Respect our Country

This soap box installment is going to be on more of a local level. Last week, the West side Iowa City football team was up against the East side Iowa City football team, competing in the "Battle of the Boot." This rivalry has always been of interest, and Iowa City West High School tends to be on the losing end. The sports aspect is not what I will write about, however. The following week, the principal came over the intercom expressing his disgust with the etiquette of the West High student section during the playing of our national anthem. Students are not taking their hats off, they are not putting the cell phones away, and they are not being quiet and respecting this great country we live in. This is not something that should go unnoticed. Not only is it portraying this school as a bunch of rowdy thugs, but it is disrespecting the veterans standing on the field, holding the flag, who have put their lives on the line so these students can have a world class education. I have come to realize that many of today's youth do not fully appreciate what this country stands for and what war really is, or was. I will not go preaching what I believe our Constitution says, or our Declaration of Independence. What I will say is that many men and women in uniform have given their lives to preserve these sacred documents. Also, many children and adults don't realize the hardships of our former veterans; not just of the World Wars and Vietnam, Korea, and the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, but the Civil War, and the Revolutionary War. It is hard to fathom these days, fighting face to face with enemies, not using computerized missiles from countries away. I am not trying to diminish the duties of our soldiers today, but one must remember how determined people were during the early years of America, to fight and likely die for this country. These soldiers were killing enemies with bayonets; looking their enemy right in the eye as they killed them. The emotional pain must have been immense. Yet people still did it for the love of this country. So please, if you're at any sort of event: take your hat off, stand up, put phones away, and pay respect to this great country that has given you so much.
Thank you for reading.
Joe