Monday Mission 2.26

1. In the United States of America, it was recently ruled that the phrase "one nation under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance is unconstitutional. Do you agree with this ruling? Should the phrase "under God" be removed? Why? I don't care. Actually, I have to say that I find this entire debate pretty funny. Nobody even thinks about the pledge when they are saying it - it is a bit of wrote propaganda taught to us when we are young. Forcing kids to say some bit of wrote prose at the beginning of the day, hand on heart, really doesn't create patriotism. You could just as easily train your dog to lift his leg whenever (s)he hears the pledge. Does that make the dog patriotic?

One way or the other, it doesn't matter if the word god is in there or not. If you don't want to say god, then don't. Nobody is forcing anyone to say the "under god" part, are they? Stennie suggested that athiests could say "underdog" instead, and I say why the hell not. Hell, I used to say ""one nation under god, invisible with liberty and jugheads for all" It wasn't until I was about 12 that I realized you didn't HAVE to burst into "My Country 'Tis of Thee" immediately after the pledge..

The 9th district has entirely too much time on their hands and they are distracting the 4% of the population who still gives a crap about world news (all this apathy from over-newsing the media keeps harping about) from something much more important. The US is on the verge of finally giving up one of the most barbaric practices a government can be associated with. THE DEATH PENALTY! Check it out, State sponsored capital punishment is disgusting voyeurism and allows judges, who are appointed, not elected, to decide who lives and who dies. If this isn't a form of terrorism, I don't know what is.

2. When was the last time you took a road trip? Where did you go and what did you do? The nearest thing to a road trip is when I drove the three hours from Vienna to Salzburg over Christmas with Romeo to visit Kristina and Maria. We drank a lot of Glühwein outside in the snow, and visited people I hadn't seen in a few years.

3. Do you have any vacations planned for this summer? Already gone? Where to and what? I am going to Florida with my sister and her family this weekend to visit our grandmother. With any luck we'll get to the beach for a change. I will also probably be going to Cleveland later in the summer, and quite possibly I will go to New Jersey to visit my brother.

4. What is the most drastic change to your appearance that you have ever made? Are you brave enough to post a photo? Probably when I permed my mid-back length hair in high school. I looked like I had a big afro all the time.

5. Tell me about something to which you are committed? Speaking out against the death penalty, not eating animals.

6. Now tell me about something you just flat-out gave up on. Men, marriage and children.

7. (new saga) I've had it, this place is just wearing me out. You too? We need a break! Let's head out and go someplace new. You make the plans, I'll get things ready. So what do you have it mind, and did you want me to pick up anything special to pack for the trip? Geez, you just don't take no for an answer, do you? What if we go to Italy. I've never been there. Bring lots of money though, cuz you're paying.

BONUS: Where is my hairbrush? With your toothbrush, your toothpaste and the flannel for your face.