PaulS wrote:

This man will stand next to any of you. I will also let any other American whether he believes the way I do or not. If he takes pride in being American then my America is big enough and strong enough to have him there next to me. If America ever gets so small that it doesn't have room for the diversity that made us the greatest nation on this planet then I will have to move - THAT is not the America I believe in. We are strong together because we have the diversity and the laws that allow that diversity. I love this country and I see some things happening that should be stopped. I hope you see them too. I God we trust! Nomatter what you call Him.

nicely spoken there paul! hats off to you

ElyBoy wrote:

You have the right way of thinking rdncktink. That is why my wife was PO'D at me. I just think that the other side has enough jerks that burn the flag, that I must counter balance, and be a jerk on the Stand up and Salute side. All of my instructors in my Firearms Training Classes kind of roll their eyes and laugh at me because before every class begins, I tell the kids and their parents to "Stand at attention, put your hands over your hearts, face the Flag, and Say the Pledge of Allegiance" I tend to say it like they don't have a choice if they want me to like them and do they want to hunt the coming hunting season. I know that they have a Constitutional Right NOT to say the Pledge, but I have a God Given Right to flunk their hind ends if they don't. I can always find some reason to flunk the little liberal. Again, your are correct on this rdncktink, I just choose to be a jerk on this subject. At least I admit it. Eric

but this just shows you are no better than they are with "forcing" them to do it. respect is one thing but forcing it is another.

I'm not forcing anybody to do anything Morax.
The guys at the Parade had the right to say no to me, they were just good citizens, and stood up.
The people in my class, have the right to say no, they can tell me that they are going to be good little liberals and stay seated. [I do think the all of my students and their Parents in Firearm Safety Class are Red, White, and Blue through and through]
I'm not holding a gun to anybodies head.
I admit to being a little hard headed on this point, and like I posted before, maybe even a jerk.
The people have a Constitutional right to tell me to go to heck, but they chose not to.
I like to think that they took the education that I gave them, learned a little, and chose to stand up.

Eric ["The Educator"]

i see where you are coming from, but forcing your ideals onto them is no better then them forcing thiers onto you or anyone else, I mis typed my thoughts on it the first time, by saying forcing them to do it, i know ya didnt do that, what i was trying to say was i dont think it is right in forcing your ideals onto someone else and using your place of instructor to fail them if they dont "do as you do" if i see a no smoking sign, i dont smoke, but dont tell me what to do in my own home, if you understand what i mean by this... sorry for the mistype in the first post there..

No problem Morax.
I wouldn't flunk anybody for that, but like other things that I see in class, it would definitely put up a red flag for me. 33yrs teaching will do this to a guy.
I know that I'm hard headed on this,[My wife says that it is the Marleau French Canadian blood] but I am also fair.

Eric Marleau

hahah wives are great for that huh, not just your fault but your whole line!!! hahahah

Well tell your wife that French Canadians normally have a good reason to be hard headed at times trust me I'm half French Canadian.

Dimitri

My wife is Italian.
Her Granddad was a Mafia Hit Man.
I am NOT kidding you guys.
Believe me, when her Granddaddy has 40 kills to his name,[not kidding on that one either] I do go to the Soprano history with her once in a while.
Got the whole history of the Berella Family from her cousin.

I ask her all of the time, "Where the heck is all of the Mafia money sweety"?

Eric

ElyBoy wrote:

My wife is Italian. Her Granddad was a Mafia Hit Man. I am NOT kidding you guys. Believe me, when her Granddaddy has 40 kills to his name,[not kidding on that one either] I do go to the Soprano history with her once in a while. Got the whole history of the Berella Family from her cousin. I ask her all of the time, "Where the heck is all of the Mafia money sweety"? Eric

hmm wonder if these two are related somewhere.. the wife here still got family in Sicily.. and thats all i am "allowed" to say
Patrono?

I have found out Morax, that ALL ITALIAN"S are related in one way or another.
They can all cook too.
Boy when my wife cooks Italian dinners, the house smells great for days.
I remember when we were first Married, all of her Aunts, and there were many, would cook for Weddings, Funerals, and any other Celebration.
They knew that I LOVED Italian food, so they would feed me until I pretty much couldn't stand. WOW that was good food!!!!

Eric

If they don't love this country than they can get the H&!! out.

If they don't want to say the pledge of allegiance and show all due respect to the flag then they can immediately excuse themselves from the class.

Yes Paul, I see these things every day. We need to put God and country back in our lives, schools, public places like courthouse lawns and anywhere else it needs to go. It's time that we true Americans stand up and shout. We need to put this country back the way it should be. The way our founding fathers meant it to be.

I agree that we have the right to freedom of speech, freedom of religion, the right to pursue happiness and the right to free assembly. I gave 8 good years of my life defending these and all of the other rights that we as Americans enjoy and it really ticks me off when people abuse these rights and disrespects our flag. It's bad enough when they come from some foriegn country and put it down. It's even worse when they are born and raised here and disrespect our flag and then try to call themselves Americans.

Dimitri, we need more young people like you.

Vince, are you sure your not an American. You show more respect than a lot of those so called Americans.

I'd like to say, on my few forays into the US, the number of homes from which I see flags flying always impresses me. There are a few of us in Canada, but comparatively speaking....well there isn't much comparatively speaking. A nice old man who lives two doors down always takes such good care of his flag that I went over and congratulated him a couple of days ago. Everytime I'm in the US I think "what's wrong with us?" So I congratulate you all on your respect for your national symbol.