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| Joined: | Thu Jan 31st, 2008 |
| Location: | Huntington Beach, California USA |
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JDBuckwell wrote:I appreciate your position Pax... I agree that to question the "powers that be" is patriotic. The questioning is not my concern... it is the actions of our current administration (as well as the one before ) that have me very concerned.I like a lot of things in life, but there are three that I truly love... family, fine watches and grass-roots American patriotism. Fortunately, in the times we're in right now, recognition for family or a fine watch is easy, where as recognition for the motivation that drives those who serve (or have served) to protect what we love is not.
Today, our youth is being taught, by teachers, Hollywood and the Media, that patriotism, as it was instilled in me by my WW II Vet Grandfather, is "old thinking... too black and white... not enough shades of forgiving gray". It is clear to me that this "new way of thinking" is how we are where we are today, and why the story I posted received such a welcomed response. So many of us are hungry for stories like this, yet have to dig to find them and worry about sharing them.
I guess this is my bloviated way of saying, your welcome... the pleasure was mine.
—JD
The same thing applies to us who do not share your exact same thought process. Just a short time ago anyone who questioned the powers that be was labelled unpatriotic. This very stance is in and of itself unpatriotic.
This country should allow all opinions to be heard and respected. We don't have to agree. And please don't blame teachers, media and movies for what youth are being taught. Teaching is a function of parenting and if one's child is being taught their core values by someone other than a parent then I would contend that parent is not involved or engaged properly.
I enjoyed this story and I am no right winger. I am however a patriot, proud of my country and damn thankful and respectful of those who serve and have served. You might call me a shade of grey...;)
I also agree that parenting should be the source of core values, but unfortunately, parental responsibility, as well as the conventional family unit, is eroding (along with our parental rights), and to many in power now... that's a good thing, thus their reliance on educators, Hollywood and the "Mainstream Media" to instill their belief systems.
Of course, not all teachers, actors, and media sources are a party to this, but it is a growing and very factorable movement we cannot deny. I have three teachers in my family and one of them openly instills her "activist values" into her students without shame or concern.
As far as "shades of gray" is concerned... My liptnus test is: Does this action or belief build upon or degrade our founding father's intentions for our Republic? Does it promote freedom and individual rights? Does it rely on the universal law of "cause and effect" for practical validation? if yes to these simple (yet often unasked) questions, then I'm all for it... requiring no shade of gray.