The American flag and National Anthem are symbols of the liberty we enjoy under the Constitution. The brief moments we set aside at public events for the purpose of honoring the flag and the anthem are simply affirmations of that liberty and everything it encompasses--including all points of view. Anyone who refuses to respect the flag and the National Anthem has no respect for his/her own liberty, much less for yours or mine. There may be a time and place for expressing just about any idea or opinion, but the time and place where we stand to mutually affirm our commitment to protecting every citizen's liberty is not it.