S.E.R.E Training (Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape) was part of my preparation for duty in Vietnam along with weapons training at Camp Pendleton.
During the final stage we spent a week in a simulation of a North Vietnamese POW camp.
I won't go into all the details of the difficulties of torture, fear, deprivation and emotional distress which occurred during the "simulated" prison camp. It began to feel REAL.
On the last morning they took down the NVA flag, raised an American flag and gave us food. (A 55 gallon barrel of oatmeal) which, after 3 weeks of starvation was a real treat.
When they raised that American flag the feeling of patriotism sent chills through me and probably every other man who had been through this with me.
For the last decade the Republican party has somehow believed that "Trumpism" is "patriotic." MAGA folks have come to think that the orange moron hugging an American flag gives them, and only them, ownership of our country's symbol.
It is the opposite of patriotism to support the monstrous criminal and would be dictator.
I'm hopeful that we, the people, can overcome this traitorous monster and unite ALL Americans to FINALLY rid our country of this tumor on the nation's soul.
I have noticed that even George W. Bush is supporting Harris. He regrets all those soldiers that he needlessly sent to Iraq like Tammy Duckworth.
Over patriotism can be very dangerous as those few veterans who participated in the January 6th debacle learned. Proving that loyalty to the wrong cause is simply wrong–criminal.
Ron