[Colt .45]

"Other than the "Big Government" comment, the rest of your paragraph above reads like a shrill treatise from a far-left white-male hating organization like A.N.S.W.E.R."

I don't belong to A.N.S.W.E.R., nor am I left-wing in any of my views. I first enlisted during Viet Nam to defend my country and have spent 20 years on active duty in defense of your freedom and right to speak. I am a Republican, white-Irish American of southern ancestry. My race has known predjudice and oppression, but I am not out looking for handouts. I voted for the current President, hated the last one, and took an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign or domestic! We didn't pledge allegiance to a flag, we saluted the colors! One thing you need to do is to stop looking at life through a plexiglass stomach. One needs to acknowledge the wrongs committed in the past to understand today's situation. History isn't about one viewpoint, moron, its about telling both sides of a story! Are we better off today ... in some respects yes, and in some respects no. Reparations? I don't feel that any of the groups you mentioned deserve reparations, but the guilty parties need to own up to their culpability. Whites have owned up to slavery, but the Yankees continue to deny any legitimacy to the South's right of secession, and by diligent study of what the Founders' meant when they set up this country I can tell you that the government we have is a mere shadow of what they envisioned.

"Sometimes ya just gotta be thankful to God for what you have and where you live and move toward the future."

I thank God every day that I live in a country where I have the right to express my views, whether they piss you off or not! Next time you question my patriotism boyo, you better come armed with facts, not with a lot of horse manuer!

[Sam's Army]

You are a good challenge, Colt. Here goes:

"We didn't pledge allegiance to a flag, we saluted the colors!"

True. But let's not split hairs, you know what I was talking about. It is not the confederate flag that represents this United States of America that you served under (and that I am thankful for your service).

"One thing you need to do is to stop looking at life through a plexiglass stomach."

If I had a dollar everytime I heard that one...

"History isn't about one viewpoint, moron, its about telling both sides of a story!"

Nothing wrong with that; and I never suggested otherwise, did I? The issue (in my opinion) is what can be gained today by complaining about something that was the norm at the time and has been acknowledged and settled? It will only serve as ammo to the left for the continued advancement of victimization style legislation.

"Yankees continue to deny any legitimacy to the South's right of secession,"

That argument has been settled.

"I can tell you that the government we have is a mere shadow of what they envisioned."

True, as is the case with all governments. Marx is still spinning in his grave, I imagine.

"Next time you question my patriotism boyo, you better come armed with facts, not with a lot of horse manuer!"

I never questioned your patriotism, only your focus of what your are patriotic towards first. But you are correct, you fought for that right and we are thankful.