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Roger,
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I don't recall anyone saying that council should not say the Pledge
because it takes too much time. Donovan posted that it was a bad
reason to offer but no one -- in my recollection -- every offered this
as a reason. Don Huskey claimed that saying the Pledge was a waste of
time but this is a different point. Picking up a penny is a waste of
time -- in the end you only have a penny for your efforts -- but it
doesn't take a lot of time.
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I agree -- very much -- with the last point that you made but one can
support either side of the debate with that point. For instance, no
one is holding a gun to anyone's head and requiring them NOT to say
the Pledge. Those who wish to recite the Pledge before council
meetings can do so. I think they should do it BEFORE council starts
since council and the mayor have decided not to say it on a regular
basis. I find it interesting that some folks are not satisfied with
saying the Pledge or a prayer in private. They must say it in front of
others and must compel others to say it with them. This indicates to
me that saying the Pledge or praying is more of a political gesture
than it is a patriotic or religious one. For SOME people, at least.<br>
--<br>Joe Campbell<br><br>---- lfalen <lfalen turbonet.com="#DEFAULT">
wrote:<br><br>=============<br>Most of the comments for not saying the
pledge are accurate enough, except for it takings to long. It takes
less than a minute. That is not much time out of any busy schedule. It
is true that scoundrels would not have o problem saying the pledge. As
samuel Johnson said " Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel".
None of this is a justification for not saying it. That is like
"throwing the baby out with the bath water" The pledge serves a useful
purpose. It is good to reaffirm allegiance to our country. The
continued dropping of things patriotic eventually leads to a
disrespect for the country. There is enough revisionist history
already that reminds everyone of how many worts we have. No one is
holding a gun to anyone's head and requiring them to say it. Have it
presented. Those that want to recite it can do so. Any one who does
not want to can remain silent or leave out passages they don't agree
with.<br><br>Roger<br><br>
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