Yet again, you are trying to compare to different things. religious names for Towns, phrases on money and monuments, etc. are very different than professing the existance of a god (and saying that we are the only nation under him) in the pledge. Saying the pledge acknowledges the existance of a creator, whereas living in los angeles/los cruces does not force you into professing the existance of a god/God. Do you see where I am going with this? Living in a city with a christian name does not force you to acknowledge the existance of a higher being, if you dont like the associations your city name has you can either move, or lobby to have it changed. Saying the pledge on the other hand implicitly acknowledges religion through the professed existance of God. Your crosswalk example is meant to be dumb, right? Crosses (crucifixes) existed before jesus was pinned upon one for breaking the laws of his land, you know that right? There is no context to link the cross in crosswalk to the cross that jesus was hung out to dry on.
How would i express an answer to my child should they ask about a Los Cruses? well it would be something like this:
"Son/Daughter, For some reason these crazy christians have chosen to glorify the weapon that did in the person that they feel is their personal savior. In honor of this person they have chosen to name a town after his murder weapon"
"Bud daddy, that is relativly speaking absurd. The notion of glorifying the murder weapon of your savior is the most morbid thing i've ever heard. That means if he was shot to death, these people would instead of a cross, wear guns and name towns after guns. These people sure are a few cans short of a six pack"
"I know Son/Daughter, but such is the plight of modern America."
"Hey dad, those are mormons across the street, can i throw rocks at them?"
"Sure thing, In fact ill join you."
Or at least something like that.
As to my views on war, Ill again ask that you read my previous posts and you will see my very simple solution.
As to the new beheading (of course i question if its real) i say that is a sad thing. Of course the most sad thing of all is that these people are going into a very dangerous area, disregarding their personal safety and all that their loss will effect, all for money. The fact that they would risk their lives for a relativly modest sum (well, relative to their lost life) of money absolutly speaks of the greed and materialism that is so prevalent in america.
The other sad fact is that this man's life was not worth to america releasing Al-queda prisoners. In refusing to comply with his captors demands America has in effect signed his death certificate. You try and make it sound like the rank and file of al queda will be dramatically bolstered by the release of some of the POWs, when in fact they are having no problem recruiting young men that hate America; we've ensured that they will have a steady supply of young people who hate America for generations to come.
How would i express an answer to my child should they ask about a Los Cruses? well it would be something like this:
"Son/Daughter, For some reason these crazy christians have chosen to glorify the weapon that did in the person that they feel is their personal savior. In honor of this person they have chosen to name a town after his murder weapon"
"Bud daddy, that is relativly speaking absurd. The notion of glorifying the murder weapon of your savior is the most morbid thing i've ever heard. That means if he was shot to death, these people would instead of a cross, wear guns and name towns after guns. These people sure are a few cans short of a six pack"
"I know Son/Daughter, but such is the plight of modern America."
"Hey dad, those are mormons across the street, can i throw rocks at them?"
"Sure thing, In fact ill join you."
Or at least something like that.
As to my views on war, Ill again ask that you read my previous posts and you will see my very simple solution.
As to the new beheading (of course i question if its real) i say that is a sad thing. Of course the most sad thing of all is that these people are going into a very dangerous area, disregarding their personal safety and all that their loss will effect, all for money. The fact that they would risk their lives for a relativly modest sum (well, relative to their lost life) of money absolutly speaks of the greed and materialism that is so prevalent in america.
The other sad fact is that this man's life was not worth to america releasing Al-queda prisoners. In refusing to comply with his captors demands America has in effect signed his death certificate. You try and make it sound like the rank and file of al queda will be dramatically bolstered by the release of some of the POWs, when in fact they are having no problem recruiting young men that hate America; we've ensured that they will have a steady supply of young people who hate America for generations to come.