Bill Blumenauer, a long-time Facebook Friend from Bonners Ferry, posted a response to Donald Trump's comments that flag burners should be punished with jail time or loss of citizenship. Bill served in the U.S. Navy from 1992-96 and in the U.S. Army from 1996-2000. He composed his thoughts after arguing with another vet who supported Trump's approach:
"My personal thoughts on the whole flag burning issue: it's legal. I absolutely despise it. But, it is not against the law. It makes me want to crawl out of my skin. I have a visceral desire to get all throat stompy about it. However, I served with men who came home under our ensign. I wore it on my shoulder. I saluted it when it went by. I carried it proudly so that others may salute. I know how to display it properly. I know how to retire it properly. All of that being said......I took an oath once (or twice) to uphold the constitution of this nation. So you can go ahead and burn her. I will stand quietly with tears streaming down my face as you do so. I won't hurt you. I will not yell or scream at you. I will think you are an idiot and as heartless as any I've met. But I will respect your right. But doing so in my presence then telling me you meant no disrespect will end entirely different. One does not do a disrespectful thing purposefully without intending to do so. So if you're going to burn her, please get it over with and do not ever try to reason that you aren't doing it to hurt veterans."
D.F. (Dave) Oliveria joined The Spokesman-Review in 1984. He currently is a columnist and compiles the Huckleberries Online blog and writes about North Idaho in his Huckleberries column.
law. It makes me want to crawl out of my skin. I have a visceral desire to get all throat stompy about it. However, I served with men who came home under our ensign. I wore it on my shoulder. I saluted it when it went by. I carried it proudly so that others may salute. I know how to display it properly. I know how to retire it properly. All of that being said......I took an oath once (or twice) to uphold the constitution of this nation. So you can go ahead and burn her. I will stand quietly with tears streaming down my face as you do so. I won't hurt you. I will not yell or scream at you. I will think you are an idiot and as heartless as any I've met. But I will respect your right. But doing so in my presence then telling me you meant no disrespect will end entirely different. One does not do a disrespectful thing purposefully without intending to do so. So if you're going to burn her, please get it over with and do not ever try to reason that you aren't doing it to hurt veterans."
