Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Keith Pinster on March 17, 2011 at 12:48am

Patriot: One who loves, supports, and defends one's country. Patriotism: love of country and willingness to sacrifice for it.

 

Hmmm.  Don't think so.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Keith Pinster on March 17, 2011 at 10:30am

Yep, I completely agree.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Kris Feenstra on March 16, 2011 at 3:56pm

Admittedly, my point wasn't clearly expressed.  I am not saying that patriotism is a farce.  What I'm saying is that some may find pledging allegiance to the Republic inappropriate if they feel that the Republic no loger upholds its espoused ideals of liberty and justice.  That doesn't make them less patriotic.

 

I'm not trying to speak on Eric's behalf, but I think your question to him was off the mark.  You were begging the question.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Keith Pinster on March 17, 2011 at 12:52am

I think the difference is pledging allegiance to the republic vs. pledging allegiance to the government of the republic.  I have pledged allegiance to the republic since I joined the Corp at 19.  I DO NOT pledge allegiance to the government that is steadily undermining this great country.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Kairan Nierde on December 5, 2012 at 10:33am

I often omit the part about god.  Sometimes I add "and liberty and justice for the priviledged and powerful."  Other times, I don't bother adding anything.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Keith Pinster on December 5, 2012 at 9:28pm

My brother's ring tone is "proud to be an American, where at least I know I'm free" and I usually sing along with "Proud to be an American, where at least I can pretend I'm free!"  LOL

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by A. Dave on March 15, 2011 at 11:16pm

Remaining seated during the Pledge, in my opinion, is a little disrespectful. It's not a requirement to recite the Pledge, especially if you disagree with the "under God" part (I do), but the underlying message of the Pledge of Allegiance is not "I'm Christian, and so is everyone else in this country." It is "I'm an American, and I'm a patriot."

 

Frankly, I'd push for "in God we trust" to be removed from our money first. Reciting the Pledge can be easily avoided. Spending money isn't quite as easy to avoid (if you're looking to boycott, I mean).

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Keith Pinster on March 16, 2011 at 10:25am

I have a permanent marker in my truck and every time I get change (in the form of bills), I spend the few seconds it takes marking a line through "In a make believe sky fairy We Trust".  I've been doing it for about a year and have never seen the bills that I mark again, although I have seen bills that other people mark. 

 

We need to create a conscientious effort among the Atheist community to really start driving this effort.  You are correct.  If you care at all about dispelling the delusion that America is a "xian nation", we need to start working hard at getting that off our dollars and one of the ways that we can all quietly protest and, if we ALL start doing it, I think effectively work toward that change is to mark every single bill we all come across.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Chris G on March 16, 2011 at 6:59pm

Interesting concept. A number of years ago in San Diego people had signs on their laws that said "Dogs and Sailors keep off the grass."  The payroll office began stamping money with a note saying something to the effect that this money came from The U.S. Navy. - to show how much money was circulating in the area because of the Navy bases. It quelled the anti-sailor rhetoric.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by William Boyd on December 5, 2012 at 2:22am

Interesting tidbit. I appreciate the gain in knowledge sir. Thank You.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Kairan Nierde on December 5, 2012 at 10:37am

Fascinating!  Dogs and Sailors--how insulting.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Aaron A on March 16, 2011 at 5:18pm

Yea according to wikipedia,

 

On March 11, 2010, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit upheld the words "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance in the case of Newdow vs Rio Linda Union School District.^[28][29]In a 2-1 decision, the appellate court ruled that the words were of a "ceremonial and patriotic nature" and did not constitute an establishment of religion.^[28] Judge Stephen Reinhardt dissented, writing that "the state-directed, teacher-led daily recitation in public schools of the amended 'under God' version of the Pledge of Allegiance... violates the Establishment Clause of the Constitution." ^[30]

On November 12, 2010, in a unanimous decision,^[31] the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit in Boston affirmed a ruling by a New Hampshire lower federal court which found that the pledge's reference to God doesn't violate students' rights"

 

So pretty much they don't find it unconstitutional. I find it bullshit. Seriously this country needs to fix things like this that refer to religion. I don't know what else we can do since the supreme court already has ruled on it multiple times. Guess we're gonna have to just keep appealing and re-appealing. 

 

I agree on Keith's^ idea that says marking out 'god' on dollar bills silently. It spreads a message. Even though it is against the law to do this it isn't hard to avoid getting caught honestly. 

• ▶ Reply

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• …
• 8
• Next ›
• Page