and I am missing home there is something about seeing that good ole glory flying and that reminds me of home and all the sacrifices our soldiers make for our country. I know that may sound silly but it is such a good feeling.

It's nationalism, and it's brainwashing.

It's the ideas and the values that are considered to be symbolized by that piece of cloth.

Consider a piece of plaster of Paris. Once it's been made wet and allowed to dry, it's not really useable for much of anything except for its weight. It has no real intrinsic value.

So if I decide to pee on it, there's no great loss. Assuming I own it, it's not like it's hurting anybody.


Now let's assume that that I'm dumping a jar of urine on that worthless piece of plaster of Paris in public. Sort of nasty, urine's best reserved for flushing. But it's still not hurting anybody.

Now let's assume that the plaster of Paris is in the form of a bust of Martin Luther King and African-Americans are among those in the audience.

If you'd prefer, we could have it be Jesus and fundies or Mohammed and Muslims. Or Susan B. Anthony and folk from NOW. Or President Obama. Or Bush II. No difference, right--it's just training, nothing to do with the inherent value of that piece of plaster?

It's a question of whose ox is being gored.

In this case it's not just that, but a lack of willingness to put aside their disgust at perceived slights of their values in order to understand the point that's being made. People are often like that. I could point to a few news stories in the last 72 hours in which those left of center render themselves just as clueless in an attempt to defend their values. It's a human thing.

being trained to feel warm and fuzzy over a piece of cloth on a flagpole is nothing more than nationalism.

It doesn't symbolize anything more than superiority of your country over everyone and everything.

the golden arches tell me all is right in this world.

have the americans celebrate our holidays. I think that was one of the things I missed the most was McDonald's. When we got back that was one of the places we went to. Now I hardly ever go to McDonald's. I can't even remember the last time I went.

i hate my government, but i love my people (no matter how stupid they are). i was born here, i'm an american, and that's just the way it is.

states but I love europe. I kinda of grew up in my early years. I love people overseas. They know how to live and what is really important in life. Of course I do have relatives who are born in europe and live there. I visited them in my grown up years but now I'm getting to old to travel and it tires me out. I have my dreams and pictures.

for obvious stupidity.

Now, that's a pity.

Freedom ain't free 'cause we aint' give you none.

I don't agree with what he did, but it's a little extreme to fire him for it.

But it's a horrible way to make a point about anything.

It only outrages people and your point is lost in the outrage.

Counterproductive and inflammatory.

So we liberals should make sure our words don't hurt conservatives' FEELINGS? Remember that Michigan state senate Lisa Brown who called our anti choice Republicans by saying "you're interested in my vagina, but no means no?" Think about that.

This teacher is a hero to me. If ONE student in that right wing fundamentalist hell hole in SC wakes up and becomes a skeptical thinker rather than conformist "patriot", it's worth it.