With all of the controversy surrounding the Veterans for Peace and the Auburn Veterans Day Parade, I am reminded with the words put to music by country music icon Merle Haggard. Many people of the younger generations may not remember the song and many of us "old folks" may have forgotten it, but it is still important today.

I will now reprint the lyrics of "The Fightin Side of Me" with the hopes of making our VFP folks realize that marching in our little hometown parade is inappropriate. You have the right to march, you have the right to protest, and the right to free speech but not at the expence of our heroes that have fought and died for your right. Lets honor them as they deserve with dignity and respect for their sacrifices.

I also am in hopes that by re-printing these lyrics, it will foster a new movement of patriotism by some of the younger folks.

" I hear people talkin' bad,

About the way we have to live here in this country,

Harpin' on the wars we fight,

An' gripin' 'bout the way things oughta be.

An' I don't mind 'em switchin' sides,

An' standin' up for things they believe in.

When they're runnin' down my country, man,

They're walkin' on the fightin' side of me.

Yeah, walkin' on the fightin' side of me.

Runnin' down the way of life,

Our fightin' men have fought and died to keep.

If you don't love it, leave it:

Let this song I'm singin' be a warnin'.

If you're runnin' down my country, man,

You're walkin' on the fightin' side of me.

I read about some squirrely guy,

Who claims, he just don't believe in fightin'.

An' I wonder just how long,

The rest of us can count on bein' free.

They love our milk an' honey,

But they preach about some other way of livin'.

When they're runnin' down my country, hoss,

They're walkin' on the fightin' side of me.

Yeah, walkin' on the fightin' side of me.

Runnin' down the way of life,

Our fightin' men have fought and died to keep.

If you don't love it, leave it:

Let this song I'm singin' be a warnin'.

If you're runnin' down my country, man,

You're walkin' on the fightin' side of me.

Yeah, walkin' on the fightin' side of me.

Runnin' down the way of life,

Our fightin' men have fought and died to keep.

If you don't love it, leave it:

Let this song I'm singin' be a warnin'.

If you're runnin' down my country, man,

You're walkin' on the fightin' side of me."- Merle Haggard