It is the soldier, not the reporter, Who has given us freedom of the press.
It is the soldier, not the poet, Who has given us freedom of speech.
It is the soldier, not the organizer, Who has given us the freedom to demonstrate.
It is the soldier, Who salutes the flag, Who serves beneath the flag,
And whose coffin is draped by the flag, Who allows the protester to burn the flag.
- Father Dennis Edward O'Brien, USMC
As much as we despise their actions, the fact that these protesters are allowed to voice their repugnant views demonstrates that our system works. I choose to think of them as the chirping canaries in the mineshaft of freedom. I'm also very thankful for men like the freedom riders, who are also protected under our system.