{"id":124476,"date":"2014-06-14T23:10:00","date_gmt":"2014-06-14T23:10:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/?guid=e4ee051400af5f33e2cd3217cbc04525"},"modified":"2014-06-14T23:13:44","modified_gmt":"2014-06-14T23:13:44","slug":"video-star-spangled-banner-flag-day-2014","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/editorials\/video-star-spangled-banner-flag-day-2014\/","title":{"rendered":"Video : &quot;Star Spangled Banner&quot; &#8211; Flag Day 2014"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-size: x-small;\">*cross-posted from <a href=\"http:\/\/assolutatranquillita.blogspot.ca\/\" >Assoluta Tranquillita<\/a>*&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-IlR8Ze0zxtc\/U5zSx7-fW6I\/AAAAAAAADkU\/aEgc86YGIBY\/s1600\/USflag2.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" border=\"0\" src=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-IlR8Ze0zxtc\/U5zSx7-fW6I\/AAAAAAAADkU\/aEgc86YGIBY\/s1600\/USflag2.jpg\" height=\"285\" width=\"400\" \/><\/a><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/opinion\/2014\/06\/14\/flag-day-power-those-broad-stripes-and-bright-stars\/\" ><b>Flag Day 2014<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Now more than ever, we all need to be mindful of WHY our flag, our heritage is so important:<br \/><iframe loading=\"lazy\" allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"315\" src=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/a6vwXbQZvJo\" width=\"420\"><\/iframe>  <br \/><span style=\"font-size: small;\">I wrote this piece a few years back,  and posted it on <a href=\"http:\/\/mikegulf.blogspot.com\/2007\/08\/star-spangled-banner.html\"><span style=\"font-style: italic;\">Tanker Bros<\/span><\/a>.   Now seemed like a good time to post it here.  :)<\/p>\n<p>I first heard the <span style=\"font-style: italic;\">Star Spangled Banner<\/span> at a July 4 community barbeque many years ago. Fresh from my homeland  just two days previously, I stood in small town America and watched, and  listened, as everybody joined to sing this anthem. (And yes &#8211; that was  my first exposure to that great American institution: barbeques!)To this  day, whenever I hear this, I remember that first July 4 and am reminded  of the amazing display of patriotism, unity.<\/p>\n<p>Those were the days when America was  torn apart by the Vietnam war, when neighbour argued with neighbour over  the back fence about the validity of the US involvement in a land far  away. But, at that barbque, celebrating a most American holiday, there  was no evidence of the tears in the fabric of American society. For  those few shining moments, there was a unity, a common bond of purpose.<\/p>\n<p>Many years have passed since that first  time. I have travelled many miles of the heart, and learned many things &#8211;  worked with thousands of children from around the world in both America  and Canada. You have to know that I was raised with a visceral love of  my country. To this day I get goosebumps whenever I hear MY national  anthem, no matter the miles separating me from my homeland. I can sing  every word, and taste, and feel, and smell the land of my birth.<\/p>\n<p>So here we are in another war in a land  far, far away (for now! We all know that in reality, THIS war is already  in our own backyards.) And yes, the <span style=\"font-style: italic;\">Star Spangled Banner<\/span> is still sung in small towns, and big cities across the land. Today  though, because of what I have seen, I often pause and wonder: do these  people really REALLY understand, mean, what they are singing? Do  Americans today LIVE the meaning of the words? Sure, we all teach our  children to recite the <span style=\"font-style: italic;\">Pledge of Allegiance<\/span> (at least until it is totally outlawed by the dimtwits), and we still  raise the young people of our nations to revere the flag &#8211; that symbol  of what their forefathers and mothers fought for, bled for, and died  for. My daughter is blessed. She has been nurtured in the love of two  countries. For her, it is as natural as breathing to know all the words  of MY national anthem, and sing them with pride and allegiance. She  also, because of her birthland, is able to sing another national anthem  (in both official languages no less!) and understand what every word  means. She LIVES them, because we have been discussing what the words  mean &#8211; the concepts behind them &#8211; since she could talk. Years ago, James  Clavell was struck when his young daughter came home from school and  proudly recited what she had learned that day. Word perfect, she recited  rote fashion:<\/span> <span style=\"font-size: x-small;\"><br \/><\/span><\/p>\n<div align=\"center\">\n<table border=\"1\" cellpadding=\"2\" cellspacing=\"2\" style=\"height: 88px; width: 350px;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\"><span style=\"font-size: x-small;\"><b>   <span style=\"font-size: small;\">I pledge allegiance to my Flag,<br \/>and to the Republic for which it stands:<br \/>     one Nation indivisible,<br \/>With Liberty and Justice for all.<\/span><\/b><span style=\"font-size: small;\">                           <span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">October 11, 1892<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: x-small;\"><br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-size: small;\">A really interesting history of the origins of the <span style=\"font-style: italic;\">Pledge of Allegiance<\/span> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.homeofheroes.com\/hallofheroes\/1st_floor\/flag\/1bfc_pledge.html\">here.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Clavell asked his daughter what that all  meant after she had finished. She had no clue. Imagine that. Clavell  then wrote a short story (by his prolific standards anyway. lol) called &#8220;<span style=\"font-style: italic;\">The<\/span> <span style=\"font-style: italic;\">Children&#8217;s Story<\/span>.&#8221; You can find the text of the whole story online &#8211; I did. Please, go read that <a href=\"http:\/\/mywebpages.comcast.net\/llefler\/clavell.htm\">here<\/a>.  I came across a copy of this a few years back, and I remember how it  resonated for me. At the time, I had worked with many kids, was a mother  myself, and was currently working in a classroom of impressionable 5  year olds. Is there anything more precious? That may sound like a  throwaway comment, question, but it really is not.<\/p>\n<p>And then just last week I got an email about the <span style=\"font-style: italic;\">Star Spangled Banner<\/span> from an American friend. In it, is a speech which Isaac Asimov gave in 1991 about <span style=\"font-style: italic;\">The Star Spangled Banner<\/span>. And yes, I went and actually found a copy of this speech on the Freepers site (lol) You can go<a href=\"http:\/\/www.freerepublic.com\/focus\/f-news\/1176715\/posts\"> here<\/a> for that. Is well worth a look for the comments alone. However, because  I think it is important, I am going to copy and paste the entire email  my friend sent me &#8211; with HER comments as a preface&#8230;;)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<div align=\"center\">\n<table border=\"1\" cellpadding=\"2\" cellspacing=\"2\" style=\"height: 3000px; width: 375px;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><br \/>&#8220;When I was a teacher, I taught English  and reading, but for several years I taught history. I was very familiar  with the national anthem, and my students enjoyed when I told them the  story of how it came to be written. I, too, told it in story form and  the kids loved it when I pretended to peer into the early morning fog  while asking, &#8220;Can you see it? Whose flag is it? Who won?&#8221; I think they  understand it better now. It has some&#8230;..uh..ahem..rather antiBritish  sections, but that was a loooooong time ago! We&#8217;re buddies now! LOL&#8221; (my  note: Yes &#8211; we ARE!!!)<\/p>\n<p>      <span style=\"color: black; font-family: Verdana;\"><span style=\"color: black; font-family: Verdana;\"><b><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">NO REFUGE COULD SAVE : BY DR. ISAAC ASIMOV <\/span><\/b>      <\/p>\n<p><b><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">I  was once asked to speak at a luncheon. Taking my life in my hands, I  announced I was going to sing our national anthem &#8212; all four stanzas.  This was greeted with loud groans. One man closed the door to the  kitchen, where the noise of dishes and cutlery was loud and distracting.  &#8220;Thanks, Herb,&#8221; I said. <\/span><\/b><\/span><\/span><b><i><span style=\"color: black;\"><span style=\"color: black; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;\">&#8220;That&#8217;s all right,&#8221;<\/span><\/span><\/i> <\/b><b><span style=\"color: black; font-family: Verdana;\"><span style=\"color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-weight: bold;\">he said. <\/span><\/span><\/b><b><i><span style=\"color: black;\"><span style=\"color: black; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;\">&#8220;It was at the request of the kitchen staff&#8221; <\/span><\/span><\/i><\/b><span style=\"color: black; font-family: Verdana;\"><span style=\"color: black; font-family: Verdana;\">      <\/p>\n<p><b><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">I  explained the background of the anthem and then sang all four stanzas.  Let me tell you, those people had never heard it before &#8212; or had never  really listened. There was a standing ovation. But it was not for me; it  was the anthem. <\/span><\/b>      <\/p>\n<p><b><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">More  recently, while conducting a seminar, I told my students the story of  the anthem and sang all four stanzas. Again there was a wild ovation and  prolonged applause. And again, it was the anthem and not me. <\/span><\/b>      <\/p>\n<p><b><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">So now let me tell you how it came to be written. <\/span><\/b>      <\/p>\n<p><b><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">In  1812, the United States went to war with Great Britain, primarily over  freedom of the seas. We were in the right. For two years, we held off  the British, even though we were still a rather weak country. Great  Britain was in a life and death struggle with Napoleon. In fact, just as  the United States declared war, Napoleon marched off to invade Russia.  If he won, as everyone expected, he would control Europe, and Great  Britain would be isolated. It was no time for her to be involved in an  American war. <\/span><\/b>      <\/p>\n<p><b><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">At  first, our seamen proved better than the British. After we won a battle  on Lake Erie in 1813, the American commander, Oliver Hazard Perry, sent  the message, <\/span><\/b><\/span><\/span><b><i><span style=\"color: black;\"><span style=\"color: black; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;\">&#8220;We have met the enemy and they are ours.&#8221;<\/span><\/span><\/i><\/b><b><span style=\"color: black; font-family: Verdana;\"><span style=\"color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-weight: bold;\"> However, the weight of the British navy beat down our ships eventually.  New England, hard-hit by a tightening blockade, threatened secession.      <\/p>\n<p><b><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Meanwhile, Napoleon was  beaten in Russia and in 1814 was forced to abdicate. Great Britain now  turned its attention to the United States, launching a three-pronged  attack. <\/span><\/b>      <\/p>\n<p><b><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">The northern prong was to come down Lake Champlain toward New York and seize parts of New England. <\/span><\/b>      <\/p>\n<p><b><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">The southern prong was to go up the Mississippi, take New Orleans and paralyze the west. <\/span><\/b>      <\/p>\n<p><b><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">The  central prong was to head for the mid-Atlantic states and then attack  Baltimore, the greatest port south of New York. If Baltimore was taken,  the nation, which still hugged the Atlantic coast, could be split in  two. The fate of the United States, then, rested to a large extent on  the success or failure of the central prong. <\/span><\/b>      <\/p>\n<p><b><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">The  British reached the American coast, and on August 24, 1814, took  Washington, D.C.Then they moved up the Chesapeake Bay toward Baltimore.  On September 12, they arrived and found 1,000 men in Fort McHenry, whose  guns controlled the harbor. If the British wished to take Baltimore,  they would have to take the fort. <\/span><\/b>      <\/p>\n<p><b><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">On  one of the British ships was an aged physician, William Beanes, who had  been arrested in Maryland and brought along as a prisoner. Francis  Scott Key, a lawyer and friend of the physician, had come to the ship to  negotiate his release. <\/span><\/b>      <\/p>\n<p><b><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">The  British captain was willing, but the two Americans would have to wait.  It was now the night of September 13, and the bombardment of Fort  McHenry was about to start. <\/span><\/b>      <\/p>\n<p><b><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">As  twilight deepened, Key and Beanes saw the American flag flying over  Fort McHenry. Through the night, they heard bombs bursting and saw the  red glare of rockets. They knew the fort was resisting and the American  flag was still flying. But toward morning the bombardment ceased, and a  dread silence fell. Either Fort McHenry had surrendered and the British  flag flew above it, or the bombardment had failed and the American flag  still flew. <\/span><\/b>      <\/p>\n<p><b><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">As  dawn began to brighten the eastern sky, Key and Beanes stared out at  the fort, trying to see which flag flew over it. He and the physician  must have asked each other over and over, <\/span><\/b><\/span><\/span><b><i><span style=\"color: black;\"><span style=\"color: black; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;\">&#8220;Can you see the flag?&#8221; <\/span><\/span><\/i><\/b><span style=\"color: black; font-family: Verdana;\"><span style=\"color: black; font-family: Verdana;\">      <\/p>\n<p><b><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">After  it was all finished, Key wrote a four stanza poem telling the events of  the night. Entitled &#8220;The Defense of Fort McHenry,&#8221; it was published in  newspapers and swept the nation. Someone noted that the words fit an old  English tune called, &#8220;To Anacreon in Heaven&#8221; &#8212; a difficult melody with  an uncomfortably large vocal range. For obvious reasons, Key&#8217;s work  became known as &#8220;The Star Spangled Banner,&#8221; and in 1931 Congress  declared it the official anthem of the United States. <\/span><\/b>      <\/p>\n<p><b><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Now that you know the story, here are the words. Presumably, the old doctor is speaking. This is what he asks Key:<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/span>                                                                        <\/b><br \/><\/span><\/p>\n<div style=\"margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-top: 5pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><\/span><\/p>\n<div style=\"margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-top: 5pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><\/span><\/p>\n<div style=\"margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-top: 5pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><b>                                   <\/b><br \/><b><b><span style=\"color: navy; font-family: Verdana;\"><span style=\"color: navy; font-family: Verdana; font-weight: bold;\">Oh! say can you see, by the dawn&#8217;s early light,<\/span><\/span><\/b><\/b><b>                                   <\/b><br \/><b>                                   <\/b><br \/><b><b><span style=\"color: navy; font-family: Verdana;\"><span style=\"color: navy; font-family: Verdana; font-weight: bold;\">What so proudly we hailed at the twilight&#8217;s last gleaming?<\/span><\/span><\/b><\/b><b>                                   <\/b><br \/><b>                                   <\/b><br \/><b><b><span style=\"color: navy; font-family: Verdana;\"><span style=\"color: navy; font-family: Verdana; font-weight: bold;\">Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight, <\/span><\/span><\/b><\/b><span style=\"color: navy; font-family: Verdana;\"><span style=\"color: navy; font-family: Verdana;\"><b>            <br \/><b><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">O&#8217;er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming? <\/span><\/b>            <br \/><b><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">And the rocket&#8217;s red glare, the bombs bursting in air, <\/span><\/b>            <br \/><b><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Gave proof thro&#8217; the night that our flag was still there. <\/span><\/b>            <br \/><b><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Oh! say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave, <\/span><\/b>            <br \/><b><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">O&#8217;er the land of the free and the home of the brave?<\/span><\/b><\/b><\/span><\/span><b>                                   <\/b><br \/><b>                                   <\/b><br \/><b><b><span style=\"color: black; font-family: Times New Roman;\"><span style=\"color: black; font-weight: bold;\">            <\/span><\/span><\/b><\/b><b><b><span style=\"color: black;\"><span style=\"color: black; font-weight: bold;\">(&#8220;Ramparts,&#8221; in case you don&#8217;t know, are the protective walls or other elevations that surround a fort.)<\/span><\/span><\/b><\/b><b>                                   <\/b><br \/><b>                                   <\/b><br \/><b><b><span style=\"color: black; font-family: Times New Roman;\"><span style=\"color: black; font-weight: bold;\">The first stanza asks a question.<\/span><\/span><\/b><\/b><b>                                   <\/b><br \/><b>                                   <\/b><br \/><b><b><span style=\"color: black; font-family: Times New Roman;\"><span style=\"color: black; font-weight: bold;\">The second gives an answer:<\/span><\/span><\/b><\/b><b>                                   <\/b><br \/><b>                                   <\/b><br \/><span style=\"color: black; font-family: Times New Roman;\"><span style=\"color: black;\"><b>            <\/b><\/span><\/span><b><b><span style=\"color: navy; font-family: Verdana;\"><span style=\"color: navy; font-family: Verdana; font-weight: bold;\">On the shore, dimly seen thro&#8217; the mist of the deep <\/span><\/span><\/b><b><span style=\"color: navy; font-family: Verdana;\"><span style=\"color: navy; font-family: Verdana; font-weight: bold;\">            <br \/>Where the foe&#8217;s haughty host in dread silence reposes, <\/span><\/span><\/b><\/b><span style=\"color: blue; font-family: Verdana;\"><span style=\"color: blue; font-family: Verdana;\"><b>            <\/b><\/span><\/span><b><b><span style=\"color: navy; font-family: Verdana;\"><span style=\"color: navy; font-family: Verdana; font-weight: bold;\">What is that which the breeze, o&#8217;er the towering steep. <\/span><\/span><\/b><\/b><span style=\"color: navy; font-family: Verdana;\"><span style=\"color: navy; font-family: Verdana;\"><b>            <br \/><b><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses? <\/span><\/b>            <br \/><b><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Now it catches the gleam of the morning&#8217;s first beam, <\/span><\/b>            <br \/><b><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">In full glory reflected, now shines on the stream <\/span><\/b>            <br \/><b><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">&#8216;Tis the star-spangled banner. Oh! long may it wave <\/span><\/b>            <br \/><b><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">O&#8217;er the land of the free and the home of the brave!<\/span><\/b><\/b><\/span><\/span><b>                                   <\/b><br \/><b>                                   <\/b><br \/><b><b><span style=\"color: black; font-family: Times New Roman;\"><span style=\"color: black; font-weight: bold;\">&#8220;The  towering steep&#8221; is again, the ramparts. The bombardment has failed, and  the British can do nothing more but sail away, their mission a failure.  In the third stanza I feel Key allows himself to gloat over the  American triumph. In the aftermath of the bombardment, Key probably was  in no mood to act otherwise? During World War I when the British were  our Staunchest allies, this third stanza was not sung. However, I know  it, so here it is:<\/span><\/span><\/b><\/b><b>                                   <\/b><br \/><b>                                   <\/b><br \/><span style=\"color: black; font-family: Verdana;\"><span style=\"color: black; font-family: Verdana;\"><b>            <\/b><\/span><\/span><b><b><span style=\"color: navy; font-family: Verdana;\"><span style=\"color: navy; font-family: Verdana; font-weight: bold;\">And where is that band, who so vauntingly swore <\/span><\/span><\/b><\/b><b>                                   <\/b><br \/><b>                                   <\/b><br \/><b><b><span style=\"color: navy; font-family: Verdana;\"><span style=\"color: navy; font-family: Verdana; font-weight: bold;\">That the havoc of war&#8230;and the battle&#8217;s confusion.<\/span><\/span><\/b><\/b><b>                                   <\/b><br \/><b>                                   <\/b><br \/><b><b><span style=\"color: navy; font-family: Verdana;\"><span style=\"color: navy; font-family: Verdana; font-weight: bold;\">A home and a country should leave us no more? <\/span><\/span><\/b><\/b><span style=\"color: navy; font-family: Verdana;\"><span style=\"color: navy; font-family: Verdana;\"><b>            <br \/><b><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Their blood has washed out their foul footstep&#8217;s pollution. <\/span><\/b>            <br \/><b><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">No refuge could save the hireling and slave <\/span><\/b>            <br \/><b><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave, <\/span><\/b>            <br \/><b><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave <\/span><\/b>            <br \/><b><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">O&#8217;er the land of the free and the home of the brave.<\/span><\/b><\/b><\/span><\/span><b>                                   <\/b><br \/><b>                                   <\/b><br \/><b><b><span style=\"color: black; font-family: Times New Roman;\"><span style=\"color: black; font-weight: bold;\">            <\/span><\/span><\/b><\/b><b><b><span style=\"color: black;\"><span style=\"color: black; font-weight: bold;\">(The fourth stanza, a pious hope for the future, should be sung more slowly than the other three and with even deeper feeling):<\/span><\/span><\/b><\/b><b>                                   <\/b><br \/><b>                                   <\/b><br \/><b><b><span style=\"color: navy; font-family: Verdana;\"><span style=\"color: navy; font-family: Verdana; font-weight: bold;\">Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand<\/span><\/span><\/b><\/b><b>                                   <\/b><br \/><b>                                   <\/b><br \/><b><b><span style=\"color: navy; font-family: Verdana;\"><span style=\"color: navy; font-family: Verdana; font-weight: bold;\">Between their loved homes and the war&#8217;s desolation,<\/span><\/span><\/b><\/b><b>                                   <\/b><br \/><b>                                   <\/b><br \/><b><b><span style=\"color: navy; font-family: Verdana;\"><span style=\"color: navy; font-family: Verdana; font-weight: bold;\">Blest with victory and peace, may the Heaven &#8211; rescued land <\/span><\/span><\/b><\/b><span style=\"color: navy; font-family: Verdana;\"><span style=\"color: navy; font-family: Verdana;\"><b>            <br \/><b><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation. <\/span><\/b>            <br \/><b><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Then conquer we must, for our cause is just, <\/span><\/b>            <br \/><b><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">And this be our motto &#8211;&#8220;In God is our trust.&#8221; <\/span><\/b>            <br \/><b><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave <\/span><\/b>            <br \/><b><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">O&#8217;er the land of the free and the home of the brave.<\/span><\/b><\/b><\/span><\/span><b>                                   <\/b><br \/><b>                                   <\/b><br \/><\/span><\/p>\n<div style=\"margin-bottom: 13.5pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><b><b><span style=\"color: black; font-family: Verdana;\"><span style=\"color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-weight: bold;\">I  hope this will help you to look at the national anthem with new eyes.  Listen to it, the next time you have a chance, with new ears. Pay  attention to the words. And don&#8217;t let them ever take it away &#8230; not  even one word of it.<\/span><\/span><\/b><\/b><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: x-small;\"><\/span><br \/><span style=\"font-size: x-small;\"><br \/><\/span><br \/><span style=\"font-size: small;\">So back to my question: Is there  anything more precious than young children earnestly reciting the words  on which your country was founded.<\/span><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><\/span><br \/><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-size: small;\">My answer? Yes &#8211; there sure is. More  precious than the recitation, is the teaching ALL our children what love  of country means. Concepts like loyalty, honour and duty to one&#8217;s  country seem to be in short supply in some schools these days.<\/span><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><\/span><br \/><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-size: small;\">But I suggest to you that it is critical today, that we each read, re-read words like this, and the <span style=\"font-style: italic;\">Pledge of Allegiance<\/span>. Not just read, or mouth the words, but really understand, feel and taste the importance of what our founding fathers gave us.<\/span><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><\/span><br \/><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Now it is imperative that we stand firm  at the gates. Now &#8211; as parents, educators of the precious young minds we  are charged with moulding, it is vital that we instil in every child  what &#8216;country&#8217; means. Today, just as throughout our history, we must  remind ourselves what we stand to lose if we are negligent in OUR duty.  We dare not abdicate our responsibility for our young ones. We MUST  teach our children well.<\/span><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/feeds.feedburner.com\/~r\/blogspot\/rnoHn\/~4\/noDpvaYQP_g\" height=\"1\" width=\"1\"\/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>*cross-posted from Assoluta Tranquillita*&nbsp;Flag Day 2014Now more than ever, we all need to be mindful of WHY our flag, our heritage is so important:  I wrote this piece a few years back,  and posted it on Tanker Bros.   Now seemed like a good time &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1237,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[461],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-124476","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-editorials"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/124476","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1237"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=124476"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/124476\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=124476"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=124476"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=124476"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}