let me clarify something here:

the issue of whether or not we, as a country, should go to war with iraq is not really what i wanted to discuss. i really have no interest in debating that particular topic - only to say that i wondered about the morale of our miltary troops because i think that sometimes people have a tendency to think of the military as a single war machine, not as moms and dads, brothers and sisters, sons and daughters, and lovers who don't want to die just as much as you or i. my lukewarm interest in these war goings-on is really on a human interest level, not a political one. i haven't paid enough attention to consider myself "well informed" about the facts and circumstances to really debate the ethics of this war.

what i really was asking is this: how do you feel about the inalienable right to free speech - is there a line where we cross into the land of "too far"? you should know that i do support this kid's right to protest in any way she wants, short of causing harm to others, which she clearly is not doing. i raised this question on my blog today because the morning radio show i listen to had people call in to opine about this girl's silent protest. one guy said she should do 20-30 yrs. jail time for disrespecting our national symbol. another caller determined that she must not actually be an american citizen. everyone that i heard on this show essentially said that the right to free speech is secondary to patriotism and good citizenship. nobody called in to say that they unequivocally supported this girl's right to protest in her individual, non-disruptive way. so i wondered, just out of curiosity, if there is some invisible line, that nobody talks about, we're not supposed to cross if we choose to disagree with the mainstream social conscience. to me, that idea seems at odds with the fundamental principles our nation was founded upon, and so i thought i would see what other people thought about that. thank you to all y'all that have already commented on my last post, i just felt like maybe i didn't make my question or my position clear.

here's a condensed version of the first blog (it's in it's entirety below this one); with some of the pieces that contain the question that i'm actually asking:
"in other news, i'm curious - what do you think about the college basketball player who turns her back on the american flag during the national anthem before her game?" it seems to have caused quite a hot debate on the issue of patriotism and citizenship vs. free speech. "isn't freedom of speech one of the principles we hold most dear as americans? isn't that one of the primary tenents on which our society/country was founded?"

so, now i feel like i've cleared up some murky waters, and am curious as to what you all think. so shout out!