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My last several trips, some months apart, to the post office, I asked for a roll of first-class stamps with any motif except the flag on them. Each time I was told that the only ones available all had flags.
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It's depressing that we can't get beyond such symbolism of our ideals as humans. All we have are CHURCH, FLAG and the more recent altar of FAMILY VALUES, which incorporates CHURCH and FLAG, wrapping them impervious to criticism. And all the heads nod yeah.
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To propose PEACE in my neighborhood brands me as unpatriotic. WAR is patriotic. And necessary because of "THE FORCES OF INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM." Yep, they're everywhere, all around the world and rat chere!
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It will be interesting to see how history paints this story. There was NAZISM, then STALINISM, then whatever we're to be labeled.
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One interesting aspect will be how history presents us as unique in this group by our strident insistence that GOD is on our side, regardless of the penchant for slaughter, et al.
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I am no longer very hopeful of a successful endeavor to counter the political and social cancer during the remaining span of my generation, but I can't help but wish it were not so obviously and wretchedly ugly.
