<p><a href=“http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2007/10/ap_flagfold_071026/[/url]”>http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2007/10/ap_flagfold_071026/</a></p>
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<p>But not surprising.</p>
<p>You’d think they would simply ask the family if they would like to have it recited or not, rather than just banning the entire thing…</p>
<p>Maybe we should replace it with one that has atheism, abortion on demand, confiscatory taxes, radical environmentalism… :rolleyes:</p>
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<p>I’m confused, again. Just when I was coming to understand why we were striving for diversity, they tell us we need more consistency.</p>
<p>Idiotic! “We can’t promote religion, so you will have to abandon yours so you don’t offend someone else.” That’s what I’m seeing.</p>
<p>Aren’t these volunteers private citizens? They should be able to say whatever they want (minus hate speech etc. of course, but that’s not an issue here).</p>
<p>Things are getting pretty crazy. Time to start the “Common Sense Party”</p>
<p>Instead of an Elephant or a Donkey we can use a pic of Ben Franklin for our backdrop. Aspen can be our Party Chairman and Z you can be in charge of fund raising! (Mail all checks to me)</p>
<p>Great American you are in charge of press releases!!</p>
<p>:)</p>
<p>Fundraising? ME? :eek:</p>
<p>Are you nuts? 
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<p>;)</p>
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<p>Some diversities are more consistent than others, you see. :rolleyes:</p>
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<p>Exactly.</p>
<p>The phrase is “Freedom OF Religion”, not “Freedom FROM Religion”.</p>
<p>Sorry for the length, but it P*SSES me off.</p>
<p>About 10 years ago, I saw it coming, and i started my own “ANTI-POLITICAL CORRECTNESS” campaign. I figured if I can’t do anything else, maybe I could affect my own little part of the world. In my opinion, political correctness does NOTHING except create more separation between us. I have vowed that I will NEVER be politically correct. If someone accuses me of not being politically correct, being insensitive, etc… I THANK them and try to be that much more anti-politically incorrect.</p>
<p>No matter what anyone wants to think, we are first and foremost, AMERICANS. Not White, Black, Hispanic, Asian-American, African-American, German-American, Disabled-American, or any other stupid cliche the ultra-liberal far left wants to design. We are AMERICANS. And guess what; taking the attitude of “America First” is becoming more popular. Among white, black, hispanic, and most groups in general.</p>
<p>While I may be a Christian, I do believe that society EVOLVES. We went from a country of religious and political outcasts, to the atrocities and disgust of slavery, to the emancipation of slaves and a civil war, to the ultra poor immigrants, to a world economic and military power and leader, to fighting for basic EQUAL human rights for all people, to the target of every other country to come to or be like. And now, in the last 10-20 years, we have single handedly found a way to actually SEPARATE ourselves and instead of continuing the evolution, we’ve actually gone backwards. Of course, those who’s motives and agenda are to keep us separated as a people so that the agenda of forming more of a one world community; basically expanding on the EU; will have you believe that political correctness is what maintains our individuality, pride, self esteem, heritage, etc… They are wrong and full of it. Political correctness does nothing more than SEPARATE it’s people.</p>
<p>It doesn’t matter if it’s saying “African-American” instead of black, or if it’s saying “Sanitation Engineer” instead of garbage man. I still have just as much respect for all of people. I respect the individual, not their title, suffix, profession, ethnic background, etc… That is what I spent 21 years in the Air Force for. For AMERICANS. </p>
<p>Growing up, I could be in a public place like a school, sporting event, memorial, etc… I could pray, have a moment of silence, etc… and if another person was there and didn’t believe the same as I, they respectfully stood there in silence and allowed me my right. In return, when I would visit one of my school friends who was Jewish, and they had their prayers and rituals for whatever, while I was there, I too was respectful and allowed them their right. When I was stationed in Saudi Arabia and was down town or among civilians and they stopped during prayer time, I respectfully allowed this without worrying about how it affected me.</p>
<p>The point is; REAL AMERICA and it’s people are about RESPECTING each other’s customs, beliefs, religions, etc… and allowing those people to express these beliefs. Instead, the politically correct crowd has changed it around. They have people believing; “WHAT ABOUT ME”. They are encouraging people to decide what offends them, and if it’s FROM the majority, then as a MINORITY you need to get them to stop it. Instead, they should be promoting everyone learning to respect other’s positions. Whether those positions are mainstream or not. I respect all cultures, beliefs, religions, etc… NOT because I have to, but because that is the right thing to do. If I respect your beliefs, then you should respect mine. Instead, many people are FORCED to respect others. And, if you are in the majority; whether it’s a religious, social, cultural, etc… then you automatically are required to cease your practice because of offending others; instead of teaching respect by ALL people TO ALL people, they teach disrespect to the majority and resentment to the minority. Believe it or not, I believe this is intentional.</p>
<p>If you believe in ANY way, that your belief, religion, culture, desires, likes, dislikes, etc… are better, more important, or deserve more attention than someone else’s, then you aren’t a real American who cares about the evolution of it’s people to be a better country. If you think that somehow individuality, self esteem, feelings, etc… of some minority group; (We are all minority groups in this context depending on who you are compared to); is somehow more important than respecting ALL people because it’s the right thing, then you aren’t a real American. A real American Respects others because it’s the RIGHT thing to do. Because respecting others instills upon them to respect you. You respect others and their cultures, customs, beliefs, etc… because you WANT to and you want reciprocation. You DON’T do it because you HAVE to or because it’s politically correct. </p>
<p>Even our own government and military has allowed this social cancer to affect it. Remember this whole cr*p about “AN ARMY OF ONE”. You can rationalize that all you want, but it was intended to FEED off of the individual’s need for attention and their self esteem. The image in the 1990’s of the military during Clinton was that somehow we were all mindless robots part of a team with no individuality at all. Regan boosted pride in the country and military but the 90’s gradually ripped it down. It wasn’t the military’s fault. It was a social change.</p>
<p>The bottom line is; we have to remember that OUR RIGHTS STOP WHERE SOMEONE ELSE’S RIGHTS START. That we need to respect others as we want them to respect us. So, if the MAJORITY celebrates Christmas, then respect that. If the minority celebrates Kwanzaa, then you respect that. No one has ever been FORCED to believe or think someone else’s way in this respect. If someone wants to pray prior to eating lunch and you are there, then RESPECT them and remain quiet as they do so. They in return will respect your custom for similar actions. </p>
<p>Instead, political correctness is telling us that the “Need of the one, is more important than the need of the many”. So, if whatever I do, believe, express, etc… offends “1” person, then I am expected to refrain from doing, expressing, etc… that. Well guess what? SCR<em>W ANYONE WHO BELIEVES THAT. You want my respect, then you have to respect my position also. Neither one is more important. As soon as someone has to STOP, that means the other side doesn’t respect them. I will purposely continue to fight that. I don’t care what the politically correct say. We are all Americans “In the USA context”. (Except for illegal immigrants). As such, I respect ALL Americans for who they are, what they believe, what they practice, their customs, religions, etc… In return, I expect that they will respect my beliefs, customs, religion, practice, etc… Your skin might be white or black. You might have ancestry from a hispanic or asian background. You might have a religious or non-religious belief; you might be a garbageman/woman, CEO, salesman/woman, etc… I respect all the same. If there is someone I DON’T respect, it’s on an individual basis because of them. Not because of what they do or their background. You are still an “American”. That is what I respect. If you DON’T respect other’s beliefs, customers, religion, etc… and EXPECT them to stop their practice when around you, then you AREN’T a true American. I don’t care if that P</em>sses off some people or not. Our country was founded to get away from such separation. We wanted to be able to express our individual beliefs. We’ve had a bumpy road, but over time have evolved to where it’s better than most other countries. But now, we are being told that we CAN’T believe, express, etc… in public because it might offend someone else. That is B.S. a REAL American wouldn’t get offended. A REAL American would understand that the same respect they are giving to someone to express something they don’t necessarily agree with, is the same respect that allows them to express themselves when others may not agree with it. That is why I joined the military. To defend people’s right to the first amendment. EVEN THOSE THAT I DIDN’T AGREE WITH.</p>
<p>I DON’T respect ANYTHING hyphenated. I don’t respect anyone who has to promote gender neutral. You can be a congresswoman or congressman. You CAN’T be a congressperson. I also don’t respect false titles and labels designed specifically to make someone feel good and improve their self esteem. You are NOT a sanitation engineer; NOT a domestic engineer; NOT a health care professional; etc… There is nothing wrong with being a doctor, nurse, doctor’s assistant, nurse’s assistant, secretary (Administrative Assistant), etc… Political correctness is killing the social structure of this country.</p>
<p>So flame away. I don’t care. You are free to say whatever you want. Our military has fought and died for you to have that right. Just like they have fought and died for ME to have that right. Whether or not we agree with each other. If people would just understand this one simple fact, then no one would even question what was said at a funeral ceremony; a religious ceremony; praying; etc…</p>
<p>Christcorp:A day doesn’t go by when my husband and I are inundated w/ these issues and have the same feelings that you do. We feel extremely outnumbered out here in Portland, Oregon also called “Moscow on the Willamette”!</p>
<p>All we can do is try to do the “right thing” no matter if its left/right.</p>
<p>Oregon Mom, even though “Moscow on the Willamette” is part of the “Peoples Republic of Oregon” you still have a beautiful city. Love Powell’s and the Saturday, Sunday market under the Burnside Bridge.</p>
<p>As far as Liberals go here in Idaho; not so much. 'course, there’s all kinds of people everywhere, so I guess we need to be tolerant. Just wish some on the extremes were more tolerant of those with different thoughts.</p>
<p>And I pretty much agree with Christcorp, for what it’s worth.</p>
<p>Preach it, Christcorp! :D</p>
<p>I agree with my History 101 teacher, who said, “Political correctness destroys critical thinking. I will have none of it here!”</p>
<p>Great points Christcorp. I personally believe humankind is slowly but most definitely moving to a more homogenous race----the physical differences will slowly disappear as more and more of the world’s population “cross pollonates” 
gradually eliminating the basis for most bigots.</p>
<p>Then all we will have left to argue about is what really separates one man from another–those who “have” and those who “have not” . Maybe then we will be able to start to solve the worlds problems.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,306186,00.html[/url]”>http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,306186,00.html</a></p>
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<p>Add into the statement “on both extremes” as both the far left and the far right are not tolerant of those with different thoughts.</p>
<p>I’m with you Shogu on a “Common Sense Party” for those of us who have been abandoned by what was our “current party” Lost in the middle so to speak. </p>
<p>Oregon Mom I have family in Portland - a lovely city. Elementary age Kids go to a real “granola in the Woods” school sorry to say the “Moscow on the Willamette” is being entrenched at a very early age! But a great City all the same.</p>
<p>Can’t go their either - from the land of the libertarian Neal Bortz, really a sheep of another color as in my experience most are really more Republican than many would like to believe.</p>
<p>Profmom2, I know you weren’t trying to be critical of me, since the quote you pulled from my statement does say “extremes” with an “s” which implys more than one. Since we seem to mostly (notice I’m not using an absolute) only recognize that there is a left and a right, extremes would automatically mean far left or far right.</p>
<p>'course, never hurts to clarify.</p>
<p>^^^^ Oh no not critical at all, totally agreed - just putting “more” clarity in the statement as sometimes when stated “extremes” people only go to the left as that has been historically where the extremes (as in numbers of those who are extreme) resided. Both parties have left many of us out in the cold and no where to go. Don’t really like to vote for the lesser of two evils, but given that the extremes, as in both parties, have somewhat hijacked their party that is what is left, if you call yourself a moderate on either side of the spectrum.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,306638,00.html[/url]”>http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,306638,00.html</a></p>
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<p>Looks like someone finally decided to think with their brain instead of their…</p>