My column about the Millikin University football player who stood alone to honor the national anthem struck a chord with our readers. (You can read that story by clicking here).

I was especially moved by a letter I received from a legal immigrant from India. He asks a very important question in his letter.

“I have not known any other country where some of the people desecrate their flag, disavow their national anthem or tear down their own country,” he wrote.

Read and ponder his words — and be glad this Indian-American is now one of our fellow countrymen.

Dear Mr. Starnes,

I am a first generation Naturalized American who was born in India. I am neither white (without white privilege), nor black or Hispanic (not a victim either), I am just a person who came to a land of opportunity with a dream. I have traveled some in this world and to the best of my knowledge I have not known of any other country where some of the people desecrate their flag, disavow their National Anthem or tear down their own country. If I am wrong please straighten me out. BUT if I am right, then please address how do we expect any other country to respect ours when we (under the “excuse” of freedom of speech) do not respect it ourselves.

When I became a U.S. citizen, I took an oath denouncing my allegiance to my old country and even agreed to take up arms against my former country if asked to by the USA. Please check the verbiage of the oath these days, but do oaths mean nothing anymore?

Just like family, we may not always agree with our parents or siblings but we do not insult or degrade them in public (at least I don’t think they should).

I have three comments for your consideration:

1) If they (the desecrators) dislike our country so much then by the same freedoms that are granted to us through our constitution and bill of rights they are free to denounce their citizenship and go embrace and live in a country that they think is better than ours. They are free to run and embrace that country’s flag and anthem, but I am sorry I would appreciate them not doing it on our soil. In America fly the American flag with pride and no other!!!

2) Every immigrant like myself that came here to this wonderful land of opportunity seeking a better future, should leave the policies, laws, traditions and attitudes of their former countries behind and assimilate into our culture, traditions, language, laws and attitudes. After all if their old country’s ideas, policies, traditions and laws were so good then why did they leave and come here in the first place? Go home!

3) I believe immigrants come here either because they admire us and the opportunities we offer or to rape and abuse our country for all that they can pillage. I am sorry but we must block the latter kind. I believe that Mr. Trump has the right idea. As for those who were born in this country, wow, what can I say? They were blessed to be born into opportunity but many unfortunately could not admire the beauty of the forest because they were blinded by the tree in front of them.

I wish to remain anonymous, but I will be glad to answer any questions if needed for clarification.

I am just a man who loves my country and all that it stands for. May God bless the USA.“