Okay this is a touchy subject for me, so sorry, but I have to vent...
I am a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, and have been for a few years now. My grandfather spent 20 years and 2 terms in Viet Nam, also serving in the Marine Corps. Before you go judging me on my beliefs let me clarify a few things... I am 21 years old, I am bisexual, and I study the religions of Buddhism, native American beliefs and wiccanism. I am not a rich white Christian so please don't label me as such because of my views. Right now I have a disease that will eventually kill me (not an STD so don't even start) that I acquired in the military when I was training to go to Kosovo. I am going to eventually die, as have many of my friends and family, fighting for your rights and this country. My old squadron is out there in Afghanistan getting shot at every day to defend what this country was built on. To say that you don't believe in the pledge of allegiance or the American flag, is telling me that I am going to die, and everyone I know that has died, was for absolutely no reason. The pledge of allegiance does say God, but it does not say Jesus or Buddha or any specific name. Yes, there is an implication there, but it does not identify who you need to be holding a your God. Shit, I know a lot of people with a God complex, or a lot of Atheists that see themselves as the only controllers over their own destiny, so in their eyes, they can be that God. I understand that people can get offended by this, but before you go complaining about it, please look into it, it never tells you what "God" to worship. No one ever said that you had to say that word. If you were in a lot of other countries, you wouldn't even have that choice. If you don't like the way that America is built, then get the hell out! I would love to see how you survive in a place like Afghanistan where you can't get your little pills or needles or cute work out cloths or good gym memberships. You are acting like a bunch of selfish little children. What world where you raised in that revolved around you? Especially if you have been in the military before, you should know better. You are more of a disgrace then anyone else that has brought this up so far. I am sorry, but you have hit a soft spot with me, I know that there are a lot of things that are corrupt or incorrect in our governmental structure and I am not saying that it is perfect, but nothing is ever going to be perfect. We live in a country that gives you that choice, we live in a country that says you don't have to support it, but does that mean that you have to ruin it for everyone else? If you have your right to your opinion and voice, then so do I. For now on I am going to walk into every classroom and every governmental building, and that will be the first thing I say. I will say it loud enough for you to hear me and I will say it clear enough for everyone to understand. If I am going to die for this country and what I was doing to try to defend it, I am sure as hell not going to back down because one disrespectful little bastard doesn't want his little ears hurt. If you don't want to be here, then get the hell out, I will buy you a ticket!!!