If we are to really express our gratitude to those who serve and honor the memory of those who have fallen we must use the democratic freedoms they swore to protect. We should deliberately, consistently and publicly question the rhetoric and agendas of a government which has poured out the blood of its people only to later render their sacrifices meaningless.

Governors and Mayors across the country are issuing executive orders banning non-essential, government-funded travel to North Carolina. Governors are proclaiming it is in their states interests to promote equality and act out against discrimination. This may be true, however, they have no power to do so outside of their states.

The Republican presidential nomination race has previously devolved to the level of an elementary school playground (penis-measuring in a national debate), and has now risen to at least high school (if not a college frat house) with the vicious battle going on between Donald Trump and Ted Cruz over who can insult each other's wives the most.

President Obama's decision to make a historic visit to Cuba later this month is about more than U.S. politics or business opportunities on the island.