By GENE CHELLETTE
Viet Nam Veteran

A lot has happened since last Veterans' Day. We are once again at war. After the September 11 attacks, some co-called Americans began to complain about our patriotism. Some cases in point:

Broken Arrow, Oklahoma school officials removed all "God Bless America" signs from the schools, in fear that someone might be offended.

Channel 12 News, Long Island, NY, ordered all U.S. flags removed from the newsroom. They didn't want to appear leaning one way or the other.

Berkeley, California, banned all U.S. flags from city cars, trucks, and buses, because they did not want to offend any race.

Florida Gulf Coast University ordered all "Proud To Be An American" signs removed, so not to offend international students.

I for one am tired of our nation worrying about offending someone or their culture. After the September 11 attacks, we have seen a surge in patriotism by most Americans. Flags of any type are hard to find.

The dust had not settled from the attacks when some so-called Americans started complaining about our way of life. "Maybe we are offending other cultures. Maybe it is our fault that we were attacked. Maybe we are not free."

As Americans we have our own culture, our own society, our own language, and our own lifestyles. Our way of life has been developed over centuries of peace and wars. Many men and women have given their lives for our freedom. In places like the Alamo, Flanders Field, Bunker Hill, Pearl Harbor, Iwo Jima, Korea, and Viet Nam.

We speak English, not Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, German, or any other language. So, if you want to live in America, learn our language.

In God We Trust is our motto. It is engraved in stone in the House of Representatives in our nation's capitol. If it is appropriate on the walls of our highest level of government, it is appropriate on the walls of our schools.

God is in our Pledge of Allegiance, our National Anthem, and in our founding documents. We honor His birth, death, and resurrection as holidays. So, if God offends you, I think you should find yourself a new home. God is a part of our culture, and we as Americans are proud to have Him.

We are proud of our heritage, and honor those who defend our freedoms. We celebrate Independence Day, Memorial Day, Flag Day, and Veterans Day.

As Americans, we have the right to ave our flag. Our first amendment gives all our citizens the right to express their opinions. You have the right to complain about our government, our culture, or our society. But once you are done complaining about our flag, our pledge, our national motto, and our way of life, you have another right given to you under our freedom: You have the right to leave.

"On September 11, these acts shattered steel. But they cannot dent the steel of American resolve," said President George W. Bush, on September 14, 2001.

In each war, men and women look to the day when it is their time to go home, the end of the war, or when your tour of duty is ending. This goes out to all veterans - not only Viet Nam's.

With these names on that wall: Terry Wayne Clifton, Albert Cowtorouos, Jr., Aston Pindol, Victor Mayor, Robert Heath, Robert Mason, Bill Machen, Henry Herrenhauser, Jim McCarty, Tommy Griff, Machan Reed, Jerry Johnson, David Brooks, Ted Broomfield, Perry Peoples - Mt friends, you did not die in vain.

People, freedom is too hard won to lose. God Bless America, again!

Back