Letter: Keep Iowa improving with Gov. Reynolds

I respectfully disagree with Gov. Kim Reynolds statement that it is disrespectful to men and women that served to kneel for the anthem.

I have nothing but the utmost respect for anyone that has served and especially those that gave the ultimate sacrifice. But I cannot respect our president when he calls for someone to be fired for exercising their First Amendment right to peacefully protest. And he did so using vulgarity. At the very least it is unethical and may even be illegal.

So until Gov. Reynolds or Sen. Chuck Grassley or Sen. Joni Ernst or any other elected official addresses that I will not respect anything they have to say on the issue. Therefore, I will exercise my First Amendment right to sit or kneel during the national anthem as long as Donald Trump is president.

Looking back, I thought the Vietnam era protesters were wrong, turns out they were right. I also thought Muhammad Ali was wrong, turns out he was right also. I hope history will show I made the right decision on this issue.

Elmer Beckler

Oxford