Posted on 07/13/2004 12:04:37 AM PDT by ladylibertyok
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-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Arnold un-Reagan-like
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Posted: June 21, 2004 1:00 a.m. Eastern
© 2004 WorldNetDaily.com
Now that a decent interval has passed since the moving tributes and funeral of the late Ronald Reagan, maybe it's time to comment on something unseemly that took place before the late president was laid to rest.
There was Margaret Thatcher, the former prime minister of Great Britain, standing next to California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Thatcher recited the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America – not her own flag.
Schwarzenegger, an American running the executive branch of government of the largest state in the union, did not.
I didn't notice it when it took place. It was brought to my attention by a caller to my radio program. I had to go back and check the tapes. Sure enough, the caller was right.
Since then, other people who witnessed the funeral have told me they noticed it right away.
I wonder how many millions of people around the world took notice?
This troubles me.
I always liked Schwarzenegger's movies. But I've never liked him as a politician. I don't think he has any principles, any deeply held convictions, any beliefs beyond what the pollsters and the media advisers tell him.
Most of the positions he has taken are wrong. And when he takes the right position on an issue, you never know if he will reverse himself the following week.
Now this.
How can one explain why the governor of California, of all people, would not say the Pledge of Allegiance at an internationally televised funeral for Ronald Reagan? What was he thinking? Was it an oversight of some kind? Was he so in awe of the event that he lost himself? Is it possible he doesn't know the words? Maybe it's time for a crash course.
I've tried to think about this in ways in which I could give him the benefit of the doubt.
But I'm deeply troubled by it.
How embarrassing for our nation.
On the one hand, Lady Thatcher says the pledge though no one would expect her to do so. She's a British citizen who should not be expected to pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. But she did. And she is standing next to a man who has chosen America as his adopted homeland – a man in a high-profile elected office – and he refuses to say it.
To me, this is more egregious than Bill and Hillary Clinton apparently dozing off during the eulogies at the National Cathedral. That bit of rudeness should be expected from a couple of cheap politicians. But I can't even imagine Bill or Hillary failing to say the Pledge of Allegiance – not when they know the whole world is watching.
I think Arnold Schwarzenegger needs to explain himself.
After all, Sen. Orin Hatch, R-Utah, has introduced legislation in the U.S. Congress to amend the Constitution so that the foreign-born Schwarzenegger could someday run for president. I don't expect that amendment to go anywhere, but, nevertheless, it has been introduced.
And Schwarzenegger is still the governor of California – the state, ironically enough, from where the latest challenge to the Pledge of Allegiance, and its "under God" phrase, went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.
He needs to explain himself and apologize for the poor etiquette and unpatriotic attitude he displayed during the Reagan funeral. It was a slight not only to the United States of America, but to the late president.
Comparisons have actually been drawn between Schwarzenegger and Reagan. Reagan, an actor, launched his political career as governor of California. But, as far as I'm concerned, that's where the comparisons stop.
We all knew Ronald Reagan. And Arnold Schwarzenegger is no Ronald Reagan.
"This really troubles me too folks!! I don't think something like this should be over looked. There is absolutely no reason why he shouldn't be saying the Pledge of Allegiance. He's the governor of "Culifawnya" for pete's sake. Last time I looked at a map, it was still part of the USA. Like the author, I find him to be lacking in political beliefs and I think he only ran for governor because he is so obsessed with power. Am I off the mark on this or what?? I noticed no one else in the media picked up on it. Not surprising!!!"
Why would you refuse to pledge your allegiance to your flag and your country with your tongue?
Why?
He's over in Austria right now! He's attending the funeral of the Austrian President, who had a heart attack.
I ask: Why?
If he's an American citizen, why is he in Austria?
The Pledge of Allegiance was not composed by Thomas Jefferson or James Madison, for crying out loud! It's an imperialist, Unionist piece of propaganda, written by a Socialist. I'm fed up with all the wrangling about it. Like the "prayer-in-school" issue, the "pledge-in-school" issue is bogus. Abolish socialist/atheist government schools, and those phony issues go away.
Just a guess.
To show some respect and by going there it represented the U.S.
Why on earth are you going after a fellow republican?
Farah is becoming quite the useful idiot for the left... Arnold is very pro-America, pro-troops, pro-American Flag and speaks of his great gratitude to America for giving him the opportunities it has. There is no "there" there.
And had I been fortunate enough to stand next to Margaret Thatcher and have the opportunity to listen to her beautiful voice raise up our Pledge, I would have kept my mouth shut, too.
This is the most ridiculous article i've read in a long time.. and i've read alot of ridiculous articles.
Sounds more like a petty attack on Arnold than an honest opinion piece ..
Exactly
Take no heed.
Some conservatives are still bitter about more conservative McClintock losing in California during the recall and they are vicious in their constant attacks against the moderate Schwarzenegger. This thread is a perfect example of the petty, divisive and childish criticism with no foundation.
Good morning, children. Today we're going to learn to say The Pledge Of Allegience. Stand up. Put your right hand on your heart. Now everybody be quiet. Nobody say a word.
There, now you all know The Pledge Of Allegience.
The GOP is thinking, yes, with their brains. A foreign concept to some Freepers and LP'ers, to be sure.
Quzar [post 25]: "To show some respect and by going there it represented the U.S."
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You would refuse to say the pledge in order "to show some respect"?
Now you've lost me completely, Quzar. This makes no sense.
As for "going after a fellow Republican," that happens all the time at Free Republic. It's how we keep eachother honest.
Now are you ready to give me a coherent answer to why you would refuse to verbally state your allegiance to your flag and your country?
You forgot how you have the choice not to say it.
I was talking about you saying why arnold went to austria.
You forgot which choice is patriotic and which one isn't.
I have more patriotism then you will ever have. Dont give me that bull you do to the left.
As I said, Bellamy's pledge could have been made to any country and pointedly omitted mention of God, the source of those rights our Constitution recognizes.
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