Friday, January 5, 2007

Why I Fly The American Flag

Someone once told me that if I could express why showing respect to the U.S. flag was important, that he would consider flying his flag properly rather than upside-down as a protest of the current administration.


This is what I wrote: Throughout the history of the world, humanity has rarely tasted freedom. History is replete with tales of domination by rulers, kings, and tyrants. The suffering and oppression of one man at the whim of another is the typical state of affairs. We may not appreciate this since many do not have a historical perspective and most of us have never known anything but freedom. A common attitude seems to be: Freedom? It's like air; so what's the big deal?

Freedom is vital because it allows each of us to exercise free will, thus it allows us to achieve the level of self-actualization at the apex of Maslow’s hierarchy of human needs. Free will is the essence of being human; it is the unique characteristic which exists nowhere else in creation as far as we know. I believe it is the divine reflection of God's image in each of us.

I fly the flag every day to show pride in my country. To me it represents the spirit of a proud and courageous group of people and their commitment to the noble and precarious ideal of freedom.

However, some of my countrymen are much too sophisticated to express a love of country. They don't find anything of which to be especially proud in the principles expressed in our Declaration of Independence, nor do they recognize the wisdom and genius of our founding fathers in writing the U.S. Constitution. They fancy themselves to be "citizens of the world" and look to the United Nations for principled leadership. Such folks consider flying our flag to be an expression of blustery, macho jingoism; an assertion that we are better than people of other countries. Such folks mock our country and prefer to dwell endlessly on all her mistakes and flaws.

But these folks miss the point. Every country has flaws; what really matters is whether we have made, and will continue to make, progress in acknowledging and overcoming those flaws. By any standard, we have done remarkably well in a very short period of time. So when someone disrespects the flag he shows that he doesn't value his country nor understand her unique contribution to the history of the world. It means he is not prepared to make sacrifices nor does he appreciate the sacrifices made of others in defending precious liberty.

When I see Old Glory wave, or see the Statue of Liberty, or hear the Star-Spangled Banner I feel a swelling in my chest and a lump in my throat. I feel an overwhelming sense of awe and love. I feel humility toward those whose sacrifice for liberty I can never possibly repay. I feel a profound sense of continuity with my departed father and others of the finest generation who served with honor in World War II. Because I fully grasp the horrors of war, I realize how courageous my ancestors truly must have been. I revere those who protected liberty from tyrants over the course of more than two centuries, as well as our brave soldiers who currently serve in the Middle East .

Some parts of the world still subsist in the Dark Ages; some countries have experienced the Enlightenment but seem to want to return to the dark. But when I see the Stars and Stripes wave, I feel hope that our noble experiment in freedom will not flicker out as a candle in the wind-- a mere fluke in the long timeline of history. I want to contribute my modest part throughout life to carry the flame so that our children will be able to breathe in the sweet smell of liberty, and pass it along to their children. I also want oppressed people of all other countries to experience this thrill called freedom. We are the strongest county in the world and as such we have a responsibility to lead and show others what is possible when a people embrace freedom coupled with individual responsibility and acting within the principles of the Golden Rule.

The flag is more than a piece of cloth. The flag represents much more than actions of any particular President; Presidents make mistakes; Presidents come and go. The flag represents much more than Republican or Democrat; it represents all of us regardless of political affiliation. The flag stands for our collective spirit and our shared values as a people. I have a deep, abiding, unshakable love of my country and its people and our leadership role in the world.

That's why I fly our flag. Proudly. Every day.

62 comments:

IrOnY RaGeD said...

Looking good FF!

Freedom Fan said...

Thanks for inviting me, Volt. I was looking for controversy, and flying the flag is proly very controversial to libs.

IrOnY RaGeD said...

LOL, you know it.

Of course we're not yet well read on the Berzerkely campus....

IrOnY RaGeD said...

Hey FF, I just stumbled across a really funny blog. The guy does make sense though.Gutrumbles

IrOnY RaGeD said...

I bet Carl would really love MY vacation. I didn't even go skiing like TT. Just sat around the house playing on the computer.

Oh well. Back to work Monday.

IrOnY RaGeD said...

HRES 288 IH

109th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. RES. 288

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives condemning bigotry and religious intolerance, and recognizing that holy books of every religion should be treated with dignity and respect.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 19, 2005
Mr. CONYERS (for himself, Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas, Ms. ESHOO, Mr. FILNER, Mr. KUCINICH, Mr. MEEHAN, Mr. PASCRELL, and Mr. SERRANO) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives condemning bigotry and religious intolerance, and recognizing that holy books of every religion should be treated with dignity and respect.

Whereas believers of all religions, including the Abrahamic faiths of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, should be treated with respect and dignity;

Whereas the word Islam comes from the Arabic root word meaning ‘peace’ and ‘submission’;

Whereas there are an estimated 7,000,000 Muslims in America, from a wide variety of ethnic backgrounds, forming an integral part of the social fabric of America;

Whereas the Quran is the holy book for Muslims who recite passages from it in prayer and learn valuable lessons about peace, humanity, and spirituality;

Whereas it should never be official policy of the United States Government to disparage the Quran, Islam, or any religion in any way, shape, or form;

Whereas mistreatment of prisoners and disrespect toward the holy book of any religion is unacceptable and against civilized humanity; and

Whereas the infringement of an individual’s right to freedom of religion violates the Constitution and laws of the United States: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the House of Representatives —

1. condemns bigotry, acts of violence, and intolerance against any religious group, including our friends, neighbors, and citizens of the Islamic faith;
2. declares that the civil rights and civil liberties of all individuals, including those of the Islamic faith, should be protected;
3. recognizes that the Quran, the holy book of Islam, as any other holy book of any religion, should be treated with dignity and respect; and
4. calls upon local, State, and Federal authorities to work to prevent bias-motivated crimes and acts against all individuals, including those of the Islamic faith.



Can you say UH-OH!!!

And this is from the incomming chairman of the House Judiciary Committee.

IrOnY RaGeD said...

Welcome to the Democrat congress, welcome to sharia...

IrOnY RaGeD said...

Yeah he does mention other religions...

But there is heavy emphassis on the Quran and Islam, other religions are just that. "Other religions".

IrOnY RaGeD said...

Just for the record, AND the lurkers...

clif said:

"Dolty boy seems pissed HE got caught with his sorry scam he tried to pull.

12:56 PM"

Mike said...

Yeah, i'm still confused by that scam, so Dolt impersonated Lydia and tried to blame it on Worf?, the old divide and conquor play they pull out when all else fails.

Do you think it was Dolt that did the impersonating or TT, he hasnt been posting much lately, i'll bet the halfwit GOP operative is up to no good.

1:12 PM


I NEVER IMPERSONATED LYDIA PERIOD. WORF DID IT DURING HIS LITTLE FIGHT WITH "BBQ". I CAUGHT THE SCREENSHOT BY SHEER LUCK. I EVEN STATED I THOUGHT HE DID IT BY ACCIDENT.

THERE ARE ONLY TWO POINTS:

1. WORF DOES HAVE LYDIA'S PASSWORD AND HAS COMPLETE CONTROL OVER THEIR BLOG.

2. LYDIA LIED ABOUT IT.

AND I AM PISSED. ONCE AGAIN I'M TAKING THE RAP FOR SOMETHING I DID NOT DO. AND THE SHEEP BLINDLY FOLLOW.

IrOnY RaGeD said...

AND WORF HAS NEVER DENIED DOING SO.

HENCE THE LACK OF SHEER OUTRAGE.

IF I HAD DONE SUCH A THING WORF WOULD'VE NEVER LET ANYONE FORGET IT. HE WOULD'VE TAKEN EVERY FOLLOWING POST OF MINE TO SLAP ME DOWN AND MAKE SURE NO ONE EVER FORGOT IT.

HIS ABSOLUTE LACK OF INTEREST IN THE INCIDENT IS TELLING.

IrOnY RaGeD said...

Well FF, I just asked for Lydia's response regarding the incident.

That should be fascinating reading.

Freedom Fan said...

True to form Volt, cliffy calls the U.S. flag a "piece of colored cloth".

I find that if you listen to libs long enough they will slip and tell you how they really feel about our country. Such a comment could have just as easily come from hugo chavez or fidel castro.

IrOnY RaGeD said...

JUST THOUGHT OF A POINT THREE...LOL

WHEN LYDIA RESPONDS WILL IT REALLY BE HER? HOW WILL WE EVER KNOW OR BE SURE AGAIN?

Freedom Fan said...

Perhaps Lydia was Worf's sock puppet all along.

Freedom Fan said...

Lydia: "Great post Gary, thank you"

BG: Wahaaaaaaaaay I'm still welcome here *high five*


It appears that brave BG is more concerned with being liked than with discovering truth. Ah the "reality-based community" where feelings are paramount and thinking and all else is secondary. He makes a good toady for worf.

IrOnY RaGeD said...

I say, that sod Thu has a singular wit does he not? I would even venture to say I find him quite the stodgy wanker.

Hey FF, Think I should rename this "The Voltron Ruffian Blog"?

IrOnY RaGeD said...

I kinda like the sound of that...

It's not exactly my "Vanishing Point" anymore, since everyone knows I'm here...

Freedom Fan said...

Volt,

Yeah, I fancy that those limeys use words that have meaning only to them. For example, if a Brit says "I'm mad about my flat" it doesn't mean that they are angry that about having a flat tire, it means they dig their new apartment.

Freedom Fan said...

Volt, Thu may be just as vacuous as the other libs, but if he's not a sock puppet for that goofball BG, I like him better already.

Yeah, I kinda like the sound of the "Voltron Ruffian Blog". The "Vanishing Point" sounds kinda wimpy.

IrOnY RaGeD said...

Yeah, and when their car breaks down and they talk about taking a look under the bonnet they don't mean their wifes headwear....

IrOnY RaGeD said...

Wimpy?

Didn't you see the part where Barry Newman drove that Challenger into the two big D9 Bulldozers?

IrOnY RaGeD said...

Guess now I'll havfta redecorate the place...LOL

Freedom Fan said...

No I missed that.

Anyway, why do you want to remain in defilade? I say charge!

Freedom Fan said...

Ms. Cornell is inquiring about where to find your blog. Think you should tell her? Anyhoo, glad to know she's OK; hadn't heard from her for a few days. Hope she likes the way you decorate.

Freedom Fan said...

Hey you changed the name! Dude, that's so cool.

IrOnY RaGeD said...

Yeah, there's still a part of me that doesn't want to offend her.

But either she lied about Worf having her password, or he got it underhandedly. Either way, she either needs to know about it or answer for it.

Because NOW we'll never be able to be sure that it's her post when her pic comes up. That's what bothers me the most.

Freedom Fan said...

I'm still laffing my ass off at the new name! Thanx Thu. What exactly is a "Thu" is that like a "Gnu"? Or perhaps it's an abbreviation for a day of the week.

IrOnY RaGeD said...

Vanishing Point

IrOnY RaGeD said...

There was a later remake which you might like better. Had a Dennis Leary looking guy in the lead role, and the car was a hemi. He was also running from the Clinton justice department...LOL

1997 remake

Freedom Fan said...

Oh, I thought it had to do with "disappearing act".

IrOnY RaGeD said...

Well it did actually, but I liked the movie too which is why the name readily came to mind....LOL

Freedom Fan said...

Volt check this out:

I just read Voltrons blog and its hilarious. He's dedicated an entire spread to this blog, and how concerned he is that I may be the blog administrator over here.

Whats hilarious is he actually thinks Lydia is somehow obligated to share with him any details of who is managing her blog.

He actually thinks he has some role or input in the matter, or that she is obligated to give him any answers on the topic.

Its like they're obsessed with this place, and this blog.

Some sort of compulsive disorder I imagine, but quite entertaining to observe.

-WR

Freedom Fan said...

WR thinks it's hilarious that we believe that he's the mighty Blog Czar. Imagine that. Where would we ever get such a nutzo idea?

Wharf Rat thinks we are compulsively obsessed with the LC blog. This from the guy who comments there 24/7 and often dominates the blog with 8-10 successive comments. Sounds kinda like psycho projection hmmmmm?

IrOnY RaGeD said...

Yeah, I'm following it. Posted a little too.

Freedom Fan said...

Actually it appears that WR, GIJ, MM, LL and Thu are compulsively obsessed with our little blog. Why would they care?

I predict that the LC bloggers will tire of the Little Blog Czar's tyranny and temper and bail. WR insults his fellow libs when Conservatives are not around, kinda like the Islamists turn on each other when infidels are not available.

WR is not really a lib, but rather a self-confessed self-loather who is actually appears to be a nihilist.

Freedom Fan said...

Gaydalf and Dolty boy should just get a room and comfort each other......or what the hell they do hiding behind their keyboards.....at the pajama circle jerk bro's at Dolty Boy's "ruffin place"
-GIJ

Ever notice how lib boys are into homosexual erotica big time? Proly jist coinkydink. I'm sure GIJ, BG and PP are just good friends. Nothing more. Really.

IrOnY RaGeD said...

You know blogger should do something about stolen indentities...

Once you register a name no one else should be able to use it without your credentials...

Freedom Fan said...

Maybe GIJ should talk to his lawyer. Where is PP when we need him?

Perhaps the lib boys can demonstrate how they faked the comment deletion as well.

Freedom Fan said...

Volt, the Blogger Id can't be duplicated, but the display name can be anything.

IrOnY RaGeD said...

I know. But it's a shame it can't be permanently associated with that screen name, like AOL or yahoo does for instance.

Freedom Fan said...

Will be interesting to learn what Ms. Cornell will think about cliffy's little prank of impersonating her for grins.

I think violating blog etiquette with sock puppets, complete with photos could be a bann-able offense, but that's just me.

IrOnY RaGeD said...

I guess it looks like there was no need for apologies on hijacking my thread FF, yours is getting hijacked now.

IrOnY RaGeD said...

Did he FF? I must have missed that one. Too bad. That'd have been another priceless screencapture.

Unless he's an administrator too though he couldn't have deleted it himself. Somebody must have done it for him.

IrOnY RaGeD said...

I should've posted something about Worf getting "rimrocked" but it was just waaayyy too easy.

Freedom Fan said...

Anyway I screen-captured the whole thing. It might come in handy. Could make a good blog topic to demonstrate liberal deceit.

Freedom Fan said...

The libs may think it's a hoot, but there is not a lower thing to do on a blog than commit identity theft.

Now with WR as Blog Czar not only could he delete comments, but he could change them to be anything he wants.

As cliffy demonstrates once again, libs have no integrity whatsoever. They will say or do absolutely anything to smear their opponents because they are unable to defeat them in an honest debate.

IrOnY RaGeD said...

You know it's bad when I have to check the profile to make sure it's you.

I'd like to see that FF, would you email it to me?

I won't post it without your permission, and if you need ones that I have let me know.

IrOnY RaGeD said...

Sauce for the goose FF. Lydia won't know who she's addressing either, and that's disrespect they're showing for her as well .

IrOnY RaGeD said...

I don't think you can "edit" comments like you can a posting. He may delete them, but he'd have to post a fake one to actually make it say something different.

However, if I remember right, last year somebody faked Worf and linked the name to a nazi site. If they can do that they could link their fake identity to your actual profile as well couldn't they?

Freedom Fan said...

It will be interesting to see what the legal team at Google Blogger think about identity theft. Looks like cliffy has his profile hidden but it is:

http://www.blogger.com/profile/23090421

The one of me he created is:

http://www2.blogger.com/profile/16589153182574017419

IrOnY RaGeD said...

He turned it off now FF. LOL

IrOnY RaGeD said...

Also it sounds like Google isn't interested Mikey says he tried that when someone faked him last year.

Freedom Fan said...

You certainly have been entertaining Lydia lately. In fact, she's still laughing.
-WR

I'm just SURE she's laughing Worf.
While she watches her credibility slip away under your wise guidance.
-Volt


Excellent! Bravo Volt.

I have a feeling Wharf's brief little fiefdom is about to end.

Freedom Fan said...

Sounds like GIJ's little stunt even disturbed mikey a bit, although he could never muster the balls to criticize his fellow libs directly. But perhaps mikey has a glimmer of decency left.

IrOnY RaGeD said...

You must be catching stuff I'm missing FF. Mikey going queasy on 'em is he?

IrOnY RaGeD said...

You know FF, I don't think it really matters anymore. Only the ones doing it like Clif and Worf know for sure and they'll just blame it on us.

I realize that on the internet you have no real idea just who you're talking to, but if the person you're talking to NOW isn't the same person you were talking to BEFORE then there's not even any assurance of continuation?

I think it's time to move on permanently.

Freedom Fan said...

Volt, ya know there is a difference between sock puppetry which is a goofy slimy kinda thing, and impersonating another blogger, which is the equivalent of identity theft in the blogosphere.

Impersonating another person is an egregious violation of blog etiquette. It is done to ruin someone's reputation by malicious deceit. No one with any shred of integrity would ever consider doing it, but clif does it proudly as the other libs applaud and Ms. Cornell says nothing.

When caught, cliffy's grade-school excuse is well someone else did it. What a low-life turd. And just when I thought my opinion of liberals could not go any lower...

Freedom Fan said...

Now GIJ wants to destroy the evidence, but I've got the screen captures.

IrOnY RaGeD said...

Let it go FF.

We know they can't be trusted.

No need to drag Lydia through more of this. Hopefully Worf has enough respect for her not to abuse his power.

I know when he posted as her he didn't have malicious intent. It just bothers me that he could and no one would be the wiser. (except Lydia of course)
So I suppose if we were to continue to post there we have to trust that Lydia will keep him in line.

But I don't think I will anymore.
I'm done.

That said, I didn't realize it was against blog ettiquette to post links to your favorite blogs. I guess I'll have to take theirs down and request permission from my favorites...

I'll probably totally redo the place in the coming weeks. I'm too tired to start tonight.

IrOnY RaGeD said...

There's just too much water under the bridge. I've been accused of things I haven't done. Had revenge taken on me for things I'm not guilty of. Had loved ones drug into the fray for it.

IrOnY RaGeD said...

I think I know when this started though. (for me anyway)

Back when Worf had his own blog, Larry posted something about someone else posting at Lydia's living near or with me. (definetly not WITH me, I live alone)

I think before that Clif and Worf were fairly civil. But since then they've convinced themselves that I have more than one identity and that's when Clif started his verbal assaults everytime he saw me, and Worf became alot colder as well.

Clif likes to refer to the one calling himself "Prof. Chaos" as me, so I suppose he must be my neighbor?

IrOnY RaGeD said...

Wonder how hard it'd be to find him.

Not that I'd hurt him or anything, I'd just like to see who and what I'm taking the heat for.