Today is the anniversary of – to borrow a phrase – a day that will live in infamy. I ask you now to stop and take half a minute out of your busy schedule to say a prayer for the families, loved ones and the children…especially the children — of those who lost their lives. Now I’m asking you to take another 30 seconds to say a prayer for the health and safety of our men and women in uniform all over the world. You don’t have to agree with the political situation and/or international hostilities. You can register your feelings at the ballot box in two months. Today you have an opportunity to honor America. Go over to your closet and pull out your American flag. You do have one, don’t you? Hang it out there … Wave it proudly … Show everyone you still believe that, in spite of many faults, the U.S.A. is the greatest nation on Earth.
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Watching the various demonstrations on the tube these past few weeks convinces us once again that the United States of America is truly a great nation. As long as an anti-American group doesn’t interfere with the rights of others, the members of that group are free to express their beliefs. There are loads of places on this planet where criticism of the government leads to administration intervention. That intervention often places particular individuals in prisons or even worse. In some countries they are indicted on phony charges, tried, found guilty and executed …. All in one day.
Again – the U.S.A. is the greatest nation on Earth. Ask the many millions who risked their lives to get here.
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As we stroll down the aisles of stores all over America we pick up items manufactured in countries all over this planet. Like so many of you I would prefer buying items “Made In The U.S.A.” but if the product is superior, less expensive or as in many cases, no longer being manufactured here at all, with very few exceptions, I‘ll head for home with an item from Asia, South America, or Europe. Even if I do have a problem purchasing a product manufactured abroad there is nothing I can do about it.
There is one particular product that I absolutely refuse to buy if it is made outside of the fifty states. I’m talking about Old Glory, The Colors, The Stars and Stripes….the most noble piece of cloth in the world – the American Flag.
I fly my American Flag from the balcony of my home on Flag Day, Independence Day, Memorial Day, Nine-Eleven and…catch this … — on Election Day. I also fly it on special days such as when Tony Snow passed away, Tim Russert passed away, and …well. You get my point.
There were times in recent years when I have gifted a flag to a Cub Scout Pack, a class of youngsters and even a Senior Citizen Center. It bugged me no end to find stores in America selling the colors with a sticker “Made In China.” Call me corny but deep down in my heart I want to know that this bit of holy material was made on American soil by an American manufacturer.
It seems that I’m not the only American that feels that way. In several states there are lawmakers that have already gotten involved in legislation prohibiting the sale of an American Flag that was produced on foreign soil. Further discussions of this always seem to segue into a debate about our many freedoms including the burning of an American Flag. I’ve been saying this for years and I’ll say it again.
I am StanGershbein@Bellsouth.net and I have absolutely no problem with anyone setting fire to Old Glory just so long as the person setting fire to it has it wrapped around his body at the time.
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