When I applied to write for The Odyssey, I honestly didn't know what I was getting myself into. I didn't know if I wanted to create fun, humorous pieces, construct a platform, or report about the Nashville Predators. My very first article was about the Presidential election and the dishonoring of the American flag; however it was never published. Behold, many months later, and this simple, though non-forgiving action, is still a problem, especially following the inauguration of President Donald Trump. I went back and revised my previous article to fit for today's circumstances; without further ado, read and enjoy.

To the group of individuals who disgraced the American flag,

The stomping of your feet on our stars and stripes; the taking of pictures of your face with the red, white, and blue beneath you; the yelling of profane words from your mouth on the representation of freedom. The color of orange in your eyes with sweat on your brow, caused by the flames set upon independence. These actions are not what a proud, United States citizen would conglomerate to do. These actions are parallel to individuals who share a commonality of distrust, and are unknowingly dividing the American population. As I, personally, did not wish to support either of the political delegates in the previous year’s Presidential campaign, I believe I am stating this next sentence on an unbiased ground. To the group of individuals who disgraced the American flag at President Donald Trump’s protest, you all are just as distasteful and dirty as the man you think you’re against.

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I understand that in the year of 2016, the Presidential candidates are not what either side of the Republican and Democratic parties particularly wanted for a President of this nation. However, these actions, stated above, by protestors honestly breaks my heart and even further allows me to lose faith in today's American society. These actions should NOT be the outlet for our, the American citizens’, aggression and frustration. There are so many better paths that can be taken to get many opinions and statements across without dishonoring our flag. Our flag is more than just a piece of fabric. It stands for every single one of our 50 states as a UNITED body. It reminds us of the 13 colonies that started this great institution. It is a message for our values, such as freedom, to our friends and enemies that our troops encounter while being away from their homeland. We are destroying ourselves on our own ground - among our own people.

I hear every single day the heated topics of America’s contemporary society; more recently, the travel ban in relation to the terrorist controversy, and questioning of vaccinating our children leading to health and FDA controversies. We all have opinions, debates, and disagreements. We all have agreements, coincided conclusions, and compromises. We all, however, do not share the wish to be ardent in allowing anger to control our actions. We can be proactive in our thoughts of positivity and progression. Please take my usage of positivity as a relative term. I am not a naïve, young woman, who believes everything and everyone is full of rainbows and unicorns. The Presidential campaign of 2016 was not based on a democracy, and we as Americans believe that we are going towards a dictatorship, which lacks an optimistic outlook. Regardless of the outside, international threats such as terrorist groups, and the ongoing Iraqi war, nuclear testing in Iran and North Korea, etc., societal controversies have broken us as Americans; it has worn our patience and personal thought of safety thin– we have relied on our government and Chief to protect us, to help us, to save us. We may learn from the mass shootings, by increasing security, gun laws, and mental institutions, but needless to say, there are more to come. We will handle these recurring situations poorly too, because we, as citizens, let our actions be driven by our emotional impulses of anger and sadness. This is what drove the political riots before and after the Presidential election. This is what led to busted windows, trashed vehicles, and ultimately the burning and stomping of our beloved American Flag.

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To the group of individuals who disgraced the American flag,

I understand the last minute, uncontrollable thoughts of rage and injustice that may have led to you walking to the scene of Donald Trump’s rally. I understand the hatred and the adrenaline rush you felt the moment you stepped on the large, rectangular piece of fabric. I understand the dizzy blur that you experienced when you continued to light the match on our stars and stripes. I understand the need of attention you were addicted to when you took the “selfie” and video stomping on our red, white, and blue. I understand the momentum and quickness of your words when yelling on top of our representation of freedom. I understand the highness and confidence you felt when you left the scene and went home for the night.

I understand all of your feelings, as I have felt them all before, too; I just don’t understand your actions.

I pray that one day you come to your senses, and we can unite to cause an affirmative, constructive impact on this great nation. I pray that we can restore this country as a betterment of the United States together. Until then, I pray for you and all of your co-conspirators. I pray that you are not the one who throws gasoline to the fire that our homeland finds itself in currently.

Kind regards,

An Army daughter and proud American citizen