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billvon

Thin skinned Americans

By billvon, in The Bonfire

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billvon    3,114

billvon
We've really become a nation of wimps.

Take the pledge thing. A district court decides that we can't put a reference to a type of religion (monotheism) in what is essentially a declaration of US citizenship. Fine; that makes sense, since such alliances between one type of religion and the government are expressly forbidden. The next time we write a national anthem, or a pledge of allegiance, leave out the god part.

But, of course, that's not enough. A huge stink develops - we have to take the words out, rewrite the lyrics, eradicate that old offensive song. We have to change our money, signage on buildings, and oaths in court. We have to censor the President, change the words to "America the Beautiful" and "Star Spangled Banner." And we have to do all this because if we don't - God forbid! - someone might get offended.

Come on. The pledge is part of our history now, even with the errors it contains. Heck, there are parts of the _constitution_ that are unconstitutional! If the words of the present pledge bug you, don't say them. Leave those two words out. Or leave them in if you like them. Or leave them in and say a prayer afterwards. No one's going to throw you in jail.

I was reminded of this issue recently. A school in Santa Barbara outlawed tag because, in their words "in this game, there is a 'victim' or 'It,' which creates a self-esteem issue. The oldest or biggest child usually dominates."

Come on! Having your turn in the barrel is something you _have_ to learn. It's essential to any child's development to sometimes be good at something, sometimes be bad. Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose. There is no law that says children must never lose or be exposed to failure, or that they should be protected from doing something they're not fond of doing. In fact, it's somewhat vital that they _do_ get exposed to both success and failure, so they know how to deal with both.

We've gotten way too sensitive to this stuff. If you don't want to play tag, don't play - you don't need a rule. If you don't want to say "under god" in the pledge, don't say it - we don't need to spend millions printing all new inoffensive pledges. Tolerance works both ways, and sometimes you have to tolerate that which bugs you or even makes you feel bad. We could use a little more of that kind of tolerance.

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Viking    0

Viking
Quote

Yep........once again Bill my friend you rock the mutha livin hay house.!!!

Oh and if ya'll notice the pic under my name that is Billv,me and Skybytch following our own yellow brick road;)



yellow...brick...road...YOU GUYS DIDN'T PISS ON THE RUNWAY DID YOU!!??:o
I swear you must have footprints on the back of your helmet - chicagoskydiver
My God has a bigger dick than your god -George Carlin

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jtval    0

jtval
Bill,
You mean to tell me that the survival of the fitest law shouldn't have to be re-written?;)

I agree with you 100%. People would start taking responsibiliy for themselves and their own actions i dont think we would need a different set of rules for every human in this country(make believe I'm back in the states)

my child is weak lets make a law against being strong.
my child is dumb lets make a law against being smart.
my child is always losing lets make a law against winning.
my child killed him/herself lets blame the music!

maybe the parents should take some fukn time to talk to their kids rather then try to protect them from every thing! I grew up in a VERY diverse area. I believ I am a better person for it. sure there were trial and tribulation and it was fukn tough growing up but if my parents had the stupidity to protect me from those experiences I would be fighting against you, BIll, not with you!
pretty fukn pathetic society we are developing!(but let me tell you what I really thinkB|)
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jtval    0

jtval
when did "proaction" become "reaction"

when I was a kid(OMG did i just become my father)
my parents knew that my life would suck so they prepared me for disappiontments. I found ways to overcome them and find a descent life.

when did "preparation" become "protection?"

I was prepared to have a shitty life but hell I did pretty damn good for myself so far!
protecting me from failures and defeat would have only made me WEAKER!

now-a-days ppl wait til something happens then complian til someone fixes it for them rather then preparing for uncertainties and learning from them!
grrr! it is frustration to see a society of old childminded people. they sure as hell arent adults!
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quade    4

quade
The following is what I wish Dan Aykroyd would say. So read it really fast like he would

Quote



Jane you ignorant slut.

Don't you realize that by making this sort of statement you're giving in to the Falwells, Buchanans, Limbaugh's and other right-wing wackos that have been having a field day since GW Bush stole this election from the Godless, tree-hugging, commie bastards known as the liberals?

This country isn't red, white and blue. It has to be black and white you grey-haired old hag and it's about time you find out that we like our issues and answers as simple as as we are. We Americans like the idea of freedom of religion as long as we don't have to actually think about what that means in a nation composed of 56% Protestant, 28% Roman Catholic, 2% Jewish, 4% other religions and 10% of the people claiming no religion whatsoever. (ref. CIA Factbook)

So what if we trample the rights of perhaps 16% of the country as long we get a simple answer that our simple minds can focus on and not pay attention to any of the real issues our nation (not particularly under one God) faces. After all, as long as the majority of the people in this country want something, we'll get it. Isn't that right Mr. President -- Gore?

But I guess, Jane, you wouldn't know anything about that while you and your friends hold the U.S. Constitution in one hand, the Bible in another, the Pledge of Allegiance in another hand and in a couple of other hands hold the Torah, a deck of Tarot cards, The Qur'an, The Tao te Ching and Mao's little red book like some multi-armed Vishnu and say that we the American people can all somehow get along if we simply add or subtract what we want as the situation and our fancies strike us.

Well, that would be fine if we lived in a perfect world and people actually could do that, but I have a feeling that the other 84 percent of the people in this world that think they've won this round will be emboldened to go on to other issues where the minority rights will simply be trampled yet again.

Money isn't the issue here and neither is the historical significance of some local Shiner-wannabees lobbying efforts with Congress during a time when we were all just a little too weak and Orwellian.

No, the issue is . . . are we a country that lives up to it's contract. The contract that created this nation. The U.S. Constitution.

Either the words "under God" belong or they don't. The U.S. Constitution, Amendment 1 says they don't.

Jane?



Whoops! I've been told I left out the ;). I thought it was kinda obvious by the SNL references, but . . . maybe I'm just way too old.

Yes folks, this was all in jest.
quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

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kallend    2,147

kallend
The President criticizes the court for its decision on the Pledge, while condoning the detention without charge and without access to lawyers of US citizens because someone in the government claims they have links to a terrorist organization.

Maybe another change is in order:

"... with liberty and justice for all but those the government doesn't like".
...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

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PhillyKev    0

PhillyKev
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Let's worry more about results and less about process," Bush said in one of the church's community rooms.



Translation...the ends justify the means.

I will be starting the Church of Satan Soup Kitchen. Where do I sign up for my federal subsidy, Mr. Bush?

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Iflyme    0

Iflyme
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The following is what I wish Dan Aykroyd would say

Just one small point ... Dan is from Ottawa, Ontario, born on Canada Day in 1952 ... He's about as American as apple pie, basevball, and basketball ... I bet he doesn't give a rat's ass about it all!



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quade    4

quade
So . . . do you remember when Dan and Jane did the Point Counter-point segments on the old Saturday Night Live show? When I wrote the piece, that was what was going through my mind.
quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

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