Ok, so everyone has their say, fine. That's freedom. We don't necessarily agree, but so long as we walk away with our right to voice our opinion, or disagree with another's opinion intact, we're free men.

We can bat around this idea or that on this pledge issue, no harm done. But the minute one faction or the other manage to pass a law that superimposes their opinion over the rest...tyrany.

Frankly, I could care less if they say the pledge at all. I teach my kids the basics of good citizenship and love for their country at home. But since it is a custom to say the pledge, so what? Go ahead and disagree, but don't demand a law that makes the pledge illegal.

It comes down to a matter of self interest....if the other guy loses his right to sound off, then so do I.

One thing that makes me go ballistic is some putz with his head up and locked cutting in front of me to exit the freeway when there's nobody for a mile behind me. Why does this moron need to almost run me off the road, when he could just take his foot of the gas and pull in behind me to exit?

At those moments I cool off by reminding myself....if I could pass a law, or otherwise force this jerk to use a little common courtesy, then we would both lose our freedom. Better I should blow a gasket and remain free than have the satisfaction of getting my way by distorting the purpose of the law.