My How Things Have Changed

By Ray Rogers

When I was a small boy I went to an elementary school in Washington DC and at the beginning of the day we would get started by saying the pledge of allegiance, we would hear a small scripture read over the intercom by one of the students, we would recite the Lords prayer, and then we would sing patriotic songs like 'My Country Tis of Thee'.

Our teachers taught us how great our country is and how our brave forefathers fought for our country so that Americans would know true freedom. Freedom of religion, no more Church of England shoved down our throats. Freedom to own land and freedom from the whims of a belligerent King.

Then someone found fault with our American way of life. They suddenly found us offensive and politically incorrect. So our politicians decided to make decisions that changed the way could talk and behave. Just because it made someone feel uncomfortable.

Our teachers had been very proud of our country and our heritage and they instilled in us a feeling of pride that made us proud to be an American. Now I hear stories of how our children are being taught now that America is evil, that the only reason our nation is so great is because we have stolen what we have from weaker countries. Even past presidential candidate John Kerry said that we were like Genghis Khan torturing and raping in other countries. I personally don't believe anything these politically motivated people say.

So what's my point? Well it's this: today we have more gang violence, gun violence, murder, hate, and division than we've ever had throughout my 53 years of memory. Why is this? Maybe it's because when we were children and pride in our country was being taught to us we felt like we belonged to a great nation, we weren't looking for anywhere to belong, such as a gang. We didn't need gang affiliation because we were proud non-hyphenated Americans.

When our own schools teach us that we should be ashamed of our heritage, that leaves a hole that needs to be filled with something. There is not a child in the world that doesn't want to belong to something great. So if they don't get that need to belong satisfied by God and country they're going to find another way to fill that need and it's not always a good choice.

Teachers should stop telling our kids that our country was wrong for believing in freedom, they're robbing them of the greatest feeling of pride that they'll ever know, the pride of being an American.

I'd like to see the ACLU go to a Muslim country and complain about them praying to Allah in their schools. I think they might lose their head.

There shouldn't be a need to look for something to belong to. We already belong to something great. THE GREATEST NATION THAT EVER WAS. Oh, and how has the way we done it for the last 35 years been working out for us?

I'm 53 years old, I'm an American, I'm proud of my American heritage, and I want my country back for the sake of my grandchildren.