Larry. I strongly believe that people should research the facts before they write opinion laced history.  For instance, citing info. that is referenced, and sorting through muttled commentary.  If one wants to talk about historic Presidents, it would be good to look back at president Abe Lincoln.  Despite what he may have said early on about Christians, he made very strong Biblical comments including the reason for Thanksgiving as a national holiday as reported below:

Added by LG. “Just after Union troops won the Battle of Gettysburg, Lincoln issued a proclamation  setting the last Thursday in November as a day of national thanksgiving and asking the populace to repent “our national perverseness and disobedience” to God during the Civil War. He wrote to those who had “become widows, orphans, mourners, or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the almighty hand to heal the wounds of the nation.”

The email reply goes on to say “I’m pretty sure Jefferson was a Deist and Washington a Theist.   Franklin was probably an atheist.   Nonetheless, many were Christian and all based our foundations on Judeo-Christian beliefs.  

One good example is the Massachusetts Acts of 1640 and 1642.   These instituted mandated public education.   The primary reason for same was the fact that most children in this rural new country (colonies) were working the fields or housekeeping.   Both were under parental tutelage, but there was little “book learning.”  The concern was that children would not be able to read the Bible.  So they were to be taught to read in order to study the Word and using it as the primary text, This went on into the 20th century with the use of McGuffey’s reader based primary on Biblical passages and precepts.  (Prior to that the “Horn Books” did the same).

Then when the discussion changes course to “liberal, nurturing leftists” vs “intolerant right wing bigots” there must be a functional definition of terms.  For instance teaching children “tolerance” should not eliminate morality and values or standing up for what one believes.  Diversity, in a cultural sense, should be restricted to cultural diversity.  Sexual preference and alternate lifestyles come into another category which might be called sexual or lifestyle diversity.  English as a common or commerce language, given the fact that we do not have a national language, may still be the predominant language but we mustn’t discredit multilingual opportunities.  Most European children speak at least 3 languages but have a primary language of their country.  This is true worldwide.

I also take exception to the teacher who wrote about diversity.  The statement that illegals are Americans (citizens)? is absurd.  We’re all immigrants and there is a way by which to enter legally and become citizens despite one’s ethnicity.  That’s what has made America what it is.  But to promote illegal means nullifies the definition of “illegal!”

I’m a VN vet- USAF- became a member of John Kerry’s VVAW after I left the service, am currently serving on the California Democratic Party Central Committee, and teach Government and U.S. History in the AUHSD.

My point was not about Iraq, and considering that this is the same SMU that will be housing both volumes of “W’s” copy of “My Pet Goat” after he leaves office… guess we should just consider the source… LOL. Jes’ kiddin’… really.

And yes, we have been down this road before… which makes it all the more painful.

My point is about how much Kool-Aid Prager has been selling to the fools who want to drink it.

No one could say- at least with a straight face- that the Supreme Court has been moving left for the last 40 years… that is, unless your perspective is to the right of Thomas, Scalia, Alito, and Roberts. That’s a scarey place to be; there is nothing beyond that cliff.

70% of Americans want us out of Iraq. Every poll for the last several years verifies the veracity of that national concensus. Cruelty is keeping our forces ‘in-country’ for two, three, and four tours. Cruelty is keeping them there for 15 months, period. His logic is so twisted that it would be laughable were it not so serious.

Western Civilization faced the greatest threat of the 2nd millenium in 1936 with Italy’s invasion of Ethiopia, 1937 with Japan’s invasion of China, and 1939 with Germany’s invasion of Poland. Those were truly times of great international fear, and one which could easily have led to the Oceania, Eastasia, and Eurasia of Orwell’s dystopia. How can a handful of stateless religious fanatics with RPG’s and box knives be a greater threat than three modern, wealthy nations, armed to the teeth?… The answer is: they can’t, unless we allow it. This administration, with the help of sycophants like Prager, has allowed it. His statements are, at best, hyperbolic; at their worst, they are exponentially Manichian, simplistic- and dangerous. And as such, it is one more reason to ignore him, but at one’s own risk.

His sheer audacity is what makes him both foolish and dangerous- because he thinks people should take him seriously. His Op/Eds concerning the Bush Administration over the last 6 1/2 years have been wrong nearly 100% of the time. His cadre of corrupt Republicans has led us into a trillion dollar war, expanded government in a most breathtaking manner, imperiled the rights guaranteed by our Constitution, and taken away the purchasing power of more Americans than any administration in history. Liberals did not do that. Prager’s lying, corrupt band of Republican thugs did that, and he helped them.

That we Liberals did not stop them will be to our eternal shame.

As you raise the issue of the war in Iraq, that was NOT part of Dennis’s speech or this report, let me respond by referring to another war under Democratic President LBJ. Not knowing how old you are this may be before your time but is still relevant. The following is from the web site of the faculty at SMU.edu

In November of 1967, the (Johnson)Administration launched an extensive “public relations” campaign. It was designed to convince Congress, the press, and the public that there was “progress” in Vietnam and that the war was being “won.”  Johnson was advised to “[E]mphasize light at the end of the tunnel instead of battles, deaths, and danger.” “There are ways,” Johnson was told, “of guiding the press to show light at the end of the tunnel”  (quoted in Larry Berman, Lyndon Johnson’s War, p. 98 and 99). To head this effort, Johnson brought General William Westmoreland, commander of American forces in Vietnam, to Washington. Westmoreland addressed the National Press Club saying that the U.S. had reached the point “where the end comes into view” (Berman, p.116).

Syqodem. As you can see we have been down this road before. Question. Did you support or protest that war where 58,209 Americans lost their lives?

Before moving away from the Vietnam war let me share a message from President John F. Kennedy.

“Let every nation know, whether, it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival of liberty.” -President John F. Kennedy, 1961

Some participants on this blog want readers to simply change over 200 years of US history starting with our textbooks simply to make us “feel good.” I for one will not buy into their argument no matter how wide ranging they take it.

And to all readers.

As I have not copied Dennis Prager on this report I cannot and will not attempt to speak on his behalf.

This is the same guy who declared, ” …few deny the leftward tilt of the Supreme Court for most of the last 40 years.” M-m-m-m: Thomas, Scalia, Alito, and Roberts- fierce Liberals, they!

This is the same guy who says Liberals, “…hold positions that I believe increase cruelty…” because Liberals, along with 70% of Americans, want to withdraw from Iraq.

The same Dennis Prager who declared that the Left will “…hasten the decline of Western society…” his assumption being that America somehow represents all of Western Society. And this will happen because we do not see xenophobia as a practical national policy.

He says in all seriousness that Liberals are going to “… undermine liberty…” by “expanding government, passing more and more laws, taking away ever larger percentages of citizens’ money…” without the even the slightest hint of irony.

‘nuf said.

Hamilton and Jefferson were both Christian Deists. Yet neither was a Christian in the sense that Prager intends…namely, one who believes that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and has asked Jesus into their heart to be their Lord and Saviour.

As for Lincoln, this from Allen Guelzo’s “Abraham Lincoln; Redeemer President”…”Lincoln also joined a small twice-a-month debating society…Accrding to Henry Rankin, Lincoln “used the language” of radical deism, “that, according to the history of the case in the New Testament, Christ was a bastard and his mother a base woman”. He had no use for the doctrine of redemption through the death of Christ, or of a “new birth” through divine grace and repentance.”

Later in life, Lincoln expressed belief in a Creator, in “Providence”.

I’m supposed to take your lecture on the word “main” seriously, yet you can’t even write the language coherently?

The “main” is NOT synonymous with “majority!”

However, the “main” IS synonymous with “priority!”

For example: Even though that substantial majority population speaks perfect English you may be denied a job if you do not Speak Spanish.

In contrast, if you do not speak English and speak Spanish only you cannot be denied a job on that bases alone because that would be classified as discrimination and racism.

Therefore, if majority population speaks English the priority THE MAIN language in the USA is Spanish.

I do not expect you to understand that because socialists have small brains to fit into the JUGO.

No? http://www.eadshome.com/AlexanderHamilton.htm
http://www.faithofourfathers.net/hamilton.html

Thomas Jefferson was not a Christian.

No? http://www.faithofourfathers.net/jefferson.html

Benjamin Franklin was not a Christian. I agree with you, he was not.

Lincoln openly mocked Christians early in his career.

Assuming you are correct, whom did he mock? All Christians? Or certain sects or types?

I’ll admit there’s a great deal of speculation and debate as to whether he was, but I don’t believe it is settled one way or the other.

Anger driven socialist? LOL. Thanks for the laugh. Now explain to me how you can pigeonhole my politics based on one comment?

The word country means the United States. You can cherry-pick these local examples all you want, but my statement that English IS the main language of this country is indisputable.

English rather than Canadian too!

Non bio-engineered Pop Corn would
be a better alternative!

Army Rangers and Special Forces
rather than World War II Air Force Bomber pilots.

Carnita Tacos from Chronic Taco
rock..they only offer those at
the beach. Very cool!

I am not clear if you mean all states in the union?… or what do you mean by the country?

I gave you local examples.

If you want more the Oregon just adopted teaching curriculum from the Mexico.

Please make note of it you anger-driven-socialist.