Here’s how I feel I’m getting tired of people using their military service as a shield every time somebody challenges what they’re saying. “I served this country.” Okay. And I sincerely respect you for that. I appreciate the sacrifice. I appreciate the years you gave. I appreciate everybody who put on that uniform and did something most Americans never will. But that does not mean everything that comes out of your mouth for the rest of your life is automatically patriotic, intelligent, or correct. Military service is not a lifetime exemption from being full of shit. If you’re saying something I believe tears down the country, attacks its basic principles, or excuses behavior you’d condemn if the other side did it, you don’t get to end the argument with, “Well, I served.” That’s not an argument. That’s a résumé. And frankly, if your position is so weak that the only way you can defend it is by reminding everybody what uniform you wore twenty years ago, maybe defend the position instead. You served America. Good. I respect the hell out of that. But you don’t OWN America. You don’t get extra citizenship points. You don’t get a bigger First Amendment than everybody else. And you sure as hell don’t get to declare yourself the final authority on what is or isn’t American because you wore a uniform. Your service deserves respect. Your opinions still have to earn it.