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#106
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Re: freedom
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I know a little bit of my family's history and origins, but first and foremost I am an AMERICAN. Not European-American or Swiss-American or German-American. Just American. I have no problem with celebrating different cultures and traditions and what makes us all different. But of all the lessons this terrible, terrible tragedy teaches us, I hope one of them is that - no matter what our backgrounds - we are all Americans. If this event unifies us again - to defend ourselves, to restore our security and to rebuild - then the thousands will not have died in vain.
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2005 RX-8 Grand Touring 2005 Outback 2002 Mercedes-Benz E320 wagon END OF LINE |
#107
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Re: Re: freedom
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I feel exactly the same. |
#108
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Re: Re: freedom
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I thought of this, especially when I heard the Congress singing "God Bless America" on the Capitol steps. I thought, how sad it was that there is an entire generation that could not sing along, because they had not been taught the words to this song and many of the patriotic standards that my generation sang as a daily "warm up" for class in elementary school. I too am first and foremost an American. My "heritage" consists of those who've committed atrocities against mankind, those who took the long ride 'cross the pond to start this fine country, and those who were here to greet those boats. But, now, they are all represented by the patchwork that identifies the culmination of their struggles -- strips of cloth sewn together and embroidered with stars -- it did not "bow" during the Olympic Games of pre-World War II Germany. It will not bow now.
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Randy Johnson 3rd Registered Member 02-21-2001 First Member to Reach 10,000 Posts First to arrive at the very first Reading Meet Subaru Ambassador 1992 SVX PPG Pace Car Replica 110+k 1993 White Impreza L 240+K miles 2001 Legacy Outback Limited Sedan 250+K miles 2013 Deep Indigo Pearl Legacy 3.6R 49+K miles "Reading is my favorite Holiday" Mike Davis -- at Reading VI |
#109
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Re: Re: freedom
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bill Green 95 SVX - Cleo Green 97 Outback - Maxine Red F-150 Extended Cab Long Bed - Big Boy Even the best monkey sometimes drops his banana. |
#110
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Re: Re: Re: freedom
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I don't think patriotism necessarily means propoganda, which is probably what that boook suggested. And I don't think it means collective ideals. To me it means being proud of what our nation stands for and the ideals it represents. Teach that to children and the patriotism will follow. Forcing the classes to blindly say 'the pledge' before school isn't the same thing. In that I have to agree with (what I speculate) the author of that book was getting at. <I had a paragraph in here concerning the statement about religion, but I deleted it. I have tried very hard to keep my thoughts on the subject to myself on this board. I have found that, no matter how tolerant I am of others' practices, mine are rarely accepted as openly. I think this is neither the time nor the place.> My point was that we have been fractured in recent years and that a focus on multiculturalism has accidentally formed these divisions. Celebrate your heritage, if you like. But remember that this nation is something proud to be a part of and don't ever forget that. I think the hyphenated monikers denoting heritage distract us from that. I think that the criminals who attacked us two days ago were hoping we would be divided further. Thankfully the opposite seems to have happened. For now, at least, we seem to be a nation of Americans again.
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2005 RX-8 Grand Touring 2005 Outback 2002 Mercedes-Benz E320 wagon END OF LINE |
#111
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My thoughts
I have been following this thread as time allows the last couple days. I don't have much to say that hasn't already been said, but I'm here and my thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and their loved ones, and to our great nation.
Events like this really put things in perspective. I was ready to come in here Tuesday morning and post about my SVX being hit in the parking garage while I was at work Monday. Instead, I woke up early (6am Pacific Time) and had a strange feeling to turn on the TV. Needless to say, my wife and I ended up seeing all the major events of the morning as they happened live, from the 2nd plane hit on. Our hearts just sank lower and lower. It kind of makes a dented fender and broken turn signal seem insignificant. There will be another time for that. For now we must sort through our feelings and support each other. |
#112
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<<I think the hyphenated monikers denoting heritage distract us from that.>>
I agree completely. That and the fact that I'm such a mutt, I'd get writer's cramps just writing it all down. <<Teach that to children and the patriotism will follow. Forcing the classes to blindly say 'the pledge' before school isn't the same thing>> I agree in theory, but I can't imagine the current parents and school administrations following through. In fact, I was outraged when I attended my neighbor's public high school graduation in June and found out that their school does not sing the national anthem at graduation. They sing something called "The Black National Anthem" which I was unaware existed until that night. Apparently it is used to make the students feel "a special part of America" I could not imagine my high school choosing an alternate song such as "The German National Anthem", if one exists just because we were almost all of German descent. We are ALL Americans if we choose to live our lives here. I feel we need a limited amount of forced patriotism otherwise we will continue on our separate paths. BTW, What you call propaganda, I call advertising. You want to sell patriotism, advertise it to be something you desire. Just the unorganized thoughts of a: German-English-French-Slovenian-Native-American Doug
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1992 LS Touring (6/91) - Currently undergoing a five speed swap Black over Claret with spoiler; 235,000 miles; Mods: 2002 Legacy 5 speed, ACT Pressure Plate, Excedy Clutch, Short Throw Shifter, Aussie Powerchip 1992 LS Touring (6/91) Black over Claret with 2.5" setback spoiler; 202,000 miles; Mods: B&M Cooler 1994 LSi (4/93) Bordeaux Pearl; 198,000 miles; Mods: Weight reduction. 1969 Mustang GT Convertible 1970 Mustang Convertible 2000 Ford Excursion Sola lingua bona est lingua mortua. My Locker |
#113
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Re: My thoughts
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I almost wish I had heard all the news at once. I was listening to it as it happened and nobody knew what was going on. When the second plane hit, my first thought was, 'they're trying to knock them down.' I didn't want to be right about that. And as more and more bad things started to happen and rumors of other events were flying like mad...terrifying, watching violence like that in places you would never imagine it. I hope you're happy, you sick f*cks - you scared the crap out of me. Enjoy it while you can. This is one of my favorite quotes from this thread, from Joe in Ireland: "The American Nation was built from the best of Europe's pioneers, and from resilient Native American stock. You will absorb this, lick your wounds and come back smiling." Oh, we are so gonna be smiling. Who amongst our enemies realizes that greater forces than those that compose their ranks are following the trails just to make SURE we get the right people? I never enjoy violence against people because I always feel there's a way to avoid it. But this time our enemies don't follow any kind of rules and their goal was never a diplomatic solution.
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2005 RX-8 Grand Touring 2005 Outback 2002 Mercedes-Benz E320 wagon END OF LINE Last edited by Mr. Pockets; 09-13-2001 at 01:13 PM. |
#114
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Okay, so I looked up the alternative anthem you brought up. I can't see how it does anything but foster separation.
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2005 RX-8 Grand Touring 2005 Outback 2002 Mercedes-Benz E320 wagon END OF LINE |
#115
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Re: Re: Re: Re: freedom
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Nick, I'm not trying to sell anything. For you to agree, or disagree is your right and one of the principles upon which this country was founded. The same with religion. If there is a God, then, my belief in him doesn't make him any bigger nor someone's disbelief make him smaller. We have the right to believe or disbelieve without prejudice. I do not, and will not think any less of you for whatever your beliefs are in that regard. The lady's point in the book I was reading was to eliminate all pride in country, all countries, in order to create a single global society. As for a mindless, trivial "rote" recitation of the pledge to the flag, or singing the national anthem, or learning patriotic songs as a child, we did it knowing full well what they meant, and did not take their recitiation or singing lightly. We, of course, were still living in the shadow of a nuclear threat, the Cuban missle crisis, the Vietnam "conflict." . . . just to name a few. Even as children, we knew what patriotism meant and enjoyed showing it. If it has become "rote" then, it is because we have taken these things for granted, becoming complacent due to this long lull of peace. When the only "war" one generation has known is a two day clinic for the Iraqis, instead of years of bloodshed and lost lives, it is easy to become lulled into a sense of "yeah, this is America and we're cool." I am hoping this is a major wakeup call that does allow us to know why we say the pledge to the flag and puff out our chests when we sing "My Country 'tis of Thee" (even if it was stolen from "God Save the QUeen" ). Agree, or disagree -- that's what makes this country great. You can air your opinion and I mine and we can do it without fear of getting killed over it.
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Randy Johnson 3rd Registered Member 02-21-2001 First Member to Reach 10,000 Posts First to arrive at the very first Reading Meet Subaru Ambassador 1992 SVX PPG Pace Car Replica 110+k 1993 White Impreza L 240+K miles 2001 Legacy Outback Limited Sedan 250+K miles 2013 Deep Indigo Pearl Legacy 3.6R 49+K miles "Reading is my favorite Holiday" Mike Davis -- at Reading VI |
#116
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: freedom
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'nuf said.
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2005 RX-8 Grand Touring 2005 Outback 2002 Mercedes-Benz E320 wagon END OF LINE |
#117
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: freedom
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I can feel the love.
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Randy Johnson 3rd Registered Member 02-21-2001 First Member to Reach 10,000 Posts First to arrive at the very first Reading Meet Subaru Ambassador 1992 SVX PPG Pace Car Replica 110+k 1993 White Impreza L 240+K miles 2001 Legacy Outback Limited Sedan 250+K miles 2013 Deep Indigo Pearl Legacy 3.6R 49+K miles "Reading is my favorite Holiday" Mike Davis -- at Reading VI |
#118
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: freedom
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I don't know about anyone else but you had to know something like this was going to happen sooner or later. I hope that this is not the beggining of the next "real" war/conflict. I for one am truly frightened, that we have not seen the last nor the worst of this "new enemy, terrorism." We should all be thankful--to whom/whatever you thank--that there was not a weapon of mass destruction loaded onto those planes, or somewhere on the ground. |
#119
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: freedom
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When I was a very small child, I remember becoming absolutely horrified every time I heard a large plane fly overhead. My grandfather had a book that was a Life magazine (there was not Time/Life back then ) photo essay on World War II. The carnage represented there, along with the war movies I watched as a kid made me fear that one day, it WOULD happen to us. Those thoughts left as I grew older. It's sad to think that now, at 46 years of age, I will revisit those fears, every time I hear a plane fly overhead. Not as intensely as I did then, but, nonetheless it will be there.
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Randy Johnson 3rd Registered Member 02-21-2001 First Member to Reach 10,000 Posts First to arrive at the very first Reading Meet Subaru Ambassador 1992 SVX PPG Pace Car Replica 110+k 1993 White Impreza L 240+K miles 2001 Legacy Outback Limited Sedan 250+K miles 2013 Deep Indigo Pearl Legacy 3.6R 49+K miles "Reading is my favorite Holiday" Mike Davis -- at Reading VI |
#120
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: freedom
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THERE IS NO ANSWER. THERE IS NO WAY TO STOP THIS. Us, "you hit me, I'll hit you back" then, "hit us back we'll hit you harder" Us----"ok, we'll hit you..... nevermind......"This is the post that never ends, it goes on, and on....." |
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