Thank you all for your comments!

Mann

Multiple Cultures and Factions Prevail.

Our culture is sliced up into many pieces or factions; so much so that the common elements are very few. Consider the following slices and dices among many:

Rich Man/ Poor Man

Democrat/Republican

Democrat/Conservative

Democrat/Progressive

Liberal/Conservative

Liberal/Progressive

Republican/Conservative

Republican/Progressive
Democratic/Libertarian

Republican/Libertarian

Radical Right/Radical Left

Educated/Uneducated

White collar/Blue Collar

Religion I/Religion II/Etc.

Religious/Non-Religious

Christian/Atheist

Christian/Non-Christian

Truth Teller/Habitual Liar

Patriot/Non-Patriot

Elite/Non-Elite

Givers/Takers

Ethical/Unethical

Moral/Immoral

Cultural Snob/Cultural Boor

Pro-America/Anti-America

Intelligent/Unintelligent

Strong/Weak

Military Experience/No Military Experience

Pride in Birth Area 1/Pride in Area 2,3...n

Ordinary Citizen/ Elite Citizen

Ordinary Citizen/Politician

Ordinary Citizen/Congressman

Ordinary Citizen/ Entrepreneurial

Leader/Follower

Statist/Federalist

Federated Republican/Collectivist, or Humanist, or Socialist or Communist (who adopted the term "Progressive" to disguise their affiliation, which is becoming more and more obvious every day!)

Management/Workers

Business Man/Others

Citizen Today/Citizen Past/Citizen Tomorrow

Lawyer/Citizen

Fluent in English/Not Fluent in English

Born American/Immigrant/Illegal Immigrant

Upstanding Citizen/Criminal


And all shades in between, with many gradations and combinations!

It is little wonder that we continuously have serious conflicts, clashes in beliefs, and ultimately nasty invective between opposing views, particularly when beliefs run so strongly, often challenging deeply held religious, emotional, inherited or reasoned beliefs! Many times the opposition uses unfair tactics to shut the citizen up and denigrate him, hoping to send him away.

We are a multicultural hodge-podge living our separate very uniquely human lives, and many, many different lifestyles, but held together socially by at least eight or so very strong beliefs and common goals:
The value of strength in numbers;
the rule of law;
the joys of our freedoms;
The economic system;
the best place to raise our children;
the opportunities for betterment,
a compelling work ethic, and in,
the love of this country. (There are more reasons, of course…)

All of our diverse cultural components contribute to a peculiar synthesis one might call an “American Culture,” but if examined closely, it quickly dissolves into some or even all of its constituent or factional parts, and even harkens back to quite different historical origins and allegiances. I suppose that if there must be such factions, it is a real blessing to have so many factions that their opinions and strengths tend to cancel each other out!

How many discussions or arguments between two people have been completely biased by their opposing factional belief systems, preventing any mutual understandings? For that matter, do we know all of the factions and ideologies our adversaries hold close? Most likely not!

The remarkable thing is that this federated, democratic, republican form of national government, with its written Constitution as the Law of the Land, has successfully held together for nearly 240 years, despite many sweeping ideological differences along the way. The differences have persisted to this day and have again become a serious divisive force in the nation.

It is time for those who believe in America, its Constitution, its common laws and its founding principles to stand up and fight for them!

Well said!

In my opinion, the focus should be on the people not the guns. Were we to have a better society, a better education system and better surveillance of growing youngsters by medically trained observers, doctors and teachers, as well as parents of course, many of the shooting disasters could have been avoided altogether. After all the gun does not point itself or pull its own trigger. That takes a person. Tend to the people and the gun problem would be tremendously reduced.

I do not know the exact numbers, but there are upwards of 80 million or more gun owners in the US, and they own about 200 million weapons, who are not a threat to society. That tells me that it is the criminal element, the deranged and mentally overstressed that need help or incarceration. It is a total misfocus to carp about gun control while leaving these crazies loose to find just any old weapon, say using their bare hands, knives from the kitchen, or from fertilizer and ammonia or some other type of explosive mix, or even poisonous gas, for instance. to carry out their murderous deeds.

I like to keep it simple. The 2nd Amendment allows me to keep and use my weapons and ammo. I support that Amendment, and so do millions of our citizens. Article V of the Constitution sets forth what is necessary to amend itself: 2/3rds of both houses to begin, and approval of 3/4th of the states to ratify. Good luck with trying to change the 2nd Amendment!

So the Pledge is not "required", but it must be offered to all who wish to honor the nation and its heritage IMHO.

I am pro death penalty. For one situation, a serial killer once convicted should himself be killed.

Well, I had a fall, and a crazy blood pressure that took a while to conquer, and was just not up to a lot of repartee. Good to see you Mike!

Exactly!

I Believe In: (Revision 1) March 12, 2019
God the Trinity
Man's Fallen Nature
Salvation through Jesus Christ
Moral Absolutes
Natural Law
Right Reason; Truth; Facts; and Objectivity
The Constitution, Read Plainly and in Conformance to Natural Law
The Rule of Law
Freedom and Liberty for All
Specifically, Freedom of Speech, Religion, Association, and Movement
The Right to Property
Family Responsibility
Strong Defense of the Nation
Limited Government
Fair Taxation <===
Equal Justice Under the Law
Trial by Jury
Capitalism and Fair Markets
Freedom of Enterprise
Equal Opportunity for All
Fiscal and Social Conservatism
Effective and Proper Education <===
International Cooperation, Mutual Defense, and Trade
Aid to Those in Need: Especially Veterans; the Disabled; Old; and Ill

I see the aging in my wife of 62 years once in a while when I focus closely, and the shock sends me to the mirror, and yes, there it is for me too!

We seem to have quite a few old geezers here in OPP! I wish them all health and longevity!

At 88, I can still shoot a good group at 75 feet with an automatic: ten rounds you could cover with your hand. The problem is, I seldom have a weapon on my person, which reminds me I should obtain a concealed carry permit! I would indeed be helpless without an equalizer!

As many have said, you cannot serve two masters easily, much less three, including God! Dual citizenship should be illegal. If you pledge allegiance to the US, then you should drop your other citizenship yourself, or be made to legally.

You will find your answer under Social Conservatism and belief in God and the Ten Commandments.

March 9, 2019
I Believe In:
God the Trinity
Man's Fallen Nature
Salvation through Jesus Christ
Moral Absolutes
Natural Law
Right Reason; Truth; Facts; and Objectivity
The Constitution, Read Plainly and in Conformance to Natural Law
The Rule of Law
Freedom and Liberty for All
Specifically, Freedom of Speech, Religion, Association, and Movement
The Right to Property
Family Responsibility
Strong Defense of the Nation
Limited Government
Equal Justice Under the Law
Trial by Jury
Capitalism and Fair Markets
Freedom of Enterprise
Equal Opportunity for All
Fiscal and Social Conservatism
International Cooperation, Mutual Defense, and Trade
Aid to Those in Need: Especially Veterans; the Disabled; Old; and Ill