Jury room

This morning during the break and while I was still part of the jury and we were still two shy of twelve, some young men were discussing what they could say to get themselves excused if they were called to sit on the jury and if i had had the time I would have told them this story.

When I was in the US Navy stationed in the Philippines, it was the custom that the national anthem was played at twelve noon every day and if one was outside he was required to stop, face the flag and salute. Most soldiers and sailors would try to get indoors at twelve and if one was caught unaware of the time would run into the nearest building if they could get away with it.

One day the base commander made an announcement that went something like this:"The American flag represents our country, our family and friends, and the principals we live by and have swore to defend with our very lives and the efforts to evade saluting that flag is a disgrace to that flag and the people and ideas that it represents."

From that day forward I never avoided my privilege to salute that flag.

In America the government makes the laws, interprets the laws and enforces the laws and contrary to popular opinion, it is not the ballot box but the jury box that allows American citizens to remain free from the tyranny, and it is not only a privilege to serve on a jury but something we should desire to do."