... Jim:

>> 2) Many Americans believe the Bill of Rights are God given rights and
>> therefore beyond control by Government. A passing point - the colonies would
>> not sign the Constitution UNLESS the Bill of Rights were attached.

Although I am one of those who believe as you say regarding our rights being beyone control by the government, I must nitpick your "passing point". There were no "colonies" at the time the Constitution was being considered. The United States had already existed for 10 years under the Articles of Confederation (which were adopted in 1777). States, not colonies, voted on the Constitution. It is a quirk in our history that we call 1776 our birth year, but count our leaders beginning with George Washington and his election as President under the Constitution in 1789 (trivial note: the ONLY election held in a year not divisible by 4).

>> 3) Posting an autograph of Jane Fonda is in poor taste. Many veterans who
>> post here were offended by it including me.

This is one of those issues like the flying of the Confederate battle flag (probably be sorry I brought that up). We all need to toughen our hides about such things. The ONLY person who can change things so that you are never offended by what someone else says or does it YOU. And you can only do it if you reach the point in your own mind that you can honestly say, "I will NOT allow myself to be offended, insulted or controlled by anything anyone else says or does." You can't change everyone else (or maybe even anyONE else). You can only change yourself.

>> 4) I agree it is not a "freedom of speech" issue since the FEDERAL Government
>> is not involved. Notice I said Federal - since most States can do what they
>> want to and against you <g>. The fear was of the Federal Government, not the
>> State.

Legally incorrect, Jim. The 1st Amendment applies to the states through the due process clause of the 14th Amendment (settled unequivocally long ago by the Supreme Court). I haven't read the state constitutions of every state, but find it hard to believe that even one of them does not have comparable state protection of free speech. Your last sentence, of course, is correct; at the time of the Bill of Rights, the great fear was of the federal government. Unfortunately, we have now reached the point where the greatest threat to personal freedom in this country is local government, not the national version.

>> 5) I have a very difficult time with things like: Flag burning, Jane Fonda,
>> Protests that go to the core of what our country represents, etc. It is MY
>> problem and I have handled it well for many years. However, sometimes certain
>> stimuli kick me off <lol>.

Those protests ARE the core of what our country represents. This nation was born of such protests. There is nothing which sets the United States apart from most of the rest of the world more than the fact that we can make such protests without fear of governmental reprisal. Squelching such protests (e.g., via an anti-flag burning amendment to the Constitution) would be a HUGE mistake. He wasn't one of our founding fathers, but Voltaire expressed the point as well as it can be said: "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."

>> 6) We, as Americans, have become very sensitive in dealing with other
>> Americans. We fear offending others by saying or doing something that is not
>> liked. Yet it appears to me to be OK to offend vets. This is one of the few
>> countries in the world that pi.... on its vets.

I agree with your observation, but believe the solution is as stated above. We need to toughen up rather than cowtowing to the lowest possible denominator (that is, the biggest whiny crybabies in society), which is what we are doing now. That old childhood rhyme says it well, "Sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me." The plain fact is, some people don't appreciate what the military (or policemen or firemen) do for them. Doesn't mean a damn thing to me. I KNOW that what I and other members of my family have done in the service of our country is a good thing. I am proud of that service and there's nothing ANYONE can say which will diminish that in my mind.

>> 7) Comparing Clinton to Fonda is absurd. Both have betrayed our Constitution
>> but in entirely different ways. One will soon be ex-President the other will
>> always be a reminder of a "horrible" time in our history.

Jane Fonda is essentially irrelevant to our national history. Ask anyone under the age of 40 what she did in Vietnam that was so "horrible" and you'll get blank stares from most. I'd be willing to bet that not a single American History book being used today in any high school or college in the country even mentions her name.

----- jim o\-S