Comments on: Back to School Time http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/2008/07/28/back-to-school-time/ Sat, 20 Mar 2010 07:08:43 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: tish http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/2008/07/28/back-to-school-time/#comment-506831 tish Tue, 29 Jul 2008 15:26:51 +0000 http://noquarterusa.net/blog/2008/07/28/back-to-school-time/#comment-506831 Pledge Allegiance to the ACLU By Hans Zeiger August 18, 2003 The Pledge of Allegiance is doing irreparable harm to the minds and hearts of America's schoolchildren. So alleges an ACLU lawsuit against the State of Colorado for its new law requiring the daily recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance in public schools. This time, it isn't just about "One Nation Under God." Now, the American Civil Liberties Union wants to get rid of the whole pledge. On August 12, the ACLU filed suit in federal district court on behalf of "students and teachers throughout the state" who seem to be offended by the notion of the republic for which the flag stands, unity, liberty, and justice for all. Mark Silverstein, Legal Director of the ACLU of Colorado, exclaimed, "Public expressions of belief in the ideals of liberty and justice should be voluntary, not coerced. By forcing individuals to pledge allegiance, the Colorado law violates the fundamental freedoms that the American flag is meant to represent." In context of public schools, the ACLU's "coercion" argument is quite silly. When I took a French class in high school, I had to answer my teacher's questions in French, not Spanish. When each student had to present a book report in English class, there was no option to sit out of the activity or to deliver a rebellious lecture on the evils of reading books. Yet no one is coerced into saying the Pledge of Allegiance under the current Colorado law. There isn't a Colorado State Patrol division stationed in classrooms on the lookout for unpatriotic students who refuse to stand to salute the flag every morning. No one is being held at gunpoint until they recite the Pledge with proper enunciation and oral punctuation. In fact, students can bring in parent notes to excuse them from reciting the pledge. And religious objectors like Jehovah Witnesses are easily allowed to refrain from saying the creed. But according to Dr. Allen Chen from University of Denver College of Law, the ACLU's lead attorney in the lawsuit, the plaintiffs are not offended by the Pledge of Allegiance on religious grounds. "Our clients rely on objections of conscience that are separate from religious concerns. By requiring that they recite the pledge despite their objections, the Colorado law violates our clients' free speech rights." In other words, the ACLU and its plaintiffs are just plain anti-American and they want to get rid of the Pledge for the sake of getting rid of the Pledge. One anti-American plaintiff is Miss Keaty Gross, a senior at George Washington High School in Denver County. Miss Gross claims, "I am a patriotic person, but I believe that part of our freedom in the United States is to express our support of our country in different ways. There should not be only one way to express your patriotism." Whatever version of the Pledge of Allegiance Miss Gross is familiar with must state that any other forms of patriotic expression other than the Pledge are strictly prohibited. And in her imaginary world as a victimized slave chained to the flag pole of oppression, Miss Gross would commit civil disobedience against a non-existent clause in the Pledge by sitting and protesting the American flag while her classmates salute it, thereby expressing what she calls "patriotism." Or perhaps Miss Gross means that she would prefer to pledge her allegiance to something other than America. Like the United Nations, or a statue of Karl Marx, or Marx's legacy known as the ACLU. The Pledge of Allegiance to America is a quick and easy routine at the start of each day that lays in the memory of each student a summary of fundamental American ideals. Such a simple expression of patriotism is not only harmless, it echoes the historical mission of America's education system to cultivate good citizenship. To the drugged up, warped senses of the ACLU, citizenship is a rotting, archaic concept. National unity and patriotism are outmoded values. Duty, honor, and country are the relics of dead generals that have yet to be sued out of school history books in some not-too-distant lawsuit campaign. Liberty is to be replaced with license and justice with favoritism to the devoid of truth. And then the red, white, and blue will cease to wave because of neglect. It will be the ACLU that presides over the final lowering of shredded Old Glory if ever that day comes. Thus we ought to preserve the Pledge of Allegiance while we have the chance. We should be working to ensure that every state requires the daily recitation of the Pledge in our schools. Let's join together to pledge our support for the Pledge of Allegiance. Pledge Allegiance to the ACLU
By Hans Zeiger
August 18, 2003
The Pledge of Allegiance is doing irreparable harm to the minds and hearts of America’s schoolchildren. So alleges an ACLU lawsuit against the State of Colorado for its new law requiring the daily recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance in public schools.
This time, it isn’t just about “One Nation Under God.” Now, the American Civil Liberties Union wants to get rid of the whole pledge. On August 12, the ACLU filed suit in federal district court on behalf of “students and teachers throughout the state” who seem to be offended by the notion of the republic for which the flag stands, unity, liberty, and justice for all.
Mark Silverstein, Legal Director of the ACLU of Colorado, exclaimed, “Public expressions of belief in the ideals of liberty and justice should be voluntary, not coerced. By forcing individuals to pledge allegiance, the Colorado law violates the fundamental freedoms that the American flag is meant to represent.”
In context of public schools, the ACLU’s “coercion” argument is quite silly. When I took a French class in high school, I had to answer my teacher’s questions in French, not Spanish. When each student had to present a book report in English class, there was no option to sit out of the activity or to deliver a rebellious lecture on the evils of reading books.
Yet no one is coerced into saying the Pledge of Allegiance under the current Colorado law. There isn’t a Colorado State Patrol division stationed in classrooms on the lookout for unpatriotic students who refuse to stand to salute the flag every morning. No one is being held at gunpoint until they recite the Pledge with proper enunciation and oral punctuation. In fact, students can bring in parent notes to excuse them from reciting the pledge. And religious objectors like Jehovah Witnesses are easily allowed to refrain from saying the creed.
But according to Dr. Allen Chen from University of Denver College of Law, the ACLU’s lead attorney in the lawsuit, the plaintiffs are not offended by the Pledge of Allegiance on religious grounds. “Our clients rely on objections of conscience that are separate from religious concerns. By requiring that they recite the pledge despite their objections, the Colorado law violates our clients’ free speech rights.”
In other words, the ACLU and its plaintiffs are just plain anti-American and they want to get rid of the Pledge for the sake of getting rid of the Pledge.
One anti-American plaintiff is Miss Keaty Gross, a senior at George Washington High School in Denver County. Miss Gross claims, “I am a patriotic person, but I believe that part of our freedom in the United States is to express our support of our country in different ways. There should not be only one way to express your patriotism.”
Whatever version of the Pledge of Allegiance Miss Gross is familiar with must state that any other forms of patriotic expression other than the Pledge are strictly prohibited. And in her imaginary world as a victimized slave chained to the flag pole of oppression, Miss Gross would commit civil disobedience against a non-existent clause in the Pledge by sitting and protesting the American flag while her classmates salute it, thereby expressing what she calls “patriotism.”
Or perhaps Miss Gross means that she would prefer to pledge her allegiance to something other than America. Like the United Nations, or a statue of Karl Marx, or Marx’s legacy known as the ACLU.
The Pledge of Allegiance to America is a quick and easy routine at the start of each day that lays in the memory of each student a summary of fundamental American ideals.
Such a simple expression of patriotism is not only harmless, it echoes the historical mission of America’s education system to cultivate good citizenship.
To the drugged up, warped senses of the ACLU, citizenship is a rotting, archaic concept. National unity and patriotism are outmoded values. Duty, honor, and country are the relics of dead generals that have yet to be sued out of school history books in some not-too-distant lawsuit campaign. Liberty is to be replaced with license and justice with favoritism to the devoid of truth.
And then the red, white, and blue will cease to wave because of neglect. It will be the ACLU that presides over the final lowering of shredded Old Glory if ever that day comes.
Thus we ought to preserve the Pledge of Allegiance while we have the chance. We should be working to ensure that every state requires the daily recitation of the Pledge in our schools.
Let’s join together to pledge our support for the Pledge of Allegiance.

]]> By: rachel http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/2008/07/28/back-to-school-time/#comment-504178 rachel Mon, 28 Jul 2008 18:43:33 +0000 http://noquarterusa.net/blog/2008/07/28/back-to-school-time/#comment-504178 to Elizabeth - thanks for having the guts to say what ALOT have been thinking! to Elizabeth – thanks for having the guts to say what ALOT have been thinking!

]]> By: JozefAL http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/2008/07/28/back-to-school-time/#comment-504147 JozefAL Mon, 28 Jul 2008 18:33:32 +0000 http://noquarterusa.net/blog/2008/07/28/back-to-school-time/#comment-504147 Of course, when Spike's new film (<em>Miracle at St Anna</em>)opens later this year and bombs, he'll use racism as the reason. If it should happen to be a huge box-office hit, he'll attribute the success to the actors' performances and his own directorial skill and race won't be a factor. Of course, when Spike’s new film (Miracle at St Anna)opens later this year and bombs, he’ll use racism as the reason. If it should happen to be a huge box-office hit, he’ll attribute the success to the actors’ performances and his own directorial skill and race won’t be a factor.

]]> By: Susan http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/2008/07/28/back-to-school-time/#comment-503947 Susan Mon, 28 Jul 2008 17:28:13 +0000 http://noquarterusa.net/blog/2008/07/28/back-to-school-time/#comment-503947 I have seen it many times on FOX. I wish they'd buy airtime on CNN. I have seen it many times on FOX. I wish they’d buy airtime on CNN.

]]> By: Susan http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/2008/07/28/back-to-school-time/#comment-503879 Susan Mon, 28 Jul 2008 17:03:13 +0000 http://noquarterusa.net/blog/2008/07/28/back-to-school-time/#comment-503879 Any grown ups who are politically savvy at all will not vote for Obama. they completely see through him and will not vote for a conman for any reason. I personally know so many dems who are either not voting or will vote McCain that I feel like a republican even though I have been a dem and hung out with mostly dems all my 43 years. I haven't changed friends, we've all just gotten fed up with the party's stupidity. Through Gore, Kerry, we stayed loyal. Now the dem congress with a 9% approval rating? This was/is the last straw. the only way to bring us back is to nominate Hillary Clinton for 2008. I may be gone forever. If there is anything close to a repeat of this BS in 2012, I will drive those folks out of this country on a little raft and hopefully my fellow PUMAs can help. Where should we send them? Beijing? Any grown ups who are politically savvy at all will not vote for Obama. they completely see through him and will not vote for a conman for any reason. I personally know so many dems who are either not voting or will vote McCain that I feel like a republican even though I have been a dem and hung out with mostly dems all my 43 years. I haven’t changed friends, we’ve all just gotten fed up with the party’s stupidity. Through Gore, Kerry, we stayed loyal. Now the dem congress with a 9% approval rating? This was/is the last straw. the only way to bring us back is to nominate Hillary Clinton for 2008. I may be gone forever. If there is anything close to a repeat of this BS in 2012, I will drive those folks out of this country on a little raft and hopefully my fellow PUMAs can help. Where should we send them? Beijing?

]]> By: Hillary or Bust http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/2008/07/28/back-to-school-time/#comment-503832 Hillary or Bust Mon, 28 Jul 2008 16:44:21 +0000 http://noquarterusa.net/blog/2008/07/28/back-to-school-time/#comment-503832 It's in the article above. It’s in the article above.

]]> By: Buzz Latte http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/2008/07/28/back-to-school-time/#comment-503782 Buzz Latte Mon, 28 Jul 2008 16:26:25 +0000 http://noquarterusa.net/blog/2008/07/28/back-to-school-time/#comment-503782 I see Elizabeth's statement as a balancing out of the unfair advantage of the Affirmative Action years. It is as if the blacks have been petulant little children ( of course not ALL blacks play this game) and have wanted to blame, blame, blame. The white guilt era is indeed over. No more favoritism based on skin color. No more turning a blind eye or being fearful to speak up because of a person's skin tone. If blacks want the equality they scream for, then they can no longer hide behind Affirmative Action. They need to step up to the plate and become fully functional citizens of the United States. Hate filled rappers and gang members, criminals, and welfare baby factory mommas need to rapidly become a thing of the past. Go ahead scream racism, if you must. But it is a problem that needs to be addressed in the US. I see Elizabeth’s statement as a balancing out of the unfair advantage of the Affirmative Action years. It is as if the blacks have been petulant little children ( of course not ALL blacks play this game) and have wanted to blame, blame, blame.

The white guilt era is indeed over. No more favoritism based on skin color. No more turning a blind eye or being fearful to speak up because of a person’s skin tone.

If blacks want the equality they scream for, then they can no longer hide behind Affirmative Action. They need to step up to the plate and become fully functional citizens of the United States. Hate filled rappers and gang members, criminals, and welfare baby factory mommas need to rapidly become a thing of the past.

Go ahead scream racism, if you must. But it is a problem that needs to be addressed in the US.

]]> By: Diana http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/2008/07/28/back-to-school-time/#comment-503774 Diana Mon, 28 Jul 2008 16:23:02 +0000 http://noquarterusa.net/blog/2008/07/28/back-to-school-time/#comment-503774 I must have gotten really lucky. I live about a mile, maybe a mile and a half from a college campus and these young adults aren't in the tank for the O man. They walk around smoking their Indonesian cigarettes. Wearing camouflage jackets and berets. They wanted Ron Paul (He's not really a Republican. He's a Libertarian is what they told me). Now it looks like they're going for Cynthia McKinney. Democrats and Republicans are soooo yesterday and out of touch with everything. I had a group of them bring me what they thought was an injured crow a couple months ago. They were very disappointed that I had/was supporting Hillary. I must have gotten really lucky. I live about a mile, maybe a mile and a half from a college campus and these young adults aren’t in the tank for the O man. They walk around smoking their Indonesian cigarettes. Wearing camouflage jackets and berets. They wanted Ron Paul (He’s not really a Republican. He’s a Libertarian is what they told me). Now it looks like they’re going for Cynthia McKinney. Democrats and Republicans are soooo yesterday and out of touch with everything. I had a group of them bring me what they thought was an injured crow a couple months ago. They were very disappointed that I had/was supporting Hillary.

]]> By: Dawnelle leóna del puma http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/2008/07/28/back-to-school-time/#comment-503769 Dawnelle leóna del puma Mon, 28 Jul 2008 16:19:55 +0000 http://noquarterusa.net/blog/2008/07/28/back-to-school-time/#comment-503769 where's the link for that? where’s the link for that?

]]> By: Idiocracy08 http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/2008/07/28/back-to-school-time/#comment-503760 Idiocracy08 Mon, 28 Jul 2008 16:14:16 +0000 http://noquarterusa.net/blog/2008/07/28/back-to-school-time/#comment-503760 I've only seen it on Fox. I’ve only seen it on Fox.

]]> By: Hillary or Bust http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/2008/07/28/back-to-school-time/#comment-503759 Hillary or Bust Mon, 28 Jul 2008 16:14:09 +0000 http://noquarterusa.net/blog/2008/07/28/back-to-school-time/#comment-503759 I think it's really pathetic that people are "organizing" to change McCain signs to COcain signs...as if that is going to sway any voters to Obama's side. More likely the reverse! I think it’s really pathetic that people are “organizing” to change McCain signs to COcain signs…as if that is going to sway any voters to Obama’s side. More likely the reverse!

]]> By: Hillary or Bust http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/2008/07/28/back-to-school-time/#comment-503755 Hillary or Bust Mon, 28 Jul 2008 16:11:42 +0000 http://noquarterusa.net/blog/2008/07/28/back-to-school-time/#comment-503755 This ad was created by a very right-wing organization that has bringing us back to "family values" as one of its missions...it's sad that I find myself on the side of these people this election. But their ad is damn good. This ad was created by a very right-wing organization that has bringing us back to “family values” as one of its missions…it’s sad that I find myself on the side of these people this election. But their ad is damn good.

]]> By: Hillary or Bust http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/2008/07/28/back-to-school-time/#comment-503745 Hillary or Bust Mon, 28 Jul 2008 16:07:04 +0000 http://noquarterusa.net/blog/2008/07/28/back-to-school-time/#comment-503745 "Did they not understand that whites now see in the clear light of day what is behind those smiling faces, the polite conversation, the discourse of a normal day. It is that the secret hatred they feel for us is out in the open, thanks to Wright, Michelle and the Obama crew." Not all blacks feel that way about whites. One of my black friends knows I don't like Obama and he has no problem with it...he's no mindless Obamabot...he was the first one to tell me that Obama was imploding his own campaign with the Rev. Wright stuff many many months ago. “Did they not understand that whites now see in the clear light of day what is behind those smiling faces, the polite conversation, the discourse of a normal day. It is that the secret hatred they feel for us is out in the open, thanks to Wright, Michelle and the Obama crew.”

Not all blacks feel that way about whites. One of my black friends knows I don’t like Obama and he has no problem with it…he’s no mindless Obamabot…he was the first one to tell me that Obama was imploding his own campaign with the Rev. Wright stuff many many months ago.

]]> By: Yesbama http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/2008/07/28/back-to-school-time/#comment-503711 Yesbama Mon, 28 Jul 2008 15:52:26 +0000 http://noquarterusa.net/blog/2008/07/28/back-to-school-time/#comment-503711 Hints of a Colin Powell or Condi Rice Endorsement for Obama July 21, 2008 05:00 PM ET | Paul Bedard | Permanent Link There's huge buzz again in Sen. Barack Obama's camp that former Secretary of State Colin Powell is readying an endorsement of the Democrat running for president against the retired general's old pal, Sen. John McCain. It started last week as the first-term senator was preparing for his so-far-successful overseas trip this week. Insiders suggested that Powell would either endorse Obama or appear with him before the trip began, but it didn't happen, leading some to say that Powell is interested to see how Obama handles himself on the world stage. Allies to McCain, meanwhile, say that Powell isn't a lost cause. Talk of a post-trip endorsement heated up again today after Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice teased CNN's Wolf Blitzer on her upcoming endorsement. On Late Edition yesterday, Rice said that she has decided whom to vote for but declined to indicate her choice. Many Republicans took that as suggesting she's going to back Obama, who has been very critical of the Bush-Rice foreign policy. But some administration officials said that Rice was simply refusing to get involved in the presidential race and will most likely back McCain. Hints of a Colin Powell or Condi Rice Endorsement for Obama
July 21, 2008 05:00 PM ET | Paul Bedard | Permanent Link

There’s huge buzz again in Sen. Barack Obama’s camp that former Secretary of State Colin Powell is readying an endorsement of the Democrat running for president against the retired general’s old pal, Sen. John McCain. It started last week as the first-term senator was preparing for his so-far-successful overseas trip this week. Insiders suggested that Powell would either endorse Obama or appear with him before the trip began, but it didn’t happen, leading some to say that Powell is interested to see how Obama handles himself on the world stage. Allies to McCain, meanwhile, say that Powell isn’t a lost cause. Talk of a post-trip endorsement heated up again today after Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice teased CNN’s Wolf Blitzer on her upcoming endorsement. On Late Edition yesterday, Rice said that she has decided whom to vote for but declined to indicate her choice. Many Republicans took that as suggesting she’s going to back Obama, who has been very critical of the Bush-Rice foreign policy. But some administration officials said that Rice was simply refusing to get involved in the presidential race and will most likely back McCain.

]]> By: Dawnelle leóna del puma http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/2008/07/28/back-to-school-time/#comment-503706 Dawnelle leóna del puma Mon, 28 Jul 2008 15:51:06 +0000 http://noquarterusa.net/blog/2008/07/28/back-to-school-time/#comment-503706 I just heard fox news(I believe) quote gallup at Obama 49 - McCain 40 it was on in the other room I just heard fox news(I believe) quote gallup at Obama 49 – McCain 40

it was on in the other room

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