she’s only sorry that she got caught.

This is the important part. People are often shocked when I say I'm not a patriot, and mostly don't respect what our country stands for.

I WOULD be patriotic if our country could live up to the ideals it CLAIMS to stand for.

A melting pot for all kinds, all cultures, all backgrounds, to come and mix, and feel safe in a country that doesn't persecute them for their beliefs.

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame, With conquering limbs astride from land to land; Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.

"Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

This is the poem, engraved on a plaque. It sits upon the base of the statue of liberty. This is the land I was taught exists growing up. I was taught tolerance, and acceptance growing up. Well now I'm 40. I've had plenty of time to see that this is nothing more than a bullshit fantasy we use as international propaganda.

How many times have we seen someone say to another in this country "GO BACK TO (insert country most assosiated with the other persons race)"? How many times have you seen our government propose, and in some cases approve laws that disproportionally hinder people of specific backgrounds? Reagans effects are STILL being affected.

While you can't force people to believe something, and doing so would be counterproductive to this concept, you can start at the government level. You can promote a culture of what our flag stands for. Celebrating the flag SHOULD BE a celebration of all peoples.

Instead it never has been this. Right from the start of the countries formation. All men are created equal??? This is what the forefathers wrote. Then explain why you get done with your daily work writing the constitution, and go home to rule over your legally owned slaves that everyone knows about. George Washington wasn't a tactical military expert. He got his ass handed to him until the literal entire country of citizens armed themselves, AND THE FRENCH SAVED OUR ASSES. George Washington wasn't some great civil leader either. He's one among many founding fathers who owned slaves. He was nothing more then a popular frat boy of his time. Going out, getting drunk, and everybody loving him. But they all justified it as black people being 3/5ths of a man.

Then a few decades later they start having issues with native Americans. We can't get their side of the history, because they're all dead.

My long rambling point is this. At no point have we been the actual good guys of history that people want to assume we are. I'm supposed to salute a flag that send tens of thousands of American citizens to their death in Vietnam, and then ignored the lifelong health issues brought back by survivors as a result of fighting a war as teenagers they didn't want to be in, all so Johnson wouldn't "appear weak" in the upcoming election.

I'm supposed to take off my hat as the national anthem is played to salute a flag that wouldn't give 9/11 firefighters and volunteers the healthcare needed until a comedian from comedy central did the governments job for them and demamded healthcare for them in a very public way.

And now this. Certainly not the biggest offense. It won't be remembered by history. It's not that important in the grand scheme of things.

But maybe it SHOULD be remembered. Not for the individual series of petty acts that it is, but rather as a symbol of where we are as a people right now.

The straw that broke the camels back as it were. Just the idea that the issues on our state represenitives think about are harassing and bullying other Americans whom are in competition with them career wise.

How can the government POSSIBLY try to preach inclusiveness, and tolerance for all kinds, when THIS is what's important to them???

They can't.

So why would I salute a flag that stands for hypocracy, racism, and hate? Not just "in the begining". It started in the begining, and continues to this day. That's what that flag stands for. That's why I'm not a patriot.