Music & Movies

If your first language is English, it seems like a waste of everyone's time to get you to learn a second language. Same with the "imperial" system, I guess. No matter how much simpler and logical the new system is, it ain't gonna take root in the English brain.

Finally saw Harry Potter...the video...loved it. I'mnot gonna compare it to the book 'cep to say they got the 3 main kids absoltely right.

Most people don't know the American national anthem has more than one verse. I only know the first and the last. If more people knew about the last verse, the Supreme Court would probably declare it unconstitutional.

I always get the damn patriotic songs messed up. Sure, I can(but don't) sing along with the song they happen to be playing, but I never can remember which one is our anthem. Pathetic, really. If I were President, I'd change it monthly just to mix things up.
"My fellow americans: Today is a great day for democracy. Why, you ask? For we are changing our national anthem from YMCA to The Safety Dance! Woo-hoo, you go Colin Powell! Break it down!"

The Safety Dance would be a good national anthem.

I don't think the reasoning used in terms of the Pledge of Allegience would translate for the National Anthem. The National Anthem is only a song, whereas the Pledge is a Pledge of Allegience. Though, not knowing how any verse other than the first of the Star Spangled Banner goes, I have no idea how offensive it is or not.

Did you know the Star Spangled Banner was written using the tune of a drinking song? Now you know why it's so hard to sing. It's supposed to be that way. Picture men in a pub straining to hit the high notes while they try to stay upright, and they beers sloshing about.

I've never been particularly patriotic, so I barely even remember the pledge of allegiance. In fact, I firmly believe this country sucks. It's just a little less sucky than a lot of other places I could be living. Actually, I don't think the country sucks all that much. It's just 99.99999999999% of the people living in it.

The Star Spangled Banner does sound pretty drunk and would probably sound better if sung by more drunks.

As for the Pledge: keep in mind that kids are often pressured to say this thing which is actually a promise. It's generally not even presented as optional. It's just something you do, like coming to school. Hardly anybody questions it, and those who do are pressured to conform.

Where I live, Billy Graham gets the front page every time he blows his nose, and there is actually a movement to make the Pledge of Allegiance mandatory in the county schools. What kind of vow is THAT?

Oh, also, THIS was the original pledge:
"I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands- one nation indivisible-with liberty and justice for all."

Well I lived in a time where pledging to the flag was a must. When we went to war with vietnam, then alot of kids, ie, teenagers did not want anything to do with the flag.

Pledging allegience to the Republic and to the flag which serves as its herald need not bar burning the flag, of course, as long as you are not also burning the Republic.

I think Ms. Dream that it prior to the '54 amendment it read just as it does today, minus those two words "under god"... i.e. "I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." Am I wrong, are you quoting an original original?

But seriously -- what was wrong with "one nation, indivisible"?

I believe that Oregonian state law(I live in Oregon) recently made it obligatory for schools to recite it every week or so.

I am quoting an "original original," as you put it. Look it up. The other stuff got changed later.