Quote:
Originally Posted by Joe C.
The "rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air" is in reference to what the British were doing. The Americans were physically holding onto the flagpole to keep it upright after it being hit. When all was said and done, there were a great many dead Americans at the flagpole, whose last conscious act was to keep the flag flying. That alone, deserves RESPECT.
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Yes, but the "bombs bursting in air" are images of violence. Why does that deserve more respect than "brotherhood from sea to shining sea"?
Today, we honor veterans who allegedly sacrificed themselves for a good cause, but in many cases it was not, but only to support some dictator or genocide, or something awful like defoliating the Vietnam countryside. That is not honorable even if the individual deed is. We need to get off the military kick and become a truly honorable nation who cares about the lives of people and don't simply cast if off as "collateral damage," the military euphemism for civilians killed in combat.