America the Beautiful

[RickC]

Was listeneing to Ray Charles and reading a review of The Control Room today. It's a documentary about the news coverage of the 2nd Iraq War. According to Roger Ebert, one of the Al-Jazeera reporters expresses his desire to have his kids grow up in America -
Yet there is an extraordinary moment in the film when Samir Khader, an engaging and articulate producer for Al Jazeera, confides that if he were offered a job with Fox News, he would take it. He wants his children to seek their futures in the United States, he says, and I carefully wrote down his next words: "To exchange the Arab nightmare for the American dream."

I sit here in my office in Chicago, with Afghan President Hamid Karzai across the street at a hotel for a conference, and think about the state of much of the world, and then about America. I can only conclude that the troubles we face are still generations ahead of the troubles many other countries face - that calling many countries "backwards" is not mean but appropriate, for they simply are not keeping up with the times. I feel hopeful that in 70 years, after their own fights for women and civil rights, other non-western countries may enjoy our relative level of peace and stability, and contribute their special gifts to the Civilized world..

Think about what we were a lifetime ago:

It's highly improbable - but at least conceivable - that a dirt-poor, Edwardian Age (1911) white child like Reagan could grow up to become the President of the United States and die in Bel Air.
But it's inconceivable that a Depression-Era (1930) black child who went blind could become a great & wealthy piano player and then die next door in none-too-shabby Beverly Hills.

Plenty left for us to do, but we've come a long way, baby......

America the Beautiful indeed.

[mikester]

Well Said.

[techweenie]

Amen.

[kach22i]

Such interesting commentary, quotes and views. Lets remember that this country has gone kicking and screaming against change. Lets also remember that this country has gone kicking and screaming for change.

Some want us to go backward, and tell us what we can and can't do. That's wrong for the most part. It's the about the constitution. Get sworn into any oath of service to this country, any office and you swear to honor and defend the constitution.

The Vietnam vet that works in my building said it best for me; The evangelist are the Taliban of America.

Oh yea, lets remember that you are sword to defend America against all enemies foreign and DOMESTIC!

[Moses]

In the entire history of the world, only one nation ever went to war to liberate a race from slavery. America has a serious commitment to move forward, our national passion for freedom and justice is our compass. We have forged our nation in a crucible of fierce dissent, but we slowly and purposefully head in the direction of liberty. No, it's not perfect. But every generation marks progress.

[Superman]

Well said, Moses. Sure, we have our family squabbles but our eye is constantly on the prize. Liberty.

[rcecale]

Some want us to go backward, and tell us what we can and can't do. That's wrong for the most part.

You mean like telling us that we're supposed to remove "One Nation, Under God" from the Pledge of Allegiance"? Or, we're not allowed to display a Nativity Scene on government property? Or we're not allowed to pray in schools? I agree with you, Kach, that IS wrong.

It's the about the constitution. Get sworn into any oath of service to this country, any office and you swear to honor and defend the constitution.

And just whom do you suppose I swore this to when I swore my Oath of Enlistment?

Oh yea, lets remember that you are sword to defend America against all enemies foreign and DOMESTIC!

Seems to me that the people who support the removal of any reference to God just might be the DOMESTIC enemy I swore to defend against?

Nobody is saying that it should be MANDATORY for anyone to pray, or worship or even believe in God. But too many people seem to be making it wrong to want to believe.

Randy

[kach22i]

Originally posted by rcecale
want to believe.

Please believe, and I will do the same in my own way.

I don't care or want the word God taken out of anything..........just for the record.

Sometimes I think I am the conservative because I don't like the way things are changing.

[mikester]

Which is worse?

Intolerance to the word or belief in a God or intolerance of the lack of or difference in either.

I have always been intolerant to the word tolerance. Tolerance by definition (http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=tolerance) isn't the best word to describe what we as Freedom loving Americans should use for how we accept and embrace other cultures among our own other religions among our own and other people among our natives. To tolerate is not to really accept but to resign one's self to the presence of something.

Accept and embrace those who are different from you and you will be a better American.

I can embrace those who believe just as easily as those who do not. What someone else believes or if my government has reference to god in it's writings makes no difference to me so long as it does not impede upon my or anyone else's freedom. If they are Hindu, Muslim, Christian or Jew they all will enjoy and appreciate my 4th of July BBQ well enough.

Freedom from oppression, Freedom from prejudice and Freedom to believe and worship the way I or anyone else chooses to do so.

I do not believe it is appropriate for a country which claims freedom of religion to have an oath that favors one religion over the other. "Under god" should be officially removed but you're free to say it if you wish. You have THAT Freedom and I thank you for defending mine. We have always been very Jesus centric in this country but THAT in and of it self can be oppressing to those who do not believe what Christians do. We should ACCEPT that we are not all the same and that we will never all be the same. Then we should EMBRACE those who are different into our culture by making our Government and lawmaking machine free from the religion references that foster the oppression we do not intend it to.

It is not offensive to remove "Under God" or a podium of the Ten Commandments from our oaths and centers of law. While their meaning is benevolent to some it is oppressive to others.

While as much as it means to some of us it also hurts some of us. We as a country need to accept that we are different. We are different, so our government - which we are all subject to, should not favor one group of us by reflecting their sentiments in the laws that govern all of us.

[Mulholland]

But it's inconceivable that a Depression-Era (1930) black child who went blind could become a great & wealthy piano player and then die next door in none-too-shabby Beverly Hills.

I said it before (well not here) and I will say it again...aint nobody keeping the black man down except the black man and the democrat party...Don't believe me with yer white guilt?...Ask Bill Cosby.

"There is a class of colored people who make a business of keeping the troubles, the wrongs, and the hardships of the negro race before the public. Some of these people do not want the negro to lose his grievances, because they do not want to lose their jobs. There is a certain class of race-problem solvers who don't want the patient to get well.

Booker T. Washington, 1911

Let me guess...Inconceivable, right?