freedom
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- Feb 15, 2006
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EXACTLY!? Why in the hell would the Pledge of Allegiance be appropriate at a Union Meeting? What next "The Our Father" a few verses of "It's A Small World" or if Parker is invited "99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall"? It is stupid crap like this that really dilutes the issues.....if an individual doesn't want to recite it SO WHAT! (Several years ago AFA was determined to take a formal position on "Right to Life" yet really didn't want to listen to hundreds of F/A's soon to be furloughed. Politics and religion have NO BUSINESS in these forums. Sing your patriotic songs at home around the fireplace and read your Bible verses to yourself.....Don't subject others to WHAT YOU BELIEVE....quite honestly I couldn't care less!).
Let me rewrite what i wrote here and be less personal , what i mean to say is that while you seem to cast those of us who love our country into some sort of catergory of relgious fanatics we are not , not everyone who is proud to be an american belives in god and not every patriot is so blinded by love of their country that they would seek to destory those rights which we hold so dear . While the act of not taking the pledge of allgeince is a simple one , it i also a profound statment . I can completely understand those who have relgious objections to the word god in the pledge , but they can still use the orginal peldge .
This is the orginal pledge for those of you who have forgotten .
I pledge allegiance to my Flag,
and to the Republic for which it stands:
one Nation indivisible,
With Liberty and Justice for all.
So what are we pledging to when we pledge to the flag ?
(Below taken from a webcite)
What do the colors of the Flag mean?
Sentimental writers and orators sometimes ascribe meanings to the colors in the flag. The practice is erroneous, as are statements on this subject attributed to George Washington and other founders of the country.
From the book "Our Flag" published in 1989 by the House of Representatives...
"On July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress passed a resolution authorizing a committee to devise a seal for the United States of America. This mission, designed to reflect the Founding Fathers' beliefs, values, and sovereignty of the new Nation, did not become a reality until June 20, 1782. In heraldic devices, such as seals, each element has a specific meaning. Even colors have specific meanings. The colors red, white, and blue did not have meanings for The Stars and Stripes when it was adopted in 1777. However, the colors in the Great Seal did have specific meanings. Charles Thompson, Secretary of the Continental Congress, reporting to Congress on the Seal, stated:
"The colors of the pales (the vertical stripes) are those used in the flag of the United States of America; White signifies purity and innocence, Red, hardiness & valour, and Blue, the color of the Chief (the broad band above the stripes) signifies vigilance, perseverance & justice.
(end webcite referall )
Look i'm of the opinion that when we take the plegde of allgeince we are saying to each other more than to the flag that we affirm our commitment to the freedoms we hold dear and stand firm and unified in supporting them .
. Hey i'm not saying that people should be forced to say it , but i SURE as hell am not going to just go "eh , what ever that's fine i don't care or think less of that person for not saying it "