Welcome to my blog! I'm Victoria, and I love liberty, individual rights, and writing about politics, trials, and current events. Read more about me here.
"You have to start with the truth. The truth is the only way that we can get anywhere. Because any decision-making that is based upon lies or ignorance can't lead to a good conclusion." ~ Julian Assange
Shawn Stevens is in 7th grade at Dover Middle School, New Hampshire. He also has autism. And he loves his country…so much that he brought an American flag to school, which was given to him by a family friend whose son is about to serve in Afghanistan. School officials did not appreciate Shawn’s patriotism. They confiscated the flag, saying that it could be dangerous.
“This was a safety concern. It had nothing to do with the flag, it had to do with the size of the stick that the flag was on,” said the principal.
Shawn, I salute you for your patriotism! America (and the world) needs more kids like you.
Today is Independence Day, a day to celebrate America and the freedom that makes this country great. Freedom is something that we should never lose sight of, no matter the dangers or difficulties our country faces.
I believe that the video below fits the theme of Independence Day. This is an inspiring speech by state representative David Simpson of Texas, who (unsuccessfully, sadly) introduced a bill making intrusive pat-downs without reasonable suspicion illegal. The Fourth of July only comes once a year, but every day is Independence Day!
In honor of 9/11, I give you a truly magnificent speech by Ron Paul. He gave this speech on May 22, 2007 to address the erosion of our liberties, especially after 9/11, and the difference between blind obedience to government policies and true patriotism, which sometimes entails fighting back against government policies that destroy liberty.
“The original American patriots were those individuals brave enough to resist with force the oppressive power of King George. I accept the definition of patriotism as that effort to resist oppressive state power.
The true patriot is motivated by a sense of responsibility and out of self-interest for himself, his family, and the future of his country to resist government abuse of power. He rejects the notion that patriotism means obedience to the state. Resistance need not be violent, but the civil disobedience that might be required involves confrontation with the state and invites possible imprisonment.
Peaceful, nonviolent revolutions against tyranny have been every bit as successful as those involving military confrontation. Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., achieved great political successes by practicing nonviolence, and yet they suffered physically at the hands of the state. But whether the resistance against government tyrants is nonviolent or physically violent, the effort to overthrow state oppression qualifies as true patriotism.
True patriotism today has gotten a bad name, at least from the government and the press. Those who now challenge the unconstitutional methods of imposing an income tax on us, or force us to use a monetary system designed to serve the rich at the expense of the poor are routinely condemned. These American patriots are sadly looked down upon by many. They are never praised as champions of liberty as Gandhi and Martin Luther King have been.”
On Cinco de Mayo, two high school students in California wore American flag t-shirts to school. The principal told them to either take the shirts off or wear them inside out, calling them “incendiary.” Now the two boys and their parents are suing the school system, claiming that the school’s actions violated their constitutional rights:
Kendall and Joy Jones; John and Dianna Dariano, parents of Matthew Dariano; and Kurt and Julie Ann Fagerstrom, parents of Dominic Maciel, are asking a judge to rule that what happened May 5 at Live Oak violated the First and Fourteenth amendments, and that the school district’s policy regarding student speech is too vague.
The suit also asks for “nominal damages” and to award attorneys’ fees.
The Morgan Hill Unified School District, Live Oak Principal Nick Boden and Assistant Principal Miguel Rodriguez are named as the defendants.
Some people might call this lawsuit frivolous, but I think it has merit. No one should be banned from showing pride in their country, even during the holiday of another country. So many teenagers try to be cool and fit in at all costs that it’s a breath of fresh air to hear about teens showing their patriotism and standing up for what they believe in. It’s too bad that the Fourth of July doesn’t fall during the school year, because it would be interesting to see if the school allowed students to wear Mexican flag t-shirts on America’s holiday.
Customers of a Marblehead gym are mad that there’s a big flag hanging from the ceiling! According to Fox25…
“The Fitness club’s owner, 23 year-old Mark Shea, hung the 12 foot long flag from the gym rafters on Friday and had over a dozen complaints by Monday. Some have complained that the flag blocks gym televisions, while some members have gone as far as to say that the flag is offensive. One members (sic) was quoted to say ‘It’s like putting a Jesus cross in my face.’”
Okay, I can understand the issue with the televisions (the gym owner subsequently moved the flag so it didn’t block them), but offensive? The American flag???
I can also understand why someone who didn’t believe in Jesus would be offended by a “Jesus cross,” but a flag is not comparable to a cross. People legitimately disagree on matters of religion, but I don’t think anyone disagrees that the gym is in America. An American flag doesn’t stand for a particular political theory, but simply for our nation, which happens to be where the gym is located. What could be offensive about that? Do these people think America shouldn’t exist?
If I was in another country and that country’s flag was displayed in a gym, that wouldn’t offend me in the least. It’s awesome to be proud of your country, no matter what country you’re from.
If you don’t like America (and you must not if you find our flag offensive), then you shouldn’t live here.
