Rights and criminals
Pete Marvin’s thoughtful and thought-provoking letter honoring our veterans was a stirring tribute to those who fought and died for our country. It is worth remembering, however, that soldiering is a profession the world over—including in Russia, China, Iran and North Korea. It is not the flag but the beliefs and governing principles of a country that are important in determining to what extent the sacrifices of those who serve in the military are worthy of our honor and praise.
I do not agree that freedom of religion, free speech, of the press or the right to protest freely are given to us by soldiers, no matter how brave and honorable their sacrifices may be. Those rights are granted to us by the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, the foundational documents of our democracy. Our brave soldiers fought to preserve and protect those rights against enemies both foreign and domestic.
Unfortunately, many Americans forget that the freedoms and rights we hold so dear are meaningless if not freely exercised by its citizens. In refusing to stand for the national anthem, Colin Kaepernick and the other professional sports figures who followed him were exercising their right to protest. They should be respected, not resented, for doing so. As reprehensible as it may seem, these rights also protect the “Jews will not replace us” chanting bigots protesting in Charlottesville, Va.
These same rights do not, however, protect the Donald Trump-propelled rioters and insurrectionists who attempted to subvert and overturn the constitutional process of certifying the results of the last presidential election on Jan. 6, 2021. That criminal invasion resulted in the deaths of law enforcement officers and the shameful desecration of our beloved Capitol building. Thankfully, hundreds of them are now serving the prison sentences they so richly deserve while their shameless leader remains at large. Luckily, he is the focus of criminal prosecutions that may enable him to eventually join their ranks. In the words of the immortal bard: “’tis a consummation devoutly to be wished.”
DAVID ELI COCKCROFT Little Rock