Freedom of Speech ? Or Not!

[Janet Harrington]

During the Nixon Administration, I was a freshman at the Kansas State Teacher's College in Emporia.  That college now enjoys the name of Emporia State University.  In the fall of my freshman year, Nixon won the seat of President of the US.  In January of 1973, the KSTC marching band went by bus to Washington, D.C., and marched in Nixon's inauguration parade.  We got to tour some of the Smithsonian.  There was just too much for one day.  Lot's of memories of that time.

That was the first time that I was ever far away from my folks and let me tell you, I really missed mom and dad and my sisters.  Being a trillion miles away in a foreign country, (Washington, D.C.), wasn't really my cup of tea.  Oh, yeah.  I had fun, but I really could have stayed in Kansas and been just as happy.

I was the banner carrier.  The instructor got two blondes, kind of chunky and about the same height.  I did get to see Nixon as we passed the place where he was behind bullet proof glass.  When we got passed him, the Secret Service motioned us to run to catch up with the rest of the parade.  I think I was told that the end of the band started running before they got passed the President.  It was on television, but I never got to see it.  I do have, (somewhere), a newspaper picture of the banner, us who were carrying the banner, and the drum major.  I was out of step or she was out of step.  Not sure.  I also could hardly see because my big tall hat had slipped down towards my eyes and I had to tip my head up to see what I was doing.

If I ever find that picture, I'll scan it.  You all can get a hoot out of that.

Now, I have kind of got away from the topic of Freedom of Speech?  Or Not!, except not really, but the 1st Amendment gives me the right to say what I want to.  So there.

[Teresa]

Indeed you were, Janet.

. In relative terms, that is not long ago, which make you right again.

TaTa being right 2 times is kinda scary..

[Mom70x7]

How about another compliment 

Janet does have the ability, with her writing, to put us "in the moment" and share her experiences. Well done!

[kdfrawg]

Yups, she does. I can almost see the black stubble on Nixon's face and a gaggle of high school band trombone players hustling down Pennsylvania Avenue. With my budding music teacher daughter, I have a plethora of marching band memories to draw on for help.

[Janet Harrington]

Well, let me describe what Nixon looked like.  He had on so much makeup that he looked kind of funny.  I remember he was standing and smiling and waving, but the makeup just stood out.  What a memory.

[Janet Harrington]

How about another compliment 

Janet does have the ability, with her writing, to put us "in the moment" and share her experiences. Well done!

Ah, gosh, Mom70X7, you will make my head swell even more than it already it.

(I had to say it before Ms. T did)

[Mom70x7]

you will make my head swell

That's okay - because I think it's just for today. The start of a new job always brings me down a peg or two, so I figure tomorrow you're starting a learning curve. I figure you need our support as you start a new exhilarating / exasperating experience.

Now, back to the original topic -

Any country should fly their flag proudly and immigrants should respect it.  When in Rome, do as the Romans do.

I've sometimes become irritated with the flag thing - when I see groups of people marching in the United States with the flag of another country.

But then I got to wondering - is that similar at all to the way we think of states and sports? How many groups around the country are Notre Dame fans, or Nebraska fans (remember - I'm married to one  ). We go to any college football game, no matter who is playing, and he's a Nebraska fan. He even subscribes, via the Internet, to a Nebraska State paper. We have a house FULL of Nebraska stuff. And Yankee stuff - Yankee fans are almost as bad as Nebraska fans.

What do you think, huh? 

[flo]

I don't believe that is the same thing.  What I'm talking about is disrespecting a country and their flag.  College, clubs, etc. is just friendly rivalry.  That's my thots, anyhow.  AND it's not just the flag, but what it represents that is being derespected.  OMG, should I have waited till soap box day to post this???

[Wilma]

Nah, we are supposed to have freedom of speech and you can say whatever you want, wherever you want, whenever you want.  I said so.

[Jo McDonald]

OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH  Wilma.....that could open a new can of worms~~~~~~~~~~`````