God Save America

(Washington, D.C. ) – Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) today announced a new Internet web site, in collaboration with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, that will help veterans to register and vote in the upcoming elections:  http://vetsvoteamerica.org/ 

“This is an important step forward in pushing for even greater voter participation by veterans,” VVA National President John Rowan said, “and to make sure that their fellow citizens know they are veterans.”

Recently the Secretary of Veterans Affairs launched a “Veterans’ Pride” program to encourage all veterans to wear their medals and campaign ribbons on Veterans Day, Memorial Day, and the Fourth of July as a way of visibly taking pride in their service.

“While Vietnam Veterans of America believes the Veterans’ Pride program is a good idea,” Rowan said, “it is even more important for veterans to wear their medals and campaign ribbons, or anything else that identifies them as a veteran or a veteran’s family member, when going to the polls on Election Day.

“We also ask all veterans and their families to encourage other veterans, family members, and survivors to do the same thing on November 7.  Veterans and their families do vote in large numbers, but they are generally not wearing anything that identifies them as veterans at the polls. That is how the myth of veterans not voting in significant numbers got started. We must be more visible as veterans and as family members of veterans and active-duty service members when we vote.”

Many elected officials falsely believe that veterans don’t vote in significant numbers. This diminishes the ability of veterans to press for needed appropriations and other legislation. Rowan urged the leaders of other veterans and military organizations to launch similar efforts.

“Nobody would have the opportunity to vote in a free election in the United States if it were not for the sacrifices and hardships borne by every generation of American veterans from the Revolutionary War to the present,” Rowan said.

Sharon Hughes
The Center for Changing Worldviews

Every time Memorial Day and Veterans Day comes around my minds goes to the many times I've attended parades and special observances put on by the cities in our area and the various veterans organizations. Several of those times my husband, Duane, participated in the events as a candidate for State Assembly and U.S. Congress. As a decorated Vietnam Vet he always received a warm welcome. Well, except for a couple of the very left-coast towns.
When our sons were growing up we would get out the picture albums of Duane's time in the Army, read together about why we observed these holidays in America out of the encyclopedia, and after dinner, which was usually a bar-be-que, we'd sit down and watch a movie or documentary on one of the wars our Armed Forces have fought in.

Some will think what we did was to indoctrinate our sons in a pro-war mindset. But, actually we were educating them in the realities of war. We wanted to instill in them an appreciation for those who laid their lives on the line to protect the rest of us, and the freedoms we enjoy, during times of war. We also wanted to make sure they had no romantic ideas about war as boys can have. If the time ever came for them to go to war it would be with their eyes wide open and the cost counted.

There is no glamour in war. War is hell. But, even the Bible states there is a time for peace and a time for war. This is, unfortunately, part of life on planet earth. While we debate and work and pray for peace, wars still rage. And while I understand the reasons some chose a passivist position, passivity never brings peace, only the rule of aggressive, totalitarian governments and leaders.

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(Washington, DC) – The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), specializing in constitutional law, filed a friend-of-the-court brief in federal court in Sacramento, California on behalf of 47 members of Congress in support of the federal government’s request to dismiss a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of our national motto, “In God We Trust.”

“We believe the court should dismiss this lawsuit which has no basis in fact and represents another flawed attempt to use the legal system to remove a legitimate reference to the religious heritage of our nation,” said Jay Sekulow, Chief Counsel of the ACLJ.  “The nation’s history is replete with examples of acknowledgment of religious belief in the public sector.  And the Supreme Court has repeatedly referenced the national motto as a legitimate expression of our religious heritage.  It’s clear that the national motto is not only permissible, but constitutional as well and we’re hopeful that the federal district court will dismiss this frivolous lawsuit.”

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By: Amil Imani

The vast land of America was once inhabited by a relatively small number of indigenous people.  These "Indians" had lived throughout the land for thousands of years, and they will always remain the true fathers of America .  American Indians helped the Pilgrims survive the winter.  Later, more European immigrants came, and American settlement finally outgrew the Indian fathers.

Then, on July 4, 1776, America declared its independence from England , the old white grandfather across the sea.  The miracle of America happened, and its dynamic birth rapidly changed the entire world.

America developed into thirteen colonies, then into the strong 50 states that she is today. In a very short time, America grew from a log cabin to the largest and most technologically powerful economy in the world. The United States is a nonpareil icon, and the envy of the world.

In many ways, America resembles the great, ancient Persian Empire . Like the Persians, who rarely regret the past, Americans always believe "the best days are ahead." Like the ancient Persian Empire once was, the United States is now the greatest country in the world.

Like the Persians who were the first world managers and the most tolerant empire-builders, America , with its rich constitution, is also the most tolerant and benevolent nation in the world. Ancient Persian kings released the Jews from Babylonian captivity, financed the reestablishment of their nation, and restored their national religion. (Zionists, they were!) America has basically done the same. America is a reincarnation of Persia , an extension of the Achaemenid Empire. No wonder the Persians (Iranian-Americans) hold the United States very close to their heart and have blossomed here in their new home.

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(Washington, DC) – The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), specializing in constitutional law, today filed a friend-of-the-court brief in federal court in Sacramento, California on behalf of 47 members of Congress in support of the federal government’s request to dismiss a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of our national motto, “In God We Trust.”

“We believe the court should dismiss this lawsuit which has no basis in fact and represents another flawed attempt to use the legal system to remove a legitimate reference to the religious heritage of our nation,” said Jay Sekulow, Chief Counsel of the ACLJ.  “The nation’s history is replete with examples of acknowledgment of religious belief in the public sector.  And the Supreme Court has repeatedly referenced the national motto as a legitimate expression of our religious heritage.  It’s clear that the national motto is not only permissible, but constitutional as well and we’re hopeful that the federal district court will dismiss this frivolous lawsuit.”

The ACLJ amicus brief supports the federal government’s request asking the federal district court to dismiss the lawsuit filed last November by California atheist Michael Newdow.  “In God We Trust” appears on U.S. currency and has been the official U.S. motto since 1956.

The ACLJ brief said the legal challenge to the national motto can have other ramifications as well. 

The brief states:  “A decision in this case invalidating the motto would render constitutionally suspect a number of practices that traditionally have been considered an important part of American society. Nothing in the Supreme Court’s Establishment Clause jurisprudence requires the relentless extirpation of public references to God that Plaintiff demands.  Whether it be in the national motto, the Pledge of Allegiance, patriotic music, or the nation’s founding documents, such references are wholly consistent with the First Amendment.”

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By Regenia G. Butcher 

I would imagine that even before the ink on the Declaration of Independence had dried, the sentences: "Are we gonna have a flag? We gotta have a flag! Britain has a flag!" were echoed by members of the Continental Congress. But then, a flag is important. It is a symbol representing a group and their beliefs — a means of identification.

It has long been reported that in May of 1776, Betsy Ross sewed the first version of the flag we use today. The American flag has, of course, gone through several design transformations since then, as states were added to the nation and stars were added to the design.

Symbolism Abounding

Unique and appealing as the design is, I think our flag is also full of symbolism. To me, the red stripes indicate courage, blood and suffering. The white stripes mean truth, purity and open-mindedness. The word stripes, itself, is associated with oppressions, struggles, punishments and lessons learned. An enduring flag represents a state of surviving or coming-of-age the hard way.

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