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!!!"
Good post. Arnold needs to consider how fortunate he is. He ought to pledge allegience to America, and to its flag. He is NO . . Ronald Reagan.
Amen, but then he carries dual citizenship. I cannot believe that he is a featured speaker at the GOP Convention.
What are they thinking? Or are they thinking?
That would be my bet (to give the RINO the benefit of the doubt). Most of us learned the Pledge in grade school, reciting it the very first thing in the morning every day. Obviously Arnie wasn't around for that.
But he certainly should've learned it by now.
And just WHY is it, that we allow people to maintain 'dual citizenship', anyway? If you want to become a U.S. citizen, you renounce any former allegiance to your native country, PERIOD. I always believed that was the way it HAD been. Anyone know when they started allowing this?
Arnold made much of his gratitude to America and all the opportunities for prosperity it has given him when he stated his reason for running for Governor. He said he wanted to "give something back." And now he fails to recite the pledge. I guess he doesn't want to be mistaken for one of us "right-wing crazies." (I've never forgiven him for that remark, btw. It was totally gratuitous and he gained nothing politically by it. I'll bet his relative Ted Kennedy loved it though.)
Good Q. Never understood that either...
Oh come on man, sometimes i dont even say the pledge. As long as you have your right hand over your heart then its fine. Really who cares if you dont say it. Its not disrespectful at all unless you dont have your right hand over your heart.
Possible but highly improbable. He's attended many political events at which the pledge was recited. He's an actor who is accustomed to memorizing lines. IMO, he knows the pledge.
Hey there you right-wing crazy! LOL.
We both wore that RWC tagline quite proudly for many months, IIRC.
If supporting Ward Connerly's anti-discrimination initiative made me a right wing crazy in Arnold's eyes, so be it. But I think Arnold had that wrong... and there is no excuse for him not saying the pledge of allegiance.
If it's not disrespectful for Arnold to not say it, then it would not be disrespectful for everybody else to not say it -- IOW, to not have the pledge at all.
That's why I disagree with you. If you're too good to pledge allegiance with the tongue, the hand over the heart is a hollow gesture.
Its your choice, you can say it or you dont have to say it. But it isnt disrespectful if you dont say it. Again as long as your right hand is over your heart its fine.
Or did you hear it on Howard Stearn?
You just nailed it.
I pledge allegiance
to my trophy
gained by heavy steroid use
and to the money
which it brought in
garbage movies
which I starred in
and other stuff
to sordid to mention
Communist? Howard Stern?
Because i have an opposing opinon about people saying the pledge makes you think i heard it from a communist or howard stern? I am in the U.S Navy , i have no idea what communists you are talking about.
Actually, yes. It does. Why would you refuse to pledge allegiance to the flag of your country, the United States of America? What possible reason would you have to refuse to state your allegiance?
Nobody knows the reasoning why arnold didnt say it, therefore you shouldnt jude him on something so small.
You are still pledging the alliegence when you have your hand over your heart. OK?
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