Dear Editor: John Homan, I find your column ("To stand or not to stand", Sept. 29) both wrong and disrespectful.
Where is the outrage over North Korea? It's very much alive and being covered extensively. This country, and indeed the world are very concerned and on edge as to what the North Korean leader may try next.
Where is the outrage over Puerto Rico? Ships, planes, helicopters, electrical workers are engaged with urgency to get the needed supplies to the people affected by this disaster. Regretfully, it cant happen with the snap of our fingers; it's a major undertaking.
With all due respect, where have you been?
My life changed in 1969 when I saw dead and mangled bodies for the first time in that hell hole called Vietnam. I saw the flag draped over caskets carrying those that made the ultimate sacrifice back to the homeland.
As I was returning home just as the sun was beginning to rise, the captain engaged the speaker, waking most of us, saying, "Gentlemen, if you look out the right side of the aircraft, you will see the Golden Gate Bridge; welcome to the United States of America."
That was 47 years ago and I remember it like it happened yesterday. As I looked around, with tears streaming down my face, there was not a dry eye on that plane.
I hope you can understand what the flag and our national anthem means to me and thousands and thousands who feel as I do.
The disrespect of the players, team owners, and the NFL is like a slap in the face to those who travel to games (and) watch on television, to see these very well-paid performers play a game.
Steve Canaday
Marion
