Thread: Piece of History: A Canadian talks about American's

[QUOTE=edhewitt;1218753]

Originally Posted by BobH

Or any sort of religious songs too.

Oh well, might as well ban all singing by children until they can grasp the subject matter just to be on the safe side.

Bob

[QUOTE=BobH;1218792]

Originally Posted by edhewitt

Oh well, might as well ban all singing by children until they can grasp the subject matter just to be on the safe side.

Bob

I think that this is possibly the only course of action available at this time.

Para español presione por favor el número dos

[QUOTE=BobH;1218706]

Originally Posted by OCDshaver

Funny, I guess one could have the same objection then about the singing of national anthems by young school children. Considering that they have no real clue/conception about that either.

Bob

If you equate love of country with love of Obama then I can understand how you would come to that conclusion. I do not. I find nothing wrong with teaching kids to be patriotic. But that is quite different from being a drone for the Democratic Party.

[QUOTE=BobH;1218706]

Originally Posted by OCDshaver

Funny, I guess one could have the same objection then about the singing of national anthems by young school children. Considering that they have no real clue/conception about that either.

Bob

I'm not sure, or concerned with, what they teach in Canada or Australia. But here in the US, patriotism has not traditionally been considered a controversial topic but rather something our society has considered a common good. Supposedly it is a value we all share and honor. The children don't exactly know the meaning, so in theory they should be learning about it as they go. Its not right leaning or left leaning (or is it?). Its remarkable that this needs to be explained.

[QUOTE=OCDshaver;1218821]

Originally Posted by BobH

If you equate love of country with love of Obama then I can understand how you would come to that conclusion. I do not. I find nothing wrong with teaching kids to be patriotic. But that is quite different from being a drone for the Democratic Party.

Exactly the point, at that young age singing a national anthem, anyone's, is drone like. That is opposed to later in life when you can actually grasp what patriotism means and hopefully have solid reasons to feel patriotic about ones country.

Bob

[QUOTE=OCDshaver;1218874]

Originally Posted by BobH

I'm not sure, or concerned with, what they teach in Canada or Australia. But here in the US, patriotism has not traditionally been considered a controversial topic but rather something our society has considered a common good. Supposedly it is a value we all share and honor. The children don't exactly know the meaning, so in theory they should be learning about it as they go. Its not right leaning or left leaning (or is it?). Its remarkable that this needs to be explained.

Never said it was a bad thing to actually feel patriotic about ones country. Learning the national anthem when I was young did not make me patriotic only later in life when I had some reasons to feel pride in my country did a true sense of patriotism set in. You are certainly right that patriotism has little to do with which way a person leans politically.

Bob

[QUOTE=OCDshaver;1218874]

Originally Posted by BobH

I'm not sure, or concerned with, what they teach in Canada or Australia. But here in the US, patriotism has not traditionally been considered a controversial topic but rather something our society has considered a common good. Supposedly it is a value we all share and honor. The children don't exactly know the meaning, so in theory they should be learning about it as they go. Its not right leaning or left leaning (or is it?). Its remarkable that this needs to be explained.

I agree that pride in ones country or adopted country in both bobs and my case is no bad thing, provided that that pride is not through rose coloured glasses, this comment is not aimed at anyone, it is just an observation. I do however think that "patriots" in the admittedly more stereotypical image are or are at least perceived to be somewhat right leaning.
Regards ed

Come on Bob! Everybody knows only Christians pray to the one true god, and only people who lean right are truly patriotic! Lol... Sigh.

There is this quote:

“When fascism comes to America, it will come wrapped in the flag and waving a cross”

and as well worded and true as it may or may not be, the way I see it is, When anything comes to America, it will come wrapped in the flag and waving a cross.

But then, hasn't that always been true? Even before America was imagined in some European's mind? I mean think of the last superpower before the American/Russian competition, England. It marched forth with Gods grace and a flag as well.

Now, as we study history we see fancy pictures of Brits placing the Union Jack in all kinds of places and somewhere in the background, there is a man of God, bible open, making the whole action one of legitimacy before the eyes of God... didn't matter that those they conquered (including its own citizens) prayed to a different God and sang the praises of another flag.

That's all to say that when you wear anything on your sleeve, it becomes a tool for propaganda. If you love and have a relationship with your God - you are blessed. Of course when you begin to proselytize, as well meaning as you may be, you are merely using your God as a tool to push your way of life unto others. When you claim that your government should see things through the eyes of your God, well, then you are... perusing fascist ideology.

When you have love for country, your desires to participate in the community that is your nation, is bolstered. This makes you a better citizen. But when you start to wave your flag and say this is how someone should think in a democracy if you are a (insert nationality)... yup, again your pushing fascism ideals.

Alas change is a hard thing to swallow, and when your God is being separated from state, as the forefathers envisioned in America due to issues deriving out of what they saw in England, and your country's "values" are seemingly attacked by the ebbs and flows of a changing populous in a democracy, its normal to feel threatened. But to take up arms and call for a fight... that's what terrorists do. That's what America has so strongly fought against throughout the years.

To see people within its boarders pursue such agenda's I think, is the greatest form of treason there is.