Words to Live by.

I believe in the United States of America, as a government of the people, by the people, for the people; whose just powers are derived from the consent of the governed; a democracy in a republic; a sovereign Nation of many sovereign States; a perfect union, one and inseparable; established upon those principles of freedom, equality, justice, and humanity for which American patriots sacrificed their lives and fortunes. I therefore believe it is my duty to my country to love it, to support its Constitution, to obey its laws, to respect its flag, and to defend it against all enemies.- The American Creed

1 year ago  /  Notes

The Pledge of Allegiance

The Pledge of Allegiance of the United States is an oath of loyalty to the national flag and the republic of the United States of America, originally composed by Francis Bellamy in 1892. The Pledge has been modified four times since then, with the most recent change adding the words “under God” in 1954. Congressional sessions open with the swearing of the Pledge, as do government meetings at local levels, meetings held by the Knights of Columbus, Royal Rangers, Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of the USA, Fraternal Order of Eagles, Freemasons, Toastmasters International and their concordant bodies, as well as other organizations.

The Pledge of Allegiance reads:

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

According to the United States Flag Code, the Pledge “should be rendered by standing at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart. When not in uniform men should remove any non-religious headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart. Persons in uniform should remain silent, face the flag, and render the military salute”.

On March 11, 2010, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit upheld the words “under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance in the case of Newdow vs Rio Linda Union School District. In a 2-1 decision, the appellate court ruled that the words were of a “ceremonial and patriotic nature” and did not constitute an establishment of religion. Judge Stephen Reinhardt dissented, writing that “the state-directed, teacher-led daily recitation in public schools of the amended ‘under God’ version of the Pledge of Allegiance… violates the Establishment Clause of the Constitution.” 

On November 12, 2010, in a unanimous decision, the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit in Boston affirmed a ruling by a New Hampshire lower federal court which found that the pledge’s reference to God doesn’t violate students’ rights.

I understand that people have the right to not say the Pledge of Allegiance. However they DO NOT have the right to CHANGE the words in any way including but not limited to changing “Under GOD” to “Under NO-ONE”. 

The words “under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance are of a “ceremonial and patriotic nature” and did not constitute an establishment of religion. 

As a Proud American and Eagle Scout It angers me when people Get this Wrong. It also angers me when People are so disrespectful they cant even stand for the pledge, At least Stand you don’t have to say it or put your hand over your heart Just Stand but thats a Different topic ill touch on that a Different day.

1 year ago  /  Notes

Great Quotes

The cowards think of what they can lose, the heroes of what they can win.—J. M. Charlier

A hero is no braver than an ordinary man, but he is braver five minutes longer.—Ralph Waldo Emerson

Give no bounties: makes equal laws: secure life and prosperity and you need not give alms.—Ralph Waldo Emerson 

A good judge doesn’t know the strength of the plaintiff’s case until he’s heard the defense.—William Sheffield 

I used to think that running an organization was equivalent to conducting a symphony orchestra. But I don’t think that’s quite it; it’s more like jazz. There is more improvisation. Someone once wrote that the sound of surprise is jazz, and if there’s any one thing that we must try to get used to in this world, it’s surprise and the unexpected. Truly, we are living in world where the only thing that’s constant is change.—Warren G. Bennis

The key to successful leadership today is influence, not authority.—Kenneth Blanchard

Leadership is the art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants to do it.—Dwight D. Eisenhower 

Leadership to me means duty, honor, country. It means character, and it means listening from time to time.—George Bush 

The awareness of our own strength makes us modest.—Paul Cezanne 

Concentration is the secret of strength in politics, in war, in trade, in short, in all management of human affairs.—Ralph Waldo Emerson 

For heights and depths no words can reach, music is the soul’s own speech.—Author unknown

In a world of peace and love, music would be the universal language.—Henry David Thoreau 

Music is your own experience, your thoughts, your wisdom. If you don’t live it, it won’t come out of your horn.—Charlie Parker

Nobody can teach you to sing the blues, you have to feel the blues.—Ernestine Anderson

There’s no honorable way to kill, no gentle way to destroy. There is nothing good in war. Except its ending.—Abraham Lincoln

A true man of honor feels humbled himself when he cannot help humbling others.—Robert E. Lee

Not every challenge has to be dealt with on Monday. That’s what Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday are for!-Lawrence Spindel

There are no great people in this world, only great challenges which ordinary people rise to meet.—William Frederick Halsy, Jr.

Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear—not absence of fear.—Mark Twain

The courage of life is often a less dramatic spectacle than the courage of a final moment, but it is no less than a magnificent mixture of triumph and tragedy. People do what they must—in spite of personal consequences, in spite of obstacles and dangers and pressures—and that is the basis of all human morality.—John F. Kennedy

Do what you fear and fear disappears.—David Joseph Schwartz

H2O:  two parts Heart and one part Obsession.  ~Author Unknown

You can swim all day in the Sea of Knowledge and still come out completely dry.  Most people do.  ~Author Unknown

I can’t fly, but swimming is the next best thing…. The water is my sky.  ~Author Unknown

1 year ago  /  Notes

Jazz band Vs X country

I have always told myself my priorities are Family, School , Scouts , Music, Sports. But what happens when you have the BIGGEST race of your life and a Jazz Performance for the comunity on the same day at the same time. Ill tell you what CONFLICT.

1 year ago  /  Notes