I should have known better than this

Having written letters for many years, I should have anticipated the misunderstanding that would be created by my last letter, “The Constitution is a suicide pact.”

Shallow readers generally do not perceive the subtleties of sarcasm and sardonic writing. These are generally the same people who fail to catch a joke, and that applies to both liberals and right wingers. And so it was with my last letter, as witnessed by the numerous reader comments posted online.

So, let me put it in straight, literal prose: There are two kinds of patriots: (1) Those who wear their patriotism on their lapel, and (2) Those who carry their patriotism in their heart and mind.

There is nothing wrong with wearing a pin of the US flag on one’s lapel, but it means nothing unless one carries loves of country and our Constitution in one’s heart and mind. The same principle is true of wearing a Christian cross or Star of David.

Symbols are important, but the Constitution is not a symbol. It is the real thing, a sacred contract. It is the foundation of this nation, and those who disrespect the Constitution are enemies of the American people.

I took the phrase “The Constitution is a suicide pact” from an article written by ex-Marine officer Scott Ritter, a deeply patriotic man who does not wear a flag pin on his lapel. Neither does Barack Obama, but both have profound understanding and love for our Constitution. So do I.

Joe Howard Crews