher, not a gym teacher! And it is the PE teacher marrying the Preschool teacher....in 1993.