This is a response to Michael C. Browning’s letter (“Blood-won freedoms” Sept. 21). I understand where Mr. Browning and other patriots are coming from when they comment against any American who seems to disrespect our nation. I also remember the Native American comment that “White man speak with forked tongue.”

Our Constitution has provided us with many important freedoms, and millions of us have fought for those freedoms. But what about the freedoms that have been strongly implied but not enforced when we say things like “All men are created equal”? Shouldn’t we act like we really mean it?

How should we act when we experience government doing things that hurt us and our fellow patriots? I am thinking of our brave men and women returning from unnecessary battles and not getting the treatments they need for their injuries. Many other innocent Americans have experienced government abuse in other ways, such as confiscation of their property, illegal forced entry into their homes, and other things reported in the news. Many times we are left without the recourse the Constitution guarantees.

The bottom line is that we get the government we allow. If we ignore the abuses of government in our everyday activities, it will run all over us.

Protests are one way to show that not all Americans are happy. These folks want to change things for the better. We should all listen and put ourselves in their shoes for a moment, rather than telling them to leave the country. Maybe we can all help to make things better.

Blind patriotism will not keep our nation true and honest. It will do just the opposite, to our detriment. Voting every four years is not enough.