Flag Down

[bjt]

I don't think I would be mad at the young clerk who didn't know any better but at the politicians, lawyers and special interest groups that are constantly trying to make the U.S. a melting pot of all nationalities by removing all things that this country was founded on.

ie. It's been probably 30+ years since the Pledge of Allegiance was said in the classroom.

 

[Smylinacha]

:agree: with BJT

 

[Roger]

Not surprised, as was mentioned earlier, no respect. For anything or anyone. And don't care.

Please don't get me started on this pants down below the butt. That is so disrespectful it's like your telling everybody to kiss your butt. i'll kiss it with the end of my foot. pull them and keep them up Where are the parents!!!!

 

[Firefly]

I don't think I would be mad at the young clerk who didn't know any better but at the politicians, lawyers and special interest groups that are constantly trying to make the U.S. a melting pot of all nationalities by removing all things that this country was founded on.

ie. It's been probably 30+ years since the Pledge of Allegiance was said in the classroom.

You do realize our country has always been a melting pot don't you? We are different than any other country in that respect. Just look at the Olympics--- most other countries have participants that look very much the same within their country--- not so with the USA--- we're all over the place--- looks, culture, ethnic backgrounds, etc. It's what makes our country so great!

As far as the pledge goes, even before they added 'under god' in 1954 under pressure from the Catholic "Knights of Columbus" group, the Supreme Court ruled that public school students could not be forced to recite it in a decision made in 1943. The pledge itself wasn't written until 1892--- far after our country was founded. The pledge is indeed still recited in schools across our nation, but students do not have to recite it per the 1943 ruling.

Original pledge:
"I pledge allegiance to my flag and the Republic for which it stands -- One nation indivisible -- with liberty and justice for all."

History of the pledge:

http://usgovinfo.about.com/cs/usconstitution/a/pledgehist.htm

 

[VaughnCat]

I've really enjoyed the input on this topic.

Despite all of the shortcomings here in the US, I wouldn't want my citizenship to be anywhere else. I have traveled all over the world, and lived in many places outside the US, and the old saying is so true -- there is no place like home! :firstplace:

Cat

 

[Smylinacha]

Nothing wrong w/ a melting pot. Where I work is a melting pot, where I live is a melting pot. I think what BJT was saying is that our traditions on what this country was founded on are being forgotten. Totally nothing wrong with starting NEW traditions but we shouldn't forget the ones we have. That is why people come here - for a better quality of life - always been that way from the men and women who came here to free themselves under Britain's rule to the Europeans who came here through Ellis Island. They came here for a better life, yet they were proud to learn our culture and history and they blended their culture with ours. They were proud to land a good job and work hard. Seems like there's no blending anymore - and sometimes no respect from some people who live here. And kids these days? Many of them don't even know the words to the Pledge, heck, half of them can't even spell - they think correct spelling is cell phone texting lingo. Also times have changed. The divorce rate in this country is sky high and in some household, some kids are completely on their own since the parent is never home - always working to pay the bills. And also not to mention dual income households where the parents have to be just like the "Jones's" - trying to give their children a better life with "material things" versus teaching them the value of a buck, how to earn what you want, etc. And there are special interest groups who are totally fine with the way this is all going. But they aren't in it for keeping our Nation strong or improving our Nation, they are in it for the money - for their high paying jobs or re-election. So with what BJT said, that's the way I took it. Just an opinion, not saying it's right or wrong but I do tend to agree w/ him.

You do realize our country has always been a melting pot don't you? We are different than any other country in that respect. Just look at the Olympics--- most other countries have participants that look very much the same within their country--- not so with the USA--- we're all over the place--- looks, culture, ethnic backgrounds, etc. It's what makes our country so great!

As far as the pledge goes, even before they added 'under god' in 1954 under pressure from the Catholic "Knights of Columbus" group, the Supreme Court ruled that public school students could not be forced to recite it in a decision made in 1943. The pledge itself wasn't written until 1892--- far after our country was founded. The pledge is indeed still recited in schools across our nation, but students do not have to recite it per the 1943 ruling.

Original pledge:
"I pledge allegiance to my flag and the Republic for which it stands -- One nation indivisible -- with liberty and justice for all."

History of the pledge:

http://usgovinfo.about.com/cs/usconstitution/a/pledgehist.htm

 

[Firefly]

Perhaps the pledge just was a bad example of what he was trying to convey??:dontknow:.

The difficulty is attempting to define what exactly is an 'American' tradition - considering most all of us are decedents of immigrants from other countries and cultures--- which together actually make up 'American' culture.

We really are unique in that aspect as compared to most other countries, especially since we're still fairly young by comparison.

I often hear people (not saying this was the case with BJT) talking about how 'our country was founded' on this or that when they really don't have the facts. The biggest misconception that I hear out there is that we were founded as a 'christian' nation. Certainly christianity has an important place in our history, but most of the founding fathers weren't christians, the deists and freemasons were much more prevalent amongst that group.

The ideal of freedom of religion was the real idea pertaining to religion. They had enough of government sanctioned religion prior to coming here.

Much gets twisted via the internet today, like that a figure Moses is on the Supreme Court building--- which is 100% true-- but he's got plenty of friends up there with him they don't mention--including: Menes, Hammurabi, Solomon, Lycurgus, Solon, Draco, Confucius, Octavian(Caesar Augustus), Napoleon Bonaparte, John Marshall, William Blackstone, Hugo Grotius, Louis IX, King John, Charlemagne, Justinian and even Muhammad (yes - THAT Muhammad).

These were the various people throughout time that influenced our laws and were 'melted' to create our system of justice and laws.


They've been running a fantastic series called "America, the story of us" on the History channel for the last few weeks. Very well done, one I'll end up buying on DVD when it's done. A good refresher for those of us that have been out of school for a good 20 years or more!:thumbup:

http://www.history.com/shows/america-the-story-of-us

Losing some 'traditions' that were popular at our founding isn't always inherently bad--- slavery is the first that comes to mind.

I don't really think the 'good old days' were really that good. More disease, lower life expectancy, none of the amazing luxuries we have today--- and worst of all--- NO SPYDERS!

I will agree about the baggy pants tho----but they do have the right to dress that stupid if they want. A little more discipline on the home front sure wouldn't hurt these kids either.....

 

[ataDude]

...

I often hear people (not saying this was the case with BJT) talking about how 'our country was founded' on this or that when they really don't have the facts. The biggest misconception that I hear out there is that we were founded as a 'christian' nation. Certainly christianity has an important place in our history, but most of the founding fathers weren't christians, the deists and freemasons were much more prevalent amongst that group.

Here we go again. :lecturef_smilie: :chill:

 

[Smylinacha]

I watched that - it was one of the BEST shows on TV - sorry to see it end. But they got a good shooting one on now - starts at 10 tonight. But yeah it was a great show - I learned more from that than I ever did in History class in school.

Perhaps the pledge just was a bad example of what he was trying to convey??:dontknow:.

The difficulty is attempting to define what exactly is an 'American' tradition - considering most all of us are decedents of immigrants from other countries and cultures--- which together actually make up 'American' culture.

We really are unique in that aspect as compared to most other countries, especially since we're still fairly young by comparison.

I often hear people (not saying this was the case with BJT) talking about how 'our country was founded' on this or that when they really don't have the facts. The biggest misconception that I hear out there is that we were founded as a 'christian' nation. Certainly christianity has an important place in our history, but most of the founding fathers weren't christians, the deists and freemasons were much more prevalent amongst that group.

The ideal of freedom of religion was the real idea pertaining to religion. They had enough of government sanctioned religion prior to coming here.

Much gets twisted via the internet today, like that a figure Moses is on the Supreme Court building--- which is 100% true-- but he's got plenty of friends up there with him they don't mention--including: Menes, Hammurabi, Solomon, Lycurgus, Solon, Draco, Confucius, Octavian(Caesar Augustus), Napoleon Bonaparte, John Marshall, William Blackstone, Hugo Grotius, Louis IX, King John, Charlemagne, Justinian and even Muhammad (yes - THAT Muhammad).

These were the various people throughout time that influenced our laws and were 'melted' to create our system of justice and laws.


They've been running a fantastic series called "America, the story of us" on the History channel for the last few weeks. Very well done, one I'll end up buying on DVD when it's done. A good refresher for those of us that have been out of school for a good 20 years or more!:thumbup:

http://www.history.com/shows/america-the-story-of-us

Losing some 'traditions' that were popular at our founding isn't always inherently bad--- slavery is the first that comes to mind.

I don't really think the 'good old days' were really that good. More disease, lower life expectancy, none of the amazing luxuries we have today--- and worst of all--- NO SPYDERS!

I will agree about the baggy pants tho----but they do have the right to dress that stupid if they want. A little more discipline on the home front sure wouldn't hurt these kids either.....

 

[Firefly]

I watched that - it was one of the BEST shows on TV - sorry to see it end. But they got a good shooting one on now - starts at 10 tonight. But yeah it was a great show - I learned more from that than I ever did in History class in school.

Yup--- they also provided it free to all the schools so the kids could watch it. Really amazing how far we've come as a country in such a short time. The Civil War part was pretty amazing - never really thought about how the 'modern' technology 'telegraph' played such a large part in the war.

 

[Smylinacha]

Yup--- they also provided it free to all the schools so the kids could watch it. Really amazing how far we've come as a country in such a short time. The Civil War part was pretty amazing - never really thought about how the 'modern' technology 'telegraph' played such a large part in the war.

Glad they are showing that in schools! I couldn't wait till Sunday night to come home and watch that! Also amazing was the Norden Bomb Site - talk about technology back then! And now? Sometimes all this technology scares me a little. But it was one of the best shows I've ever seen. Yes the Civil War was amazing.... and very sad too. We rode to Gettysburg a couple of years ago and went to the battle fields - those were incredible.