Well, as always.

And also as always I'm just sorry that we don't live nearer to each other A-1, cause you feel like a good friend to me too and little you can say could change that.

Hell, I think I know exactly what you mean, but this is just a place for talking and I prefer to agree "in principle" and the way we achive that IS talking.

Well, I can't join in compulsary confessions and you defend the right to confess; Doesn't sound too bad.

What is always impressive to me is how sophisticated discussions go on here.

But I think we've got the topic through...

Anything else?

Well Charlieje i think i will heed your good advice and not say anything except may god bless every one of you.

The ultimate arrogance of religion is to demand that you believe and act in one way, shape or form.

The addition of the words "under God" to the Pledge was a "gimmick" for the anti-communist, McCarthy type forces who believed that the words "under God" would somehow choke the nonbelieving communist. What utter and simple hoooie!

I find the wearing of one's religion on one's sleeve (so open and so obvious) offensive and insulting. It's not that I am an athiest or that I am not religious, to the contrary, I am very religious and a regular church-goer. But, But, But, It's not my place to demand your behaviour conform to my standards. Nor should it be religion's place to demand that you change your beliefs to conform to theirs. And anyone who stands in front of others and proclaims how "good" and how "holy" they are is guilty of the sin of pride. Remember those seven deadly sins?

Dave

I suppose that is true, but arrogance and pride is hardly exemplified by subjugating one's self as being "under God".

Furthermore, the words "good" and "holy" are nowhere in the pledge. Those are value judgements that others place on the principles laid down in the pledge.

Value judgements are a matter of opinion. Some, (like Saddam), might not think that "liberty and justice" for all is a good thing. Also, "...one nation, indivisible..." certainly means that Saddam has a fight on his hands and it is scaring him into digging up his weapons of mass destruction that he has hidden. I would imagine that this is not a good thing for him, either.

Please note that Saddam will not do anything that he is supposed to do unless he is scared shitless.

Notice that the media has reported that in the first part of the impending war the U.S. wil use "7 times" the number of guided bombs that was used in the first part of Desert Storm.

Anyone who knows anything about numerology will tell you that the number "7" has religious and righteous connotations to it.

All of the hype is designed to have the maximum effect by the people who invented "spin doctoring".

Remember, no war has started yet. All of the anti-war protests are about something that has not happened...yet.

I don't think that anybody has "demanded" that everyone say the pledge. What has been demanded is that nobody stops anybody else from doing it. That's our right. It is a free country.

I tell you what. Here's the deal. I won't dog the war protesters if y'all don't try to stop me from saying the Pledge of Allegiance. That's fair, isn't it? Or would you rather that they deny me my Constitutional rights?

A-1

Charlieje (imported) wrote: Thu Mar 06, 2003 5:40 pm This will be my last post on this thread.

....

I may very well destroy my welcome here in the Archive, at least by some of the members, but we have to do what we have to do; and what I have to do now is to stand up and declare myself to be a Christian, a very devoted Christian, who has denied or ignored my God far too long.

Congratulations Charlie

You had the courage to stand up for what you believe in the face of adversity. I have also fallen short in that area. We must not be ashamed of our faith in GOD. The world was a much better place when people's faith was stronger.