<div id="RTEContent">I fail to see the logical connection between searching hand bags and saying the pledge of allegiance, Sunil.; but I guess that is why you are the lawyer and I am stupid college kid.<br> <br> However, I will point out that saying the pledge of allegiance, fight songs, national anthems, etc. by a group has proved to be effective in creating a sense of community and belonging. It helps people feel like they are all part of something important. That is why the military, sports teams, and other groups use it.<br> <br> The Pledge of Allegiance may in truth not directly do anything. But it is important, just like singing the Vandal Fight Song at a football game is important. It does not directly cause a goal, but it gives a since of pride and purpose of those that do. The city council does not meet just to pass zoning codes, it does not meet to just decide policy, ballparks, roads, and budgets. Those are just details to a larger purpose of the c!
ouncil,
which is to serve the people of this great nation and city. <br> <br> I REJECT the concept that this nation should only show loyalty and commitment to friends and neighbors ONLY in a time of war or tragedy. Or as others say, through their votes. We should show it always. The United States Flag and the Pledge have deep meaning to me, and millions of Americans. To eliminate its recognition for which we enjoy its protection and all that came with that protection, those that died for it, is wrong in my heart and mind. You may not agree with that thought, and that is fine. But I, personally view the stopping of the pledge before a US government meeting of elected US officials as insulting and I am going to say so.<br> <br> If you want to call that belief silly, that is fine. You can call those that say it silly. If members of the council do not want to invest a whopping two minutes a month I guess that is there right to do so. However, I strongly disagree and tak!
e offense
to the action. <br> <br> If the pledge and the flag is do unimportant, why do people get so upset when the Confederate flag is honored. Because we all know, that the MEANING behind a flag screams our values, our beliefs, and our future commitments. <br> <br> _DJA<br> <br> <br><br><b><i>Sunil Ramalingam <sunilramalingam@hotmail.com></i></b> wrote:<blockquote class="replbq" style="border-left: 2px solid rgb(16, 16, 255); margin-left: 5px; padding-left: 5px;"> And by your logic, Donovan, those with nothing to hide should not mind <br>opening their bags, vehicles, and homes to searches by the police. They <br>should welcome warrantless searches of these, as well as monitoring of their <br>email and phone conversations by the NSA. If they're loyal, why object to <br>such intrusions?<br><br>It is silly to think that somehow good governance follows because the pledge <br>is recited. Did the City Council's performance improve after they started <br>sa!
ying the
Pledge at meetings four years ago? Wasn't the ludicrous Topless <br>Ordinance enacted within the last four years? The decision to pour money <br>into the gym? That was certainly in the last four years. When former Mayor <br>Comstock told residents in the neighborhood near the proposed ballfields to <br>wear earplugs, was that inspired by the Pledge? Was that responsive <br>governance?<br><br>I honestly don't know how often the Pledge is recited by the President or <br>Congress, but I don't see them serving our interests with either the war in <br>Iraq or by running up staggering deficits. I'd prefer they spend less time <br>on the pledge, and more time avoiding bone-headed policies.<br><br>I won't be judging this council on the basis of whether they start their <br>meetings with the Pledge of Alliegance. I'll judge them on the basis of <br>their responsiveness to the public and by the quality of their decisions. I <br>am more interested in what they do after the mee!
ting
starts than whether <br>they can chant in unison at the beginning.<br><br>Sunil<br><br>>From: Donovan Arnold <donovanjarnold2005 @yahoo.com=""><br>>To: John Dickinson <johnd @moscow.com="">, "'Phil Nisbet'" <br>><pcnisbet1 @hotmail.com="">, nchaney@moscow.com<br>>CC: aaronament@moscow.com, vision2020@moscow.com, johnd@moscow.com, <br>>blambert@ci.moscow.id.us, jweber@ci.moscow.id.us, "'Linda Pall'" <br>><lpall @moscow.com="">, bstout@ci.moscow.id.us<br>>Subject: RE: [Vision2020] City Council and the Pledge<br>>Date: Fri, 20 Jan 2006 23:37:17 -0800 (PST)<br>><br>>John and Nancy,<br>><br>> I want to thank you for having the courage to write Vision2020 and <br>>publicly address the issue of the Pledge of Allegiance.<br>><br>> However, I want to say that it saddens my heart and upsets my stomach <br>>that you have removed the pledge of allegiance to our flag from your <br>>bi-monthly meetings. I stron!
gly
believe that this is a step in the wrong <br>>direction, particularly at this time.<br>><br>> Granted, the pledge is abused, misused, uttered with content, <br>>repetition, and without meaning to many, and its purpose is lost on many <br>>more. But regardless, the pledge was meant to illustrate to the public <br>>your loyalty to the people. It is a reminder to the corruptible, to <br>>politicians that forget why they are there after many years of service, <br>>and to those about to cast a vote to spite a political enemy or help a <br>>personal friend, that their vote and loyalty belongs to and for all the <br>>PEOPLE of Moscow, the people of Idaho, and the people of the United <br>>States.<br>><br>> With all of the corruption, back room deals, and dishonest politicians <br>>in our mists, I believe it is important that every elected official make a <br>>public statement before casting a vote that they acknowledge pu!
blicly
WHY <br>>and for WHO they are casting their vote.<br>><br>> I am sorry to hear, Councilman Dickinson, that saying the pledge twice a <br>>month is too much for you. I for one feel that we should be honored to say <br>>it at least as much.<br>><br>> The irony here is that we force our children every school day to take a <br>>loyalty to the nation when they know not the meaning of the word, and the <br>>politicos that need to remind themselves and the people why they are <br>>elected to office, excuse themselves from such commitments.<br>><br>> Mayor Cheney, Councilman Dickinson, and the other member of the <br>>council, if you feel your oath to this city is unquestionable, if you have <br>> unquestionable loyalty to this nation, if you do not question your <br>>pride in this nation, then their should be no question to your <br>>willingness to say the pledge twice a month that children say five times a
<br>>week.<br>><br>> Sincerely,<br>><br>> Donovan J Arnold<br>>Proud United States Citizen and Moscow Resident<br><br><br>_____________________________________________________<br> List services made available by First Step Internet, <br> serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994. <br> http://www.fsr.net <br> mailto:Vision2020@moscow.com<br>ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ<br></lpall></pcnisbet1></johnd></donovanjarnold2005></blockquote><br></div><p>
<hr size=1> <a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=38381/ ylc=X3oDMTEzcGlrdGY5BF9TAzk3MTA3MDc2BHNlYwNtYWlsdGFncwRzbGsDMWF1dG9z/*http://autos.yahoo.com/index.html ">Yahoo! Autos</a>. Looking for a sweet ride? Get pricing, reviews, & more on new and used cars.