Replying to a message of Gene McAloon to Bob.Ackley:

 GM> From: Gene McAloon 

 GM> On 21 May 2003 12:19:02 GMT, Bob.Ackley{at}harborwebs.com wrote:

 >> *Everybody* that is serving or has served in the military has taken
 >> that oath. Also the president, veep and members of congress take a
 >> very similar oath.
 GM> Not
 >> laughable at all.

 GM> Apparently you don't understand English too well. I said "swear
 GM> allegiance to the Constitution." No one does or ever has. Support and
 GM> defend is not swearing allegiance as in swearing allegiance to a
 GM> monarch. The Constitution is not a surrogate monarch and the oath
 GM> that armed forces members take has never been seen as that and is not
 GM> that. Have you ever head of anyone drinking a toast to the
 GM> Constitution? The British military drink to the monarch routinely. Or
 GM> at least they used to back when the monarch actually had some
 GM> importance.

 GM> All public school children in this country do not pledge allegiance to
 GM> the flag. There is no federal law requiring it. Some states have laws
 GM> requiring it and some leave it to the discretion of local school
 GM> districts.

 GM> You say I have been showing my ignorance of the US system for years.

Not for years.  I've only been pulling this echo for a couple of months at
most and only noticed you here within the past couple of weeks.  I've been
a Fidonet user for nearly 20 years, back when a high speed modem was 1200
baud.

 GM> That is strange since I have never heard of you except very recently.
 GM> Given your far-right ideological addictions I consider myself
 GM> fortunate in that regard.

Those who know me would consider that accusation laughable, I am in fact a
card-carrying Libertarian.  You want far reich-wing, start pulling POLITICS
and check out the denizens there, some of them make Rush Lamebrain sound
like a flaming liberal.

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