Posted on 09/18/2014 9:09:08 AM PDT by Kaslin
After some hand-wringing over British citizens who have chosen to fight with ISIS, Prime Minister David Cameron said he thinks one reason for the defection is that too many of the defectors have forgotten what it means to be British. As a means of fighting the radicalization of young people, he wants all of Britain’s schools to again teach “British values."
It is a diagnosis Americans would do well to consider because an unknown number of Americans (FBI Director James Comey says he doesn't have a precise number because they are "hard to track") have abandoned their country to fight with jihadists.
In order to teach values, whether British or American, we must first agree on what they are. Since the turbulent '60s, some Americans have chosen to ignore, even oppose, values taught to their forebears. These tenets begin with personal responsibility and accountability, hard work, capitalism, self-reliance, faith in God and patriotism.
As I see it, too many students pay little heed to the Pledge of Allegiance. Few will serve in the military, or feel compelled to "give back" to their country as did those who fought and died for their freedom.
A look at what used to be taught in public schools before the advent of multiculturalism offers a lesson in what we have lost. In 1923, the superintendent of Public Instruction in Lancaster, Ohio, J.J. Phillips, created a series of booklets for elementary school students called "Selections for Memorizing." They included many verses from the Bible that would be banned today. They also included passages about respecting and loving parents and love of country.
Beginning in first grade, children were exposed to sentiments like these: "I give my hand and my heart to my country. One country, one language, one flag."
In an entry by Daniel Webster called "Duty of American Citizens" there is this: "This lovely land, this glorious liberty, these benign institutions, the dear purchase of our fathers are ours; ours to enjoy, ours to preserve, ours to transmit. Generations past and generations to come, hold us responsible for this sacred trust. Our fathers from behind admonish us with their anxious, paternal voices; posterity calls out to us from the bosom of the future; the world turns hither with its solicitous eyes all, all conjure us to act wisely and faithfully in the relation which we sustain."
Webster concludes: "But what are lands, and seas, and skies to civilized man, without society, without knowledge, without morals, without religious culture? And how can these be enjoyed in all their extent, and all their excellence, but under the protection of wise institutions and a free government?"
Who decided these virtues were outdated and no longer worth teaching to new generations, especially "millennials," who seem so cynical about them?
Even conservatives, who still cling to those values in theory, are doing less in practice to affirm them. Too many have their children in public schools that challenge their beliefs. Too many conservative families are breaking up, instilling conditional love in their children.
As Peter Beinart wrote in last February's National Journal, "The very attributes conservatives say make America special -- religiosity, patriotism, and mobility -- are ones they've inadvertently undermined. Is it any wonder millennials are less impressed with their country?"
In a letter to his wife, Abigail, John Adams wrote: "Posterity! You will never know how much it cost the present Generation to preserve your Freedom! I hope you will make good use of it. If you do not, I shall repent in Heaven, that I ever took half the Pains to preserve it." If we could question those Americans who have gone to fight with jihadists, it would be interesting to see what they were taught in school and how they came to hate America so much. Meanwhile, we had better get back to teaching the current and future generations what we used to teach, or risk losing not only them, but the entire nation.
"Selections for Memorizing" might be a good place to start.
They may be US citizens, but they aren’t Americans.
A lot of kids are fed the liberal crap in school. Too many believe the tripe they are taught about how bad America is and that they should feel guilty. On top of that their parents aren’t looking at what their kids are being taught.
Because they hate their parents. Just an extension of the same concept.
Gee what a stupid reply. Before I made my citizenship in June 12 1977 I was a legal resident from Germany. Do you ever think before you post? *rme*
Because they aren’t Americans.
Maybe their parents hate America too?
They’re professional victims.
They’re unhappy about the results of the poor choices they made in their own lives, and instead of accepting personal responsibility for their problems, they gotta blame someone else..and blaming America is the current fashion.
Why do Americans hate America?
Reason 1: evil, evil people they oppose God, His work, and His kingdom, and America has been both His missionary, and His battle-axe
Reason 2: Ignorantly believing the propaganda of the evil. Revisionists started attacking as far back as possible with false ideas that America has always been about, gold, greed, and Imperialism. Previous generations stood by and let multiple generations be indoctrinated in schools, universities and media with communist lies. People are few and far between who understand how America changed the world for good in a plethora of ways, or realize how horrible the world would have been without her. Even most of the people who don’t hate America have embraced many of these lies about her.
Why do (some) American’s Hate America?
When we the people apathetically allowed a Marxist bent Congress, and a deliberately malleable Judiciary at the influence of Leftist special interests to become our rulers, and create an America unlike the America of our forebears.
The answer is to retake this government, eliminate all leftisms, and instill wording (clarifications) to the Constitution to guarantee the Left has no ability to whiz on it ever again.
I dumped TV in 1997 and am a student of US history.
The America I see today is a completely different country. It is closer to the description of the USSR I was given in public school in the 60’s than the US of history.
IOW, MY America is dead. I live in another america that just happens to speak the same language, mostly.
Except for a very, very few most of these are actually mideastern-ers who hold a US passport as anchor births or naturalized citizens who are no longer required to abandon their former citizenship.
I don’t hate America, I hate what it is becoming. I deplore Obama and his merry band of democrats.... in other words, I hate all enemies to this country.
However, other that a few high Tech toys, I continue to live in the 1950s as much as possible.
Don’t hate America, hate the freaking people in government.
why do you ask?
It really is self-loathing but projected onto America. These degenerates don’t have enough strength to off them selves...so they take it out non everyone else. Losers.
Socialist Atheist Public School Indoctrination
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