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I received this as an email message I though it may interest you guys.

AC

Gil:

My opinion is in the Hurrah! camp, nearly 100%.

I'm sending copies of the article(s) to dear friends who I
think have an interest in these matters. Your author wanted
comments. How is he going to get mine, and those from my
friends, if we don't have his E-mail addres? Here goes my
set of comments, in case you want to forward it.--

However, the article you sent me, which I quote below, is
really two articles:

The first one, in my interpretation, is an Ode to Individual
Freedom (remember, Gil and youall out there, to always add
"Individual" to "Freedom", because Continental Europeans
also profess belief in freedom, but in something they call
"collective freedom" -- an oxymoronic phrase if I ever heard
one, yet one that keeps the still-feudal serfs captive over
here. The first article also carries a totally true warning
about financial influences on the press.... at least in
certain international political matters now making headlines
in New York-led press circles. The author is right in both
respects.

The second article, on the Pledge to the Flag, reminds me of
the Irish leader (can't recall his name right now) who got
the Peace Prize (Nobel, of course) a couple-three years back
for straight and honest dealings with England: When asked
by a journalist why he was so much in favor of peace and so
successful at it, he answered something like: Sincerity.
We were poor when I was a child in Ireland, sometimes
hungry, when one day the subject of the Irish republican
flag came up in conversation with my father. He sentenced:
"You can't eat flags".

I hope well-fed people continue worshipping flags.
Politicians will love them for that (actually, politician's
tax collectors will be the happiest of all, because on final
account flag-waving ends up underpinning revenue collection
-- was originally designed to do just that).

The "under God" thing (instituted by General Eisenhower as
an antidote to the extreme crisis then ongoing, owing to
excessive intake of the "opium of the people" -- socialism)
is OK with me. We all believe in God, if only as one more
synonym for what our sublimely superior intelligence
believes is the whole unexplainable mess of the Creation.

Here go the two articles. The first sentence of the first
one, right below, is a jewel. Read it ever so slowly, even
if you never before thought it was important. It's true to
the hilt. The description very specially applies --
sometimes exclusively albeit comparatively so -- to the
United States of America (also occurs in UK, almost as
frequently ..... but only lately).

OF FRIENDSHIP, LOYALTY, AND PATRIOTISM
Joseph Russell Vannier
One of the most severe tests of a friendship and of
citizenship itself, and at the very heart of democracy and
our American way of life, is our ability, after a serious
disagreement with another, to remain cordial, friendly,
tolerant, loyal and supportive.
I completely understand the position of those who
consider a voice of disagreement in these stressful times to
be unpatriotic. But creasingly I find myself in that
position of disagreement with those who would, under the
guise of patriotism, surrender the hard won freedoms granted
by the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and
the Bill of Rights. It is always true that a free society
can, in the
long run, accomplish more and fairly too, than can herded
cattle even under a benevolent dictatorship.
And too, I cannot agree with those who say if you don't
agree with us you are free to leave. The true patriot will
stand for his beliefs until proven wrong, and then,
admitting, will, with equal vigor, support his new found
positions. And for those others who say you are either
with us or against us, in all honesty it is not only
possible but often appropriate to disagree with those whom
we love.
It is important to remember that for politicians nearly
everything we see on our television screens, hear on our
radios, or read in our papers has been planned, scripted,
edited, and censored. For those things that appear
favorable, there are hosts of spinners to make sure we see
the good. And for those things that may not be so good,
there are ready damage control experts.
It is true that here in America we have a "Free press"
which of course includes the written, the spoken, and the
graphic. But freedom here is not always free, for it is
often bought and paid for, not only in our media, but too in
the very halls of our government.
We all like to interpret that which we see and hear to
fit our beliefs. Thus some may see a red barn while others
may see only a barn, still others only a cow in the meadow.
The same E-mail was recently sent to me by two dear and
wonderful friends. The gist of the mailing had to do with
the Military saluting the President as he passes by, and
then holding that salute as they turn and watch him pass on.
The ceremonial ritual of the military demands that every
Soldier in the ranks to do the same thing at the same
time. Otherwise if Soldiers were permitted to free lance,
the uniformity would be broken. The result would resemble
recruits in their first close order drill.
Thus, when the Soldiers turn to follow the President's
progress as he passes it is because they have been ordered
to do so.
Who ordered it? Well, in these times when every public
move of the President is carefully scripted it would be
outrageous for me to say what I am thinking, but I do have
an opinion.
And I love your opinion too.
Isn't friendship wonderful even if it sometimes tries our
character?

***
THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Joseph Russell Vannier
Every day, in one setting or another, I salute our Country's
flag. I "pledge" the Pledge of Allegiance be it at some
public or community affair, a VFW meeting or some other
setting, and if there is no other occasion, I salute the
flag that flies proudly, day and night, in a lighted area of
my front yard. Please note that I said "pledge." I did not
use the words "Say" or "utter," I said "pledge" because that
is just what I do.
I am from an older time though, and back then we lined up
in front of the schoolhouse and together, saluted and
pledged the flag before we entered the classrooms. We did
not use the phrase "Under God" back then, and later,
throughout my World War Two days those words were lacking
also. And still today, I guess because I am a creature of
habit, I stumble over those two words unless I have
programmed myself in advance to remember them.
It always bothered me just a little too, because I have
the uncomfortable feeling that while the Pledge should unite
us all, the use of "Under God" may divide us.
I have no objection to "In God We Trust" on our coinage,
and I don't really have a problem with saying "Under God"
for I believe that others can take either it or leave it.
And too, the "God" can always be the very own personal God
of our choice.
But I wonder if the "One nation...indivisible" is really
one Nation indivisible when we insert the words "Under
God." Could there be two proud, loyal groups here, one, the
majority one, "Under God" and the other, just as loyal, but
not really under God ?
Are we attempting to force that significant few to accept
something they do not believe as we join together in our
pledge of loyalty? Can it possibly be so important that the
words "Under God," objectionable to the few, remain in our
united pledge to flag and Country? Can it be that the many
would deny a heartfelt vow of allegiance from those few
loyal Americans who object? Are there not a million other
ways to show we love our
God?
Finally now before you complete your thoughts, or act, or
speak, please take a deep breath and go back and read the
first paragraph of this essay.

***

Please respond to the above thoughts with a simple BOO!!!,
or A HURRAH! (in a spirit of friendship of course.) We
will tab and report the results. My prediction is dismal.

Nice Captain, very nice. A chance to think.

Put me down in God's column please.

Immediately after the 9th Court's decision while listening to talk radio, which in country is 99.999% conservative, a lady offered up the thought that no matter our religious belief, we all have a god of one form or another.

Our god could be our job, money, status, power, family - or WHATEVER it is that we value most in our lives.

She also, correctly, noted that the MooseLimbs and the Jews worship the same God.

Have a super Sada evening and thanks much, again. JL

hi ac
I read it
I agree with everything he said
you know how much I love God, so I don't mind saying ''under God''
if others object
I don't mind taking it out either
I think fighting about God is stupid
Love, Palo

I am glad you posted it ac
I found it thoughtful interesting true
Love, Palo

Two very interesting articles, which provide much for thought and reflection...

I guess the article that voiced the thought, that one can disageee with a president, or a law, or acts of Congress, and can still remain a patriot, is one which resounds for me...

I cannot stand it, when someone may disagree with a Presidents wishes, or a Presidents actions, and then others pipe up, and tell that person they should leave the country then...What hogwash...

To me, it is a disagreement, its a diverstiy of ideas, its folks who actually think in order to arrive at their ideals, that make America great...

The last thing we need is a bunch of cattle, or a bunch of robots...Agreeing with everything, and not allowing dissent is what is dangerous...

Many would not agree with me...they want everyone to believe as they believe, and since they believe they are right, they must believe that I am wrong...and they think that if you think wrong, you should leave...

America is Great, because its better than any other country on earth...and it will remain so, only if agreement and dissent, pros and cons, ups and downs, rights and wrongs, are allowed to be on the table for discussion...the constant give and take, between the citizens should be there....if we are allowed to be afraid of dissent, and the only way we can deal with dissent is to name call, or tell people to leave, then indeed, we are afraid of our very positions, which we say we believe in...

Just my own opinion...

One of the most severe tests of a friendship and of citizenship itself, and at the very heart of democracy and our American way of life, is our ability, after a serious disagreement with another, to remain cordial, friendly, tolerant, loyal and supportive

I thought this is what made the whole thing so profound
Love, Palo