- Broken Arrow, Oklahoma school officials remove "God Bless America" signs from schools in fear that someone might be offended.
- Channel 12 News in Long Island, New York, orders flags removed from the newsroom and red, white, and blue ribbons removed from the lapels of reporters. Why? Management did not want to appear biased and felt that our nation's flag might give the appearance that "they lean one way or another".
- Berkeley, California bans US Flags from being displayed on city fire trucks because they didn't want to offend anyone in the community.
- In an "act of tolerance" the head of the public library at Florida Gulf Coast University ordered all "Proud to be an American" signs removed so as to not offend international students.

I, for one, am quite disturbed by these actions of so-called American citizens; and I am tired of this nation worrying about whether or not we are offending some individual or their culture. Since the terrorist attacks on September 11, we have experienced a surge in patriotism by the majority of Americans. However, the dust from the attacks had barely settled in New York and Washington, DC when the "politically correct" crowd began complaining about the possibility that our patriotism was offending others.

I am not against immigration, nor do I hold a grudge against anyone who is seeking a better life by coming to America. In fact, our country's population is almost entirely composed of descendants of immigrants; however, there are a few things that those who have recently come to our country, and apparently some native Americans, need to understand.

First of all, it is not our responsibility to continually try not to offend you in any way. This idea of America being a multicultural community has served only to dilute our sovereignty and our national identity. As Americans, we have our own culture, our own society, our own language, and our own lifestyle. This culture, called the "American Way" has been developed over centuries of struggles, trials, and victories by millions of men and women who have sought freedom. Our forefathers fought, bled, and died at places such as Bunker Hill, Antietam, San Juan, Iwo Jima, Normandy, Korea, Vietnam, and the Persian Gulf, for our way of life.

We speak English, not Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, or any other language. Therefore, if you wish to become part of our society - learn our language!

"In God We Trust" is our national motto. This is not some off-the-wall, Christian, Right Wing, political slogan - it is our national motto. It is engraved in stone in the House of Representatives in our Capitol and it is printed on our currency. We adopted this motto because Christian men and women, on Christian principles, founded this nation; and this is clearly documented throughout our history. If it is appropriate for our motto to be inscribed in the halls of our highest level of Government, then it is certainly appropriate to display it on the walls of our schools.

God is in our pledge, our National Anthem, nearly every patriotic song, and in our founding documents. We honor His birth, death, and resurrection as holidays, and we turn to Him in prayer in times of crisis. If God offends you, then I suggest you consider another part of the world as your new home, because God is part of our culture and we are proud to have Him. We are proud of our heritage and those who have so honorably defended our freedoms. We celebrate Independence Day, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and Flag Day. We have parades, picnics, and barbecues where we proudly wave our flag. As an American, I have the right to wave my flag, sing my national anthem, quote my national motto, and cite my pledge whenever and wherever I choose. If the Stars and Stripes offend you, or you don't like Uncle Sam, then you should seriously consider a move to another part of this planet.

The American culture is our way of life, our heritage, and we are proud of it. We are happy with our culture and have no desire to change, and we really don't care how you did things where you came from. We are Americans-like it or not, this is our country, our land, and our lifestyle. Our First Amendment gives every citizen the right to express his opinion about our government, culture, or society, and we will allow you every opportunity to do so. But once you are done complaining, whining, and griping about our flag, our pledge, our national motto, or our way of life, I highly encourage you take advantage of one other great American freedom: the right to leave.

Mark

 

For a word FEAR! Fear of offending someone, fear of being who we are, fear of not being accepted, fear of being different. We left these things behind along time ago willingly and with boldness!

Well, I'll tell you something, fear is like a plague that infests, degrades and destroys countries and lives. I'm sick of listening to all the do gooders and the self-rightous who think that they know the way for everyone. What has been given to us, has been done so at the cost of many lives and over many years of strife. No one has the right to take it away.

If you are offended then you do not have your mind in the right place. I refuse to tip toe around in my own country. If you are an a AMERICAN you are just that! Not a Black AMERICAN not an Asian AMERICAN, not an Irish AMERICAN, etc. Plain and simple AN AMERICAN which I am proud to be. If you don't like that well, <TOUGH>!! I don't apologize to anyone for being who I am.

If you are naturalized then you gave up your citizenship to the country you came from! You are an AMERICAN! Otherwise, you left it behind for hope of a better exsistance, a better situation, a better life. If you wish to cling to your old roots then you have the right to but don't be afraid to step forward and claim your independance as an AMERICAN. Place nothing between it and yourself.

These places should be ashamed for entertaining such thoughts and actions. If you wish to belong, then do so as one and do not seperate yourself by your own doing, ie., language, race, creed. To be an AMERICAN is to be one with the whole. Chose as you wish but remember your freedom comes with a price, and that price belongs to you. It is constant vigilance which is one heck of a responsibility! To be vigilant is to be ready to dispell all those that would endevor to take it away from you.

Thanks Mark!

 

This is the traditional "much ado about nothing" in the press, brother. Whenever there is a crisis, a few people make stupid decisions because fear becomes too big a factor. Then those who cover the "people beat" try to find greater meaning in these few fearful decisions. Lost in the shuffle are all of the actions and activities that counter these examples.

You've got nothing to worry about regarding these stories. If you doubt it, just take a ride down any highway in the country and look for the flags on cars and the signs on overpasses.

I do think though, that "America, love it or leave it" bears a second thought. As one who's been beaten and kicked by self-described patriots harboring this viewpoint, I'd like to tell you that life is not nearly so simple.

We have room for people who disagree and they can -- sometimes more bravely -- express their patriotic love through dissension. This country has nothing to fear from healthy dialogue either.

 

OK moderators, take it easy....

Lips,
I was with you 100% until this line

We adopted this motto because Christian men and women, on Christian principles, founded this nation; and this is clearly documented throughout our history. If it is appropriate for our motto to be inscribed in the halls of our highest level of Government, then it is certainly appropriate to display it on the walls of our schools.

God is in our pledge, our National Anthem, nearly every patriotic song, and in our founding documents. We honor His birth, death, and resurrection as holidays, and we turn to Him in prayer in times of crisis. If God offends you, then I suggest you consider another part of the world as your new home, because God is part of our culture and we are proud to have Him.

Remember why the first Christians came to America? Religious freedom. To be able to practice whatever religion however you want (including your choice to have none at all). By having prayers and whatnot in school you are (intentionally or not) insinuating Christianity is the way to go.

All the other points I am with ya! Learn English, Honor the Flag, support America and all overly-PC wackos feel free to move to Afghanistan.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by JRM
[B]For a word FEAR!

 

Sorry that happened to you, and making no excuses, there are ignorant people from all walks of life...they do not represent what I am talking about.

Mark

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by TrojanHorse
[B]Lips,
...Remember why the first Christians came to America?

 

Schools are government institutions. They cannot ask you to pray, that is horribly wrong. However in my high school they did allow prayer groups to exist as long as they were not overly aggressive in recruiting members.

IMHO it is right for the government to allow you to pray, but not to ask you to pray as a condition of being an upstanding citizen.

 

I am all for keeping this from getting personal.

I am not opposed to a moment of silence. That is a non-religious event that can be used as each student feels fit. By praying you are ingraining a religion into impressionable young minds. How do you pick which religion if you are to pray? Since the majority religion is Christianity in this country you are forcing it to the front by praying, having 10 Commandments posted, etc. What about the others (Islam, Buddhism, et. al)?

I beleive a huge majority of people's religion comes from how they were raised. Now some people have done readings and study and as mature, educated adults they have chosen a religion or lack thereof for various reasons. Children don't get that choice in most cases. If your parents are Baptists then most likely you become one too. My wife is a Christian but when I ask her why Christian and not Buddhist or Jewish she has no answer other than I went to church with my mother and I have always been a Christian.

No PERSONAL attacks here so cool out all you Christians!

I beleive religion is largely a subtle (and in most cases well intended) form of brainwashing. I don't see any fundamental difference between these Taliban wackos praising Allah in every sentence and quoting the Koran and a lot of Christian Americans saying God Bless America and quoting the Bible. Substitute English for Arabic and God for Allah. Now the Taliban have obviously taken their religion to the extreme but it is the same path, they are just farther down it. Scroll back in time a few hundred years and what were Christians/Catholics up to? Witch trials, Spanish Inquisition, Crusades, etc. See what I am getting at?

That being said. I say we bomb the ever-livin crap out of them and eradicate them from world.

Now Moderators and other people, Cool out and let this thread stay open. Lips and I are being civil so everyone else play nice too!

 

Private prayer is allowed, but I agree with the decision to not allow prayer in public schools. If a student wants to pray individually, that's fine. Prayer can be extremely offensive to some people, because their religion may be your anti-religion. I happen to be one of them...and take this as you might, but I'm not necessarily proud to be an American...there's just no better alternative for me at this point.