The Foundation of our Country

*A note to all readers, this is going to be a post of just my opinions. Most of the expression are being made off emotion and not necessarily used with logic.*

Today, the Senate voted 66-34 on the proposed amendment to making burning the flag not protected by the First Amendment. The measure needed only one more vote to pass and go to the states for ratification.

Fact of the Matter

The fact of the matter on this situation is that for the thirty four Senators who voted against this, I say SHAME! When it comes to our flag, protecting it should be something that transcends both political parties, both left and right wingers, liberals and conservatives. So, for those wondering, here are the people who voted against a bill to preserve a symbol of our nation. You can see this through www.senate.gov

Akaka (D-HI)Bennett (R-UT)Biden (D-DE)Bingaman (D-NM)Boxer (D-CA)Byrd (D-WV)Cantwell (D-WA)Carper (D-DE)Chafee (R-RI)Clinton (D-NY)Conrad (D-ND)Dodd (D-CT)Dorgan (D-ND)Durbin (D-IL)Feingold (D-WI)Harkin (D-IA)Inouye (D-HI)Jeffords (I-VT)Kennedy (D-MA)Kerry (D-MA)Kohl (D-WI)Lautenberg (D-NJ)Leahy (D-VT)Levin (D-MI)Lieberman (D-CT)McConnell (R-KY)Mikulski (D-MD)Murray (D-WA)Obama (D-IL)Pryor (D-AR)Reed (D-RI)Sarbanes (D-MD)Schumer (D-NY)Wyden (D-OR)

In looking at the states that these individuals represent, it is interesting to note how much has changed. Think about Durbin and Obama. They represent Illinois. Who came from that state and I buried there? Abraham Lincoln! This is a man who wanted to preserve the nation. In addition to this, he refused to remove the stars that represented the South. Would he be proud of these Senators? I doubt it. And then there is the People’s Republic corner of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut that voted this down. That portion of the country has been nothing but trouble since the beginning of this nation. If it were up to me, and all sane voters out there who love the country, those thirty four people would be out of a job at the next election, tarred, feathered, and be declared UN-American, but that is just my opinion.

In reading some of the posts online about this issue, it is interesting to see what people think. For instance, I agree very highly with what Mason Conservative said on the subject. However, there are others who argue burning the flag should be protected by freedom of speech. The prevalent argument is that if this amendment were to pass, then we would see our own ability to have freedom of speech pulled back. Now, I have already argued once about responsibility with free speech. We talk about it, but the fact is free speech is greatly limited already because society does not tolerate certain aspects of the speech that is in use by the public. I have even read one blogger say that those who burn the flag are true patriots and live up the ideals of the Founding Fathers.

In looking at the country today, I can’t help but think of an interview I read about Kurt Angle. Angle won the 1996 gold medal wrestling at the Olympics in Atlanta. He had said that after 9/11, everyone was wearing red, white, and blue. Before that, it wasn’t seen as a cool thing. As he recalled, most people really didn’t care about wearing those colors after the early 90’s. From where I stand, I have noticed changes in society that I for one am not too happy to see.

I remember back when I was a student in school, everyone said the Pledge of Allegiance. Now, when I say the Pledge in homeroom, I look at my students and can hear only one voice saying it, MY OWN! Most of these kids stand there with their arms at their sides, not caring about their flag or their country. The mere sight of this is sickening. Now usually if I look, a few will put their hands over their hearts and that will make me feel better, but not always. One of the key elements of the Pledge is to show our loyalty to our own country. Our flag represents our country. Of course, we now have people who hate the Pledge because of the words “Under God” is in it. For those people, grow up. No child really cares about that. And remember, the Founding Fathers used the name of God when creating this country.

Another thing that is hurting us is the damned “I’m a minority. Give me something.” You know what, boo hoo hoo. I am of the opinion you are rewarded based off merits. I had one student fume at me and vent out frustration at the fact that because she was white, had a high GPA, lots of extracurricular stuff, and she couldn’t go to the top colleges she wanted to that were on her list. However, a minority student with a much lower GPA DID get into one of those schools.
One of the great problems we have today is Affirmative Action. The best and the brightest should be able to go to school. It isn’t as if we have a shortage of colleges and universities in this country. Did you know that in Virginia, if you maintain a 3.0 GPA in Northern Virginia Community College, after two years you can transfer to any state school and be automatically admitted? So you take a longer route. Ok, you will still get a college education. What is so bloody annoying with all of this is that people will take advantage of however small amount of minority that might be in them. If you are just part Hispanic, check that box off and you are going up in that list to go to college.

Let me tell y’all something, I am part Hispanic, but I never checked that box off. Which brings me to another point, why do we need to distinct ourselves? Do we really need to be identified as Hispainc Americans, African American, Native American, or any other type of American. NO! We are AMERICANS! Let’s all say it together now: AMERICAN. It’s not that hard of a word to say on its own.

I guess the whole point of this post is that from where I am standing, it seems that the foundations of this country are being eroded away by liberals and left wing nuts. Every time we call them on it, they then hide behind the things they are trying to break down. It is a classic ploy used by these people. Take the flag burning. Jim Webb says he was against the amendment and cites a few other veterans who agree with him. Well, Mr. Webb, you may have served and we salute you for it, but that doesn’t mean you get more of a say as to whether or not the people of this country are wrong if they want to protect the flag from desecration.

In the end, it all comes down to one simple point: What kind of America do we want to live in: one which still enshrines values and history or one that says we will go with whatever is popular to dissent against?

But before we all leave, let's say it together:














I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE
TO THE FLAG
OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
AND TO THE REPUBLIC
FOR WHICH IT STANDS
ONE NATION UNDER GOD
INDIVISIBLE
WITH LIBERTY
AND JUSTICE
FOR ALL.