I [robotically mouth the words to a loyalty oath I was forced to memorize during government-sponsored childhood indoctrination out of fear of being ostracized] to [a multi-colored cloth representing a conglomeration of territories acquired through warfare and genocide] and to the [corporate plutocracy] for which it stands, one [arbitrarily bordered land mass occupied by racially diverse people ruled by an entrenched white elite] under [a mythical being with supernatural powers, believed in by humans in order to ease the fear that they are insignificant specks hurdling toward eternal oblivion in a cold, uncaring universe], indivisible [except during the Civil War], with liberty and justice for [those who can afford it].

argexpat:

I [robotically mouth the words to a loyalty oath I was forced to memorize during government-sponsored childhood indoctrination out of fear of being ostracized] to [a multi-colored cloth representing a conglomeration of territories acquired through warfare and genocide] and to the [corporate plutocracy] for which it stands, one [arbitrarily bordered land mass occupied by racially diverse people ruled by an entrenched white elite] under [a mythical being with supernatural powers, believed in by humans in order to ease the fear that they are insignificant specks hurdling toward eternal oblivion in a cold, uncaring universe], indivisible [except during the Civil War], with liberty and justice for [those who can afford it].

Hard to say but accurate!

Everyone has a country, a loyalty to something or someone. Us being Americans living in a free nation have the flag and have our anthem. When people hear the music they immediately remember how our fathers fought in many different wars to preserve this freedom of speech, and of worship. We cannot dishonor this by not remembering them. If we do not remember what our troops are doing as we speak. We fail to give them strength to keep doing what they are expected. They love this country and every American should stand and every hand should be over their heart to preserve and keep America strong. With out freedom we have no honor in anything. No passion for anything, we merely just exist. I don’t want to be that person. I am not that person. I AM AN American. And I will stand for those who have fought for our nation to keep it.

Why do we need a flag or an anthem to remember how our fathers fought to preserve our freedoms? I remember it every morning when I wake up in a free country. We should honor all the people who have and do willingly sacrifice their lives every day to stand up for the freedoms the rest of us cherish so deeply. I don't need an anthem or flag to do that. Those are only symbols. Our men and women in the armed forces are the ones that we should honor, not symbols.

Great, while you’re standing there paying your homage to the brave men who gave their lives to protect our freedoms, those very freedoms are slowly being eaten away by radical authoritarians in our own government. Meanwhile, those brave men are rolling in their graves.