Letter: President is attacking free speech

As a Vietnam veteran, I know first hand the sacrifice our military men and women and their families make to protect our freedoms. One of the most prized freedoms is the right of free speech.

Our president has made it his priority to attack our nation's free press at every turn. When the NFL players took a knee during the national anthem to express their right for their constitutionally protected right of free speech, he and his lackeys attacked them.

For someone who did everything to avoid serving his country in the military (bone spur deferment?), he has little understanding of the sacrifice thousands of us make to defend our freedoms. Freedom of speech is one of the hallmarks of our democracy. To suppress this right is un-American and downright dangerous.

I don't care what your reasons are, but those of us who raised their hand and swore an oath to defend our Constitution are troubled by this attack by an American president on our Constitutional right of free speech.

Robert Houlahan

Cedar Rapids