Okay, need to seperate patriotism and support for those who would put themselves in harms way from military service.
A patriot is, by definition, "one who loves his or her country and supports its authority and interests." Since our government respects our freedom of speech and public assembly we do not have to agree with the current ruling government. When you look at those in military service, they take an oath to follow the orders of their superiors. The top of that chain of command is an elected civillian, the President. To disobey any order regardless of your overall political view then breaks that oath. It is not a crime to think or hold opinions but it is a crime to disobey an order. The two can be completely seperate. You can have a patriot who loves America and our way of life but disagree completely with the current (or previous) government action either at home or abroad. That person can serve in the military, which means that regardless of their political opinions they must follow the orders of their superiors. You can have someone who is in the military that is not truly a patriot. So long as they follow the orders laid before them they are still keeping their oath. And just as I finish writing this, here's a nice bit of humor to go with it: http://hatton.mine.nu/~hatton/1_weekend_a_month.jpg Hatton -----Original Message----- From: Kevin Graeme [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, June 10, 2003 4:31 PM To: CF-Community Subject: RE: A good american I actually don't have any issue with any of that. By pledging loyalty to myself first and foremost, that doesn't preclude me from dying for what I believe in. On the contrary, if it's the only recourse, it requires me to do so to remain loyal to myself. Protecting this country from harm would be protecting myself. But I simply cannot follow orders to protect greed and political machinations that don't coincide with my personal beliefs. I do not have any issue with the good people in uniform who put their lives on the line for others. I do take issue with some of the other things they are asked to do though, and I have known a few people that I don't respect as persons no matter what clothes they wear. -Kevin > -----Original Message----- > From: Adam Churvis [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Tuesday, June 10, 2003 4:12 PM > To: CF-Community > Subject: Re: A good american > > > > I have loyalty to myself before any loyalty to America. I have > > "desecrated" the flag. And more than all the rest, I absolutely > > believe that the word "god" does NOT belong in the Pledge of > > Allegiance. > > If called upon to do so, I would die for my country and every > man, woman, and child in it regardless of their race, creed, > or color. I consider this to be my duty as an American. > > When I was a child, my father and I came close to drowning > one very windy day when our sailboat capsized in frigid > waters on Lake Michigan. Right around the time where my > reactions were getting slow, my speech was slightly slurred, > and my skin had turned a bit blue, an olive drab helicopter > with the word "MARINES" in white capital letters on its > underside appeared overhead and lowered a basket. My dad put > me in first, and on the way up I kept looking at the Marine > working the hoist. He looked worried. He quickly got me > inside and wrapped me in blankets, then lowered it to my dad > who came up next. The Marine checked my eyes and fingers, > asked me my name and what day it was, etc., and they flew us > over to Highland Park Hospital were we were treated for > exposure and hypothermia. They saved our lives. > > Why were the Marines there, and not the Coast Guard? I found > out later that the Coast Guard had its hands full with > previous calls for help that day, so they placed a call to > the closest Marines they could find, who simply replied, > "We're on it." The weather was not good for a helicopter > rescue, but all the Coast Guard boats were too far away to > get there in time, so a couple of Marines who got a call > risked their lives to save ours, and it wasn't even their job. > > A couple of years later I enrolled in Marine Military > Academy, and for the next three years I had the honor and > privilege of learning from some of the finest men alive what > that was all about. As a result, I am loyal to my country > and her countrymen first and foremost, my family second, and > every other responsibility in my life third. I'll worry > about myself after 1, 2, and 3 are secured. > > This may be corny and old-fashioned, but I'll never change. > > I can't. > > Respectfully, > > Adam Phillip Churvis > Member of Team Macromedia > > Advanced Intensive ColdFusion MX Training > ColdFusion MX Master Class: > July 14 - 18, 2003 > http://www.ColdFusionTraining.com > > Download CommerceBlocks V2.1 and LoRCAT from > http://www.ProductivityEnhancement.com > > The ColdFusion MX > Bible is in bookstores now! > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/index.cfm?forumid=5 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/index.cfm?method=subscribe&forumid=5 Signup for the Fusion Authority news alert and keep up with the latest news in ColdFusion and related topics. http://www.fusionauthority.com/signup.cfm Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=89.70.5
