There was a day when the Jehovah Witnesses were scorned and persecuted for not saluting the American flag. The U.S. Supreme Court even ruled in favor of forcing them to salute the flag. (A ruling that was later overturned.)

   When we demand that people homogenize their beliefs, when we require them to think the same, to have the same opinions, and to salute the flag the same, we erase the very essence of freedom. The Jehovah Witnesses were not traitors. They loved America. They simply did not want to place country ahead of God, and did not want to bow down to an idol, which is how they viewed saluting a flag.

   But, even if someone does not honor or love this country, and that becomes the reason they won't salute the flag, freedom says you don't require them to do so. Forcing someone to salute your flag is wrong. When we require someone to salute our flag, we take away the very freedom that that flag stands for.