Bend the knee

"In 1988, one of the central attacks revolved around the Pledge of Allegiance. Mr. Dukakis, as governor, had vetoed state legislation in 1977 that required teachers to lead their students in the pledge. He did so on the basis of an advisory opinion from the state court, which said the legislation was unconstitutional.

Mr. Dukakis, a Harvard lawyer surrounded by other Harvard lawyers, believed himself on very firm ground. But by August 1988, his Republican opponent, Vice President George H.W. Bush, was rousing huge crowds with a contemptuous question: “What is it about the Pledge of Allegiance that upsets him so much?”

Mr. Dukakis, Mr. Bush said, was “out in deep left field on these issues.” He was also “a card-carrying member of the A.C.L.U.,” more concerned with giving furloughs to criminals — like Willie Horton — than upholding national values, the vice president asserted."





The quote is taken from an article in Sunday's NYTimes.

One has to wonder if the Republicans will have the gall to try to cut off Obama at the knees on the patriotism charge and his membership in Pastor Jeremiah Wright's former church when John McCain is tied to a radical like the Rev. John Hagee.

Rev. Hagee has allegedly called Catholicism "The Great Whore" and has been quoted saing that American policy towards Palestine is causing terrorists to attack the United States.

But what particularly ticks me off is the issue that has long perplexed America-mixing up patriotism and holiness. Our children pledge fidelity to a flag-when our loyalty is to God first. Why should we force schoolchildren to promise allegiance to a symbol? Isn't that like making our young people bend their knees to an idol?

As the writer points out, around 80 percent of us tell polling groups that they feel the country is on the wrong track. Hopefully, this time, they won't be sucked into a false arguement about who loves America more. Here's some news-they all three love America, or they wouldn't let themselves come under these kind of personal attacks.

We will have to judge who has the best plans for rebuilding our character and our government. But let's do it on the basis of policy, not patriotism.