These views expressed in this article are my own, and do not necessarily represent the views of UW-Stout or The Odyssey.
I feel bad for making my first article written for The Odyssey about something so intense. I look at the fun articles my talented writing team at UW-Stout are giving me to edit and review, and it makes me wish I would have picked something happy-go-lucky to write about.
Dear readers and protesters.
This election is a heated one, there is no doubt about that. There has been mudslinging and some ridiculous rhetoric coming from both sides of the aisle. Is it necessary? Not really, but it’s allowed. Yet when I see the lengths protesters went to in San Jose, California, I need to put my foot down.
San Jose is considered a Sanctuary City. For those of you who might not know what that is, it means that certain cities in the United States have laws or policies in place so people cannot be prosecuted based solely on the fact that they are an illegal immigrant. Many immigrants, both legal and illegal, reside in this city, and many came out in swarms to protest.
On Thursday, June 2, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump held a rally in San Jose. As with most Donald Trump rallies there were protesters, but unlike the rally I attended (for school purposes) in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, the protesters were anything but peaceful.
A woman was attacked with eggs, bottles and water balloons. A few men had blood streaming down their faces after protesters sucker punched them. Cars had their tail lights smashed. A mob of protesters even turned on the police who were working security at the event.
But what bothers me most of all is that the protesters burned the American flag. Old Glory. The flag that has represented freedom for over 200 years. A flag that in our nation’s history, over 43 million men and women have died for.
Flag burning is protected by law as a symbol of free speech, so yes, it is allowed to be burned. But when the protesters are waving Mexican flags, or any other flag besides the stars and stripes for that matter, with more pride than the American flag, I find it despicable.
Love of country is something that truly does make America great. The pride that I feel when I see the flag being flown, or hear patriotic songs being played on national holidays makes my heart swell. It reminds me why I love my country, for it truly is one of the best places to live. I would never move to a country, illegally no less, parade around with my former flag as I burned the flag that represented their country. It’s disrespectful. Clearly I still care more about my former country than I do about the country I am residing in.
This is the case in San Jose, and it makes me wonder why these men and women are in America if their true allegiances lay elsewhere. If your country is so great that you can burn my country's flag while waving your own, why are you here?
Freedom of speech and symbolism, as well as freedom of assembly are two things guaranteed by the United States Constitution. These protesters are not breaking laws by being at the rally and voicing their opinions, but when things turn violent, and the very symbol of freedom is burned, I believe it crosses a line.
So future protesters, please, I beg you, respect the people who you are protesting against. They are entitled to their views just as much as you are entitled to come and protest their views, but do not harm these people. Respect the property that belongs to others. It’s illegal to deface others property, and it leaves a stain on the campaign of those who you support. Respect the police. They are the men and women who put their lives on the line daily to make sure the streets are not taken over by thugs, just the very people you were acting like on Thursday evening. The police are there to keep us safe, to enforce the law and to make sure justice is upheld. The boys in blue deserve the highest respect. And finally, respect the flag. Yes, it is your lawful right to burn it, but before you do, think about how you would feel if someone was burning your national flag. Think about the 43,360,492 men and women who have fought and died for all that that flag represents, and show some respect.
