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Published 07/15/08

While attending Benjamin Orr Elementary School in Washington, D.C., during the mid 1940's, our opening exercises typically began by reciting the "Lord's Prayer" and the Pledge of Allegiance to our flag.

We sang either "America the Beautiful," "My Country 'Tis of Thee," or the "Star-Spangled Banner." Often one of our teachers would read from the Bible and it was there that I first memorized the 23rd Psalm.

Since our nation was in the middle of World War II, maybe patriotism was a little more fervent than usual between 1941 and 1945. I also remember sitting on school steps and singing all the military songs of the Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps. I seriously doubt at that age we totally understood the concept of freedom, but a seed was planted within each of us that, properly watered, would grow into an American who was willing to make whatever sacrifice it took to keep the dream of liberty alive; for ourselves, our children, their children, and future generations of Americans.

Our generation has witnessed many changes in America's values over the past 60 years, World War II veterans are dying at the rate of 1,000 a day and the patriotic heartbeat of our nation is barely discernible. Who dropped the baton? That was something to think about this Fourth of July if you took a moment to pray for our brave soldiers in Iraq, Afghanistan, and around the world, who put themselves in harm's way that we might live in the land of the free. Honor our patriots, past and present, by proudly displaying our nation's flag on Independence Day.

FRED MARTIN

Edgewater

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Response - 2008-07-24 23:14:36

I want go comment here. Because of the Repubs? Iraq war consuming our military resources, the monster Bin Laden escaped, and is now plotting who knows what terrible deed, eg the takeover of nuclear armed pakistan? And why did we really invade Iraq- to steal their oil for the profits of people like Exxon Mobil, who gave their ex chairman a retirement gift ($410 Million) in one year, more money then two hundred ordinary Americans earn in a lifetime, while we pay $4/gal at the pump. And lets not forget that the Bush family made their fortune (Billions) in the oil Biz, and are friends of the king of the same country that gave us most of the 9/11 killers. Georgie Boy made his personal fortune in the 1984 scam that collapsed Silverado, CO savings and loan, requiring a taxpayer bailout, and a city stadium deal in TX that put $141 million into his pocket, money taken directly from the taxpayers. And he dares talk about moral values, while his only value is Greed, while he lets our Military, of which I was once a part, suffer and die. From time immemorial, man's history has been the super-rich and their king buddies scamming the ordinary people. And ultimately it took bloody revolutions, including America's own to free them from economic tyranny. And that is what we celebrate on July 4th. We want to go forward to a more just society, not fall into a trap of the super-rich owning all, while all the others struggle, suffer. and watch good jobs outsourced, for the profits of the heartless and their immoral values of Greed. I'm not appealing to you, B.G., I'm appealing to all those who see their American dream being destroyed by the morally criminal gang still in the White House.

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Stanley James - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Bad

The Flag - 2008-07-24 13:54:34

If only we had taken out Bin Laden when Bill Clinton chickened out. Thank God there is a country that you can become super rich and not oppressed by a socialist government. We are a capitalist country and you are rewarded for your hard work. The housing crisis is part to blame on people who aren?t fiscal responsible taken on loans they cannot afford and unethical brokers willing to give them. I am surprised you haven?t blamed the price of gas on the current administration. Most Americans love and respect this country despite its difficulties. We realize there is no better place to be. Go ahead and fly the flag upside down, one of us will come and fix it.

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B. G - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Bad

the flag - 2008-07-24 02:13:52

Yes, we raised the flag on July 4th as part of honoring our soldiers. But at the same time, we thought about flying it upside down - a symbol of distress. Why? For the 4100+ soldiers who died so far in Iraq in a war based on lies.s And the Iraq war of Bush and his republican locksteppers is also responsible not having enough troops in Afghanistan to capture or kill Bin Ladin several years ago in the Tora Bora mountains where he was almost trapped. And we also see people losing their homes, their pensions, their jobs to outsourcing, which often results in economic pressures that destroy families, while meanwhile this nation has never had more people who are super-rich, e.g those with $50 million and above bank accounts. In many ways we can be proud of America, but it has gone backwards terribly over the past 7 years, and we need a major change and course correction. This is not only a security and economic issue, but a moral issue for all of us.

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Stephen Kay - Severna Park, MD - Karma: Bad