The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Down Range Cafe => Topic started by: twyacht on June 29, 2011, 07:36:35 PM
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After regular conversations with m25, a TX resident, he has told me that Houston has been ALL "F"ed up for some time.....
Seems he's tragically correct. Oh, the NRA Convention is slated for Houston in 2013,....someone needs a change of venue, and let Chris Cox, and Wayne LaPierre know....
Contact info at bottom of page,...let em' know.....
http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2011/06/houston_cemetery_bans_the_word_god_from_military_funerals_1.html
June 29, 2011
Houston Cemetery Bans the Word 'God' from Military Funerals
Christine Biediger
This morning, just five days before the celebration of our nation's independence, I was shocked into wakefulness by a news item on Fox and Friends. It seems that the Houston National Cemetery has now begun banning "God" from military funerals.
The director of the Houston VA National Cemetery, Arleen Ocasio, has ordered the burial teams to instruct that religious references, as well as prayer, are no longer to be included as part of the burial services. Requests for messages or prayers can be formally submitted for her approval, but the mention of "God" is not allowed.
Ocasio has also ordered the closing of the cemetery chapel, which used to be available for grieving family and friends to gather and pray. The space is now used to conduct personnel meetings, and for storage.
Perhaps Ocasio is not aware that this country was founded by people who willingly uprooted their families and risked their lives crossing a violent and deadly sea to reach these free shores. These God-fearing people carved a righteous civilization out of a wilderness and raised their children with the moral principles handed down from God. Great consideration was taken by our founders, when creating a constitution that would protect the individual liberties of all. They defined citizen rights in a divinely inspired and distinctly indestructible manner, because our rights come to us from God -- not from man. Countless heroes have died defending the freedoms -- religious and other -- that were established as the foundation of the American way of life. How sacred is our religious freedom. How sacred is freedom, period.
As a resident of Houston, I am profoundly ashamed that my wonderful city has become the epicenter of an issue so vile, so evil. It is one thing for a Christian valedictorian to have to fight for the right to mention God, or to pray, as part of her valedictory address -- a right protected by the 1st Amendment, I might add. But this takes the fight to a whole new level.
It is beyond my ability to comprehend what a family must feel when they bury a loved one who served voluntarily, honorably, and with great sacrifice, for the freedoms we take for granted every day of our lives. These people are keenly aware of the America-haters who live among us, who rely upon the very freedoms, earned with military bloodshed, to rain their hatred down upon our heads. Yet these military families stoically bear in their hearts the understanding that their loved ones' sacrifice was for the rights and freedoms of all Americans, even those who don't deserve them.
If anyone in this country deserves the right to have prayers and religious speech, take place over their graves, it is those who have sacrificed the most. The ban on "God" at these funerals is an insult -- not only to Christians, but, more importantly, to our military Christians. How very shameful it is that this attack comes from within the Veterans Administration itself.
The words spoken at a funeral service are intended to bring comfort to those left behind. For a Christian, the most soothing and reassuring words come from our Creator. The prayers offer a salve on the open wounds of our souls. Our military families deserve this type of a farewell, if that is what they choose.
This is a lesson to us, as we sit in the comfort of our freedoms. The left-wing war against the liberties that our military heroes have fought for is being waged here, at home. We must take up the fight to preserve what has been won for us, with a rain of e-mails, phone calls, complaints, and political action to root out those in our administration who would treat our warriors in such a vile way. Whether you believe in God or not, please do what you can to safeguard religious rights -- you never know when a freedom you hold dear will be in jeopardy.
Here is the contact information for the cemetery:
Houston National Cemetery
10410 Veterans Memorial Drive
Houston, TX 77038
Phone: (281) 447-8686
FAX: (281) 447-0580
I read this article twice,....and am sad lynching is a crime...In this case,..... >:(
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As an American, who doesn't believe in God by the way, and as a veteran, I am APPALLED, beyond belief. While I have my beliefs, I acknowledge the fact that many people need the concept of God for guidance and contentment. Since when did the minority, direct the actions of the majority?
Brian
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As an American, who doesn't believe in God by the way, and as a veteran, I am APPALLED, beyond belief. While I have my beliefs, I acknowledge the fact that many people need the concept of God for guidance and contentment. Since when did the minority, direct the actions of the majority?
Brian
You never heard of Madeline Murray O'Hare (sp)? If memory serves she's the atheist who got prayer removed from all public schools. ( And a Texan to boot? ) We've been ruled by the vocal minority for more years than I care to remember. Think about some of the dumb labels that are on most of our products these days because a vocal few are too stupid the read directions or use a modicum common sense.
Pecos
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Requests for messages or prayers can be formally submitted for her approval, but the mention of "God" is not allowed.
Who does this bitch think she is?
If you don't want a religious funeral, fine. If you do want one, that's fine too.
What gives Arleen The Ahole the right to dictate anything to anyone? Is she a closet Westboro??
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its a biz, 100% her choice.
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its a biz, 100% her choice.
If it's a VA cemetery operated by the government she probably doesn't have a choice and is in violation of the 1st Amendment.
If it IS, in fact a privately owned and operated cemetery then, while I don't like it, I would have to agree! The government has no business in how private business operates.
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
By banning God from her PRIVATE cemetery, she is exercising HER right to free speech...people can then choose to use her facility or not, that's their choice...IMO.
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Our Constitution guarantees us froodom of religion; not freedom from religion. This a$$hat is apparently too stupid to understand that concept. As was mentioned earlier in this thread, lynching just may be an appropriate option.
Didn't we already read about the results of this sort of idiocy in the tale of Sodom and Gamorrah?
I weep for my country.
Crusader
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All the separation of church and state apply to the government and government run/sponsored establishments.
I am a strong advocate of the this, as I have posted before, but there is no government agency involved here.
And even in some government controlled locations, it should not apply, in particular government run cemeteries like Arlington. The funerals/memorials/monuments/markers of Veterans should be in keeping with the believes of the Veteran. The chaplain service can be flexible enough to to provide the proper service supporting the religious belief or non-belief of all Veterans.
The government SHOULD NOT enforce any of those to conform to one particular religion, i.e. a cross as the marker for every grave. Jewish Veterans should be given a Star of David marker, if that is what is traditional (I don't know what is), and non-believers given what ever default marker is traditional.
Separation of Church and State requires that the State favor no religion in any way, treating each religious belief and non-believers equally, it does not require the elimination of religion in any way.
And the premiss of a Republic is that the majority, no mater how large, cannot take away the rights of a minority, no matter how small.
So, if a minority, even of one person, is having their rights violated, they CAN and SHOULD so what is necessary to stop that violation.
That is the vision of the Founding Fathers, regardless of their personal religious beliefs, and is what makes this country unique.
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All the separation of church and state apply to the government and government run/sponsored establishments.
I am a strong advocate of the this, as I have posted before, but there is no government agency involved here.
And even in some government controlled locations, it should not apply, in particular government run cemeteries like Arlington. The funerals/memorials/monuments/markers of Veterans should be in keeping with the believes of the Veteran. The chaplain service can be flexible enough to to provide the proper service supporting the religious belief or non-belief of all Veterans.
The government SHOULD NOT enforce any of those to conform to one particular religion, i.e. a cross as the marker for every grave. Jewish Veterans should be given a Star of David marker, if that is what is traditional (I don't know what is), and non-believers given what ever default marker is traditional.
Separation of Church and State requires that the State favor no religion in any way, treating each religious belief and non-believers equally, it does not require the elimination of religion in any way.
And the premiss of a Republic is that the majority, no mater how large, cannot take away the rights of a minority, no matter how small.
So, if a minority, even of one person, is having their rights violated, they CAN and SHOULD so what is necessary to stop that violation.
That is the vision of the Founding Fathers, regardless of their personal religious beliefs, and is what makes this country unique.
Gotta disagree with this statement, Solus.
This is a bout the burial teams NOT just a general service held at the cemetery. It should be up to the family.
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Gotta disagree with this statement, Solus.
This is a bout the burial teams NOT just a general service held at the cemetery. It should be up to the family.
Oh...I agree, Haz.
That statement about the minority rights was not intended to be on topic, but of rights in general.
No one's rights will be violated by what we consider a standard burial, even up to a "minority slur" as an epitaph on a tombstone.
It might be in very bad taste but it is the last time the deceased will be exercising their 1st Amendment right.
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Solus, Nothing in the Constitution mentions "separation of Church and State" . That is like "Freedom of expression", another socialistic misrepresentation of the last century, like "gunshow loophole" it is a myth used to undermine America's traditional values.
I believe it was Washington who told someone that America did not practice religious tolerance as that suggested a dominant religion that put up with the existence of other beliefs and in America no single type was dominant.
As for the OP, If as the article indicates, it is a VA cemetery, this little tin goddess is outside her authority and needs to be gone.
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Check this out:
http://www.yourhoustonnews.com/dayton/news/article_7e61fdfb-80ac-5170-8346-79128867c3c7.html (http://www.yourhoustonnews.com/dayton/news/article_7e61fdfb-80ac-5170-8346-79128867c3c7.html)
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Solus, Nothing in the Constitution mentions "separation of Church and State" . That is like "Freedom of expression", another socialistic misrepresentation of the last century, like "gunshow loophole" it is a myth used to undermine America's traditional values.
I believe it was Washington who told someone that America did not practice religious tolerance as that suggested a dominant religion that put up with the existence of other beliefs and in America no single type was dominant.
As for the OP, If as the article indicates, it is a VA cemetery, this little tin goddess is outside her authority and needs to be gone.
While "separation of Church and State" do not appear in the Constitution, the phrase was coined by Jefferson to describe the restrictions placed upon government in regards to religion in the 1st Amendment.
I think the "grey" area is when we get to considering if the government should act to stop official procedures that favor one religion over others. For example should the posting of the Ten Commandments or say, the precepts of Sharia Law in a courthouse be prohibited as officially favoring one religion over another?
Without having done any research, I've always thought "freedom of expression" was a catch all phrase for means of expression other than verbal and printed. I guess that might even include hand written documents, non-verbal action in a movie or play, creations of sculptors or artists?
The "gun show loophole" is another matter.
As to any funeral or burial ceremony, they have to be as dictated by the deceased's religious beliefs, assuming they do not violate the rights of others. I am thinking in extremes here, like if a religious belief required the doors of those surrounding the burial site to be splattered with chicken blood, that would be a violation of the rights of those folks splattered. But a usual ceremony would not. And not allowing it to proceed would be in violation on the 1st Amendment's restriction against "prohibiting the free exercise thereof" concerning religious beliefs.
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Additionally, I think if this were a privately run cemetery, the owner could be facing legal challenges should the "rules" be changed to not allow religious expression in the burials.
One challenge could be that by making this new rule, you could prohibit someone from being buried in accordance with their religious beliefs in their family plot.
Second would be suing for the cost to move said family plot to a cemetery that does allow religious burials. Might also include moving all the great great grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. who are not in the immediate family plot since there maybe be grounds that an expectation of continued religious "atmosphere" is inherent in the choosing of a cemetery.
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While "separation of Church and State" do not appear in the Constitution, the phrase was coined by Jefferson to describe the restrictions placed upon government in regards to religion in the 1st Amendment.
I think the "grey" area is when we get to considering if the government should act to stop official procedures that favor one religion over others. For example should the posting of the Ten Commandments or say, the precepts of Sharia Law in a courthouse be prohibited as officially favoring one religion over another?
Without having done any research, I've always thought "freedom of expression" was a catch all phrase for means of expression other than verbal and printed. I guess that might even include hand written documents, non-verbal action in a movie or play, creations of sculptors or artists?
The "gun show loophole" is another matter.
As to any funeral or burial ceremony, they have to be as dictated by the deceased's religious beliefs, assuming they do not violate the rights of others. I am thinking in extremes here, like if a religious belief required the doors of those surrounding the burial site to be splattered with chicken blood, that would be a violation of the rights of those folks splattered. But a usual ceremony would not. And not allowing it to proceed would be in violation on the 1st Amendment's restriction against "prohibiting the free exercise thereof" concerning religious beliefs.
First off, the 1st Amendment is pretty clear, Congress has no authority in matters of religion, technically they do not even have the power to grant "tax free" status to churches.
It is also specific in stipulating "freedom of Press", and "Freedom of speech", . Your incorrect assumption that "freedom of expression is simply lumping the 2 together was intended by the socialists who have been trying successfully to confuse people. The phrase means what it says and is from the UN statement on human Rights, it has nothing to do with the US Constitution.
"Gun show loophole", and "assault weapon" are exactly the same matter. It is an intentionally designed misleading phrase intended to confuse the less informed into supporting the undermining of traditional American values, and practices.
Rush is dead right when he says "Words have meanings", specific words have specific meanings and connotations. Simply because people use 2 words interchangeably does not mean they mean the same thing. generally it is a sign that they are not saying what they want you to think they are saying.
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All the separation of church and state apply to the government and government run/sponsored establishments.
I am a strong advocate of the this, as I have posted before, but there is no government agency involved here.
And even in some government controlled locations, it should not apply, in particular government run cemeteries like Arlington. The funerals/memorials/monuments/markers of Veterans should be in keeping with the believes of the Veteran. The chaplain service can be flexible enough to to provide the proper service supporting the religious belief or non-belief of all Veterans.
The government SHOULD NOT enforce any of those to conform to one particular religion, i.e. a cross as the marker for every grave. Jewish Veterans should be given a Star of David marker, if that is what is traditional (I don't know what is), and non-believers given what ever default marker is traditional.
Separation of Church and State requires that the State favor no religion in any way, treating each religious belief and non-believers equally, it does not require the elimination of religion in any way.
And the premiss of a Republic is that the majority, no mater how large, cannot take away the rights of a minority, no matter how small.
So, if a minority, even of one person, is having their rights violated, they CAN and SHOULD so what is necessary to stop that violation.
That is the vision of the Founding Fathers, regardless of their personal religious beliefs, and is what makes this country unique.
Separation of Church and State - Solus, there ain't no such thing. This is liberal gibberish that is not stated anywhere in the Declaration of Independence nor in the US Constitution, nor in the Bill of Rights or any other Amendment. As the libs do with guns and everything else, they take over the discussion and spin it to their way of thinking with carefully crafted words and phrases that otherwise smart people adopt - words and phrases that twist or mask what should be the real discussion.
The 1A is quoted above, go re-read it, especially the "prohibiting the free exercise thereof;" part. THAT applies to the Feds, as well as businesses. You do not have a right not to be offended, so if you are an atheist and someone is giving a prayer on public ground, get over it. People in the minority do not have the right to limit my rights either.
BTW, there are Jewish stars over the graves of Jewish Armed Forces members, but I have no clue what atheists get, nor what Buddhists, mooslims, pagans/wiccans/whatever get. And I really don't care, that is their problem. Do not prevent me, tho, from saying God or Jesus or anything else over the grave of an American soldier who was a Christian.
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Path and Tom beat me to it.....The 1st Amendment isn't difficult to understand. The operative word is the second one in the Amendment...
'Congress SHALL make no law...." you cannot interpret that any other way than it was expressed in the Amendment.
It doesn't say "Should not"....the Government cannot, under any circumstances prohibit the right of the individual to express their religious beliefs in any way, shape or ritual.....PERIOD....
Separation of Church and State is the nanny state giving in to those they hold up as of higher authority even though those authoritarians are consistently wrong!
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It is the Veteran's Administration Cemetary, not a private funeral home. There is a private funeral home just outside the cemetary that has allowed services to be held in their parking lot to accomadate religious and Honor Guard services. The Obama appointee who has set the new rules for the operation of Houston's National Cemetary has also prohibited VFW Honor Guards from the cemetary grounds and will not allow double parking at grave sites, making WWII veterans (some with walkers) and their spouses walk as much as a half mile to pay their last respects to their brothers in arms.
As I write this, three Houston area congressmen, Gene Green (D), Michael McCall (R), and Ted Poe (R) have vowed to have the woman removed by the VA, or face funding cuts.
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First off, the 1st Amendment is pretty clear, Congress has no authority in matters of religion, technically they do not even have the power to grant "tax free" status to churches.
It is also specific in stipulating "freedom of Press", and "Freedom of speech", . Your incorrect assumption that "freedom of expression is simply lumping the 2 together was intended by the socialists who have been trying successfully to confuse people. The phrase means what it says and is from the UN statement on human Rights, it has nothing to do with the US Constitution.
"Gun show loophole", and "assault weapon" are exactly the same matter. It is an intentionally designed misleading phrase intended to confuse the less informed into supporting the undermining of traditional American values, and practices.
Rush is dead right when he says "Words have meanings", specific words have specific meanings and connotations. Simply because people use 2 words interchangeably does not mean they mean the same thing. generally it is a sign that they are not saying what they want you to think they are saying.
No, I didn't say they were lumping "freedom of speech" and "freedom of the press" I was saying it was lumping those types of expression that fall outside of those two, if taken literally. For instance hand written letters or posters or anything not printed by a printing press or by reporters, perhaps, are not protected. The TV shows we all watch (except you) on Wed. evening could be banned by a government agency that did not want the gun culture on TV. Or it could ban the statue of the Marines at Iwo Jima since it is neither printed or spoken.
Not sure if what we type here would be covered under "Freedom of the press" since it is neither printed on a press or created by news reporters, if that is the Press referenced.
If we were talking semantics, then yes, gun show loop hole and assault weapon would apply.
If we are talking the intent of the Founding Fathers then they are only indirectly related as they are attempts to subvert the 2A, not actually about how it is interpreted.
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As I write this, three Houston area congressmen, Gene Green (D), Michael McCall (R), and Ted Poe (R) have vowed to have the woman removed by the VA, or face funding cuts.
ought to be facing the big oak tree and some nice tall branch with a chair and Kentucky Hemp. Or at least run out of town on a rail.
Thanks for the update CJ.
"Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other."
John Adams
"The rights of man come not from the generosity of the state but from the hand of God."
John F. Kennedy
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Check this out:
http://www.yourhoustonnews.com/dayton/news/article_7e61fdfb-80ac-5170-8346-79128867c3c7.html (http://www.yourhoustonnews.com/dayton/news/article_7e61fdfb-80ac-5170-8346-79128867c3c7.html)
This supports what I am thinking. This is a government employee acting way above her pay grade!
I have not called a National Cemetery myself, but I did call a friend I worked with. He had a burial at Ft. Snelling last week, and so did another director from the firm. Neither was told they could not have any type of service or inclusion.
I do believe that Arleen has squeezed the toothpaste out of the tube, and we will now have the ACLU telling us how much we can put back in >:(
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No, I didn't say they were lumping "freedom of speech" and "freedom of the press" I was saying it was lumping those types of expression that fall outside of those two, if taken literally. For instance hand written letters or posters or anything not printed by a printing press or by reporters, perhaps, are not protected. The TV shows we all watch (except you) on Wed. evening could be banned by a government agency that did not want the gun culture on TV. Or it could ban the statue of the Marines at Iwo Jima since it is neither printed or spoken.
Not sure if what we type here would be covered under "Freedom of the press" since it is neither printed on a press or created by news reporters, if that is the Press referenced.
If we were talking semantics, then yes, gun show loop hole and assault weapon would apply.
If we are talking the intent of the Founding Fathers then they are only indirectly related as they are attempts to subvert the 2A, not actually about how it is interpreted.
I misunderstood your meaning. In that case your understanding is correct as to the meaning.
However, you do not have a Constitutionally guaranteed right to, as you phrase it, "those types of expression that fall outside of those two".
The 1st Amendment confirms your right to say, or publish whatever you want, (with the assumption that honest people will not intentionally lie ) with in the bounds of libel and slander laws.
Where we have run into problems is with socialists Judges and SC Justices legislating from the bench that things like Flag burning are "forms of political expression" and therefore protected. They are not, if they were then it would be impossible for the Govt to prosecute terrorists. 9-11 was an act of political and religious expression, therefore the hijackers and all involved are protected under the 1st A.
Just because the SC says something does not make it so. In the Dredd Scott decision Justice Taney wrote that blacks were property therefore not entitled to the rights of citizenship. And for purposes of taxation and Congressional representation only counted as 4/5ths of a person. While his decision contains much more sound reasoning than the "Free expression decision", (If Blacks were actually citizens then they would have to be allowed to own and carry arms were ever they pleased ) it was still overturned after the Civil War by the Court dominated by anti slavery Lincoln/Johnson appointees.
Bear that in mind when you are talking about gun rights, a 1 vote shift in the SC and Heller and McDonald are gone.
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This supports what I am thinking. This is a government employee acting way above her pay grade!
I do believe that Arleen has squeezed the toothpaste out of the tube, and we will now have the ACLU telling us how much we can put back in >:(
Exactly right. Arleen The Ahole is going to get this one jammed in her Arleen.
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Absolutely disgraceful. Again, I feel as though our leaders are turning the US into a modern day Babylon.
The lady in charge of the cemetary should keep her anti-God ideas to her self. I agree to allowing the burial take place as the family wishes. I know that when I pass and have a military funeral, if God is left out, I am coming back to haunt some people. ;D
Pecos Bill, Madeline O'hare disappeared. Never to be heard from again after getting prayer removed from schools. I would imagine she is waiting to go to her fiery inferno in time?
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The reason she disappeared is because she changed her mind and decided she had been wrong. Before her disappearance she made statements that perhaps it had not been such a good idea after all.
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I misunderstood your meaning. In that case your understanding is correct as to the meaning.
However, you do not have a Constitutionally guaranteed right to, as you phrase it, "those types of expression that fall outside of those two".
The 1st Amendment confirms your right to say, or publish whatever you want, (with the assumption that honest people will not intentionally lie ) with in the bounds of libel and slander laws.
Where we have run into problems is with socialists Judges and SC Justices legislating from the bench that things like Flag burning are "forms of political expression" and therefore protected. They are not, if they were then it would be impossible for the Govt to prosecute terrorists. 9-11 was an act of political and religious expression, therefore the hijackers and all involved are protected under the 1st A.
Just because the SC says something does not make it so. In the Dredd Scott decision Justice Taney wrote that blacks were property therefore not entitled to the rights of citizenship. And for purposes of taxation and Congressional representation only counted as 4/5ths of a person. While his decision contains much more sound reasoning than the "Free expression decision", (If Blacks were actually citizens then they would have to be allowed to own and carry arms were ever they pleased ) it was still overturned after the Civil War by the Court dominated by anti slavery Lincoln/Johnson appointees.
Bear that in mind when you are talking about gun rights, a 1 vote shift in the SC and Heller and McDonald are gone.
I agree that the SC is a crap shoot and I we would likely be better off if they stuck to a literal interpretation of the Constitution rather than trying to "imagine" the intent of the Founding Fathers. While I would prefer they interpret based on an honest evaluation of the intent of the Founding Fathers, that might allow much "wiggle room" for social agenda judges.
However, to say that a bad reading of the 1st Amendment is what allows flag burning not allowed by a literal one, that literal one will allow the banning of flying the Flag by local authorities, including home owners associations. If Flag Burning is not protected, then Flag Flying is not either.
As to the 911 terrorists prosecution, any right to political expression, religious belief or any other right are limited and end when they infringe upon the rights of others. And I mean rights, not sensitivities.
As I have stated, I am a firm believer in religious freedom but am pretty much convinced that the Muslim religion does not warrant protection under the 1st Amendment. The Muslim religion calls for the murder or enslavement of non-believers and encourages the overthrow of our form of government, both of which condemn it, in my book.
The only caveat I have is the hope that those Muslims who do not agree with those precepts of their religion will work to change it from within. However, I have grave doubts that will happen, as they will be placed under sentence of death by their own religion of peace. They have had 100s of years of recent history to work for changes and I haven't seen any evidence that it is occurring. We can discuss whether just teaching those precepts is enough for a "DQ" or if they have to do something first. I go with the former.
But back to the intent of the Founding Fathers. Tom, we may not agree on this, but I strongly believe that the Founding Fathers did not intend to not have had written letters and other actions like plays not covered by the Freedom of Speech clause of the 1st Amendment. If, by a literal interpretation, they are excluded from the 1st, then they are included by the 9th, as there is no reference to allowing them to be prohibited elsewhere in the Constitution.
Frankly, I'll live with having Flag Burning protected, even though it makes my blood boil thinking of the disrespect shown to all those who gave so much for the defense of that Flag..including some who died striving to prevent it from touching the ground..and I'll restrain from decking the Flag burner as I've gotten wiser with age...and I will remember the thrill I felt when hearing the refrain from The Star Spangled Banner "gave proof through the night that our Flag was still there"
The Flag burning and the Flag burner are petty events by petty persons. The flying of the Flag by citizens exercising their Right to Political Expression, by the young man who was supported in flying the Flag on his bike as his expression, by the HS graduates who want their graduation pictures to be in their ROTC uniforms as their expression, even down to the little kids who want to play "soldiers" and hold their fingers in the "gun" position have their expression; these are what need to be protected.
Sigh...thanks for the soapbox...