Just some thoughts !

[oldksnarc]

I don't see a thing wrong with it. Although I volunteered myself, they had the draft back when I went in the service. Only problem with the draft that I saw was - while you did conscript good people - their attitude about being there was often poor. Which affected moral and discipline. I can see where there would be less moaning and groaning if you volunteered - but, I'm sure like most soldiers - soldiers will ****.

But, even with that, good people served and a lot of boys grew up.

[stevebeilgard]

i want the old ways back. patriotism is being killed by our liberal teachers in our government schools. we need to start each day with a silent prayer, and an oral pledge of allegiance. we need to fight the aclu at each and every step they take. and we need to allow those who hate our country the optio to leave it and go back to the country of their choice. wait a minute.. they can already do that. we are the free country

[slugshooter]

Patriotism isn't being killed by anyone but ourselves. Blaming it on "liberal" teachers is a cop out and does not confront the problem at hand. Who does the responsibility fall to to teach our children about love of country and patriotism? More and more the parents could care less because they are too busy going to work, paying bills, and running little Johnny and Jane to soccer and ballet practice. If a teacher in said school doesn't want to decorate their walls in bunting and flags and come to school wearing a red, white and blue top hat, so be it, it would be a distraction anyway. It is the parents responsibility to teach their children values and patriotism, not the school. I can be patriotic by not wearing flags all over my body and having a flag magnet attached to my truck and singing "God Bless the USA" whenever it comes on the radio once a year. My patriotism lies within myself, I don't need to put on a show to prove my patriotism, and I don't need to put others down because of their specific beliefs. I do not believe the problem lies with those who do not share my specific set of beliefs, I believe it lies with those who are so intolerant of others beliefs that it makes them insecure so they lash out at the first person whose beliefs do not directly correlate with their own.

[Steven]

[ QUOTE ]
Patriotism isn't being killed by anyone but ourselves. Blaming it on "liberal" teachers is a cop out and does not confront the problem at hand. Who does the responsibility fall to to teach our children about love of country and patriotism? More and more the parents could care less because they are too busy going to work, paying bills, and running little Johnny and Jane to soccer and ballet practice. If a teacher in said school doesn't want to decorate their walls in bunting and flags and come to school wearing a red, white and blue top hat, so be it, it would be a distraction anyway. It is the parents responsibility to teach their children values and patriotism, not the school. I can be patriotic by not wearing flags all over my body and having a flag magnet attached to my truck and singing "God Bless the USA" whenever it comes on the radio once a year. My patriotism lies within myself, I don't need to put on a show to prove my patriotism, and I don't need to put others down because of their specific beliefs. I do not believe the problem lies with those who do not share my specific set of beliefs, I believe it lies with those who are so intolerant of others beliefs that it makes them insecure so they lash out at the first person whose beliefs do not directly correlate with their own.

[/ QUOTE ]

*Nods in agreement*

[slugshooter]

I'm not offended by what you wrote HuntMichigan, if you hang around here long enough you'll see that it takes a lot to get me offended, most of the time.

I will touch on a topic though in your post, as far as the draft is concerned. While I served in the military I am not old enough to have dealt with a draft. While I think it is admirable to serve your country, I don't believe that one should be forced into it, and just because someone doesn't want to serve does not make them any less an American. The inherent problem is drafting those who don't want to be there, heck, there are volunteers who don't want to be there. Drafting someone into the military who isn't necessarily patriotic will not make them more so, in some instances it might, but who wants a military full of people who are bitter about being there. Yes, there are countries who require their citizens to serve in the military for a time once they reach a certain age, but those countries also do not afford their citizens the same rights as we have here.

[fourtrax_300]

well first off i am a junior in high school and there is alot of patriotism. we say they pledge every day in 3rd hour , all students are expected to rise but none are forced to say the pledge but all of us do. the pledge is also on the tv with an american flag background and the words to the pledge on the screen and it includes "under god" and rightfully so !

we display a american flag in every room of the school and our 3 flags outside as well. the American flag,Illinois flag and our high school flag.

I know many of the students are proud of our country and the men and women who are,have and will be protecting it. the Army and National guard regulary come to our school and set up in the cafitera and talk to sutdents as well as sign us up for duty.

I know alot of stuents who have joined and alot of us who are going to. myself i am still considering it.

we may be a small school in a small "hicktown" in the middle of nowhere but we have American pride !