“I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.” I have said those 12 words and the 19 that come after them many times in my life, mostly in the classrooms of my youth. They had meaning to me then, and they still do today. As they should.
If I am wearing a hat, I remove it when the flag is present.
When I see American soldiers, I thank them for their service.
I respect our president and commander of our Armed Forces, regardless of who it is.
I flunked choir in eighth grade, yet I still sing our national anthem every chance I get. And when the words “gave proof through the night that our flag was still there” are sung, I get goosebumps.
I never served in our military, but, at times, I wish I would have. I believe the experience would have made me a better American and a better person.
I don’t know why I feel the way I do about patriotism. It was probably instilled in me by my father and my teachers and my coaches and my pastors. I never felt it was forced on me or that I was guilted into it. I am quite proud to be an American, and I am forever thankful to those who sacrificed to allow me to have the freedoms I have.
Even so, when Iowa legislators discuss enacting a law to require students in public schools to stand and sing portions of “The Star-Spangled Banner” on a daily basis, I am torn. I don’t know that yet another law is needed. (I have a strong feeling that when any new law is enacted, an old law should be eliminated. That goes for new taxes, too.) Even though a law requiring this may be excessive, encouragement to sing our national anthem certainly seems appropriate. If a public school teacher doesn’t want to do this in his or her classroom, so be it. That decision will say a lot on its own.
I walked into a public high school the other day, and the ceiling in the commons area was draped with dozens of flags from other countries. I didn't see an American flag at first glance, but I certainly hope one was there. Americans don’t need to be disrespectful to other countries to show patriotism for their own, but there should be no question where one’s loyalties need to be. If a person truly despises our “land of the free and the home of the brave” that much, there are 194 other options.
Have a terrific Tuesday, and thanks for reading.
Shane Goodman
President and Publisher
Big Green Umbrella Media
shane@dmcityview.com
515-953-4822, ext. 305
www.thedailyumbrella.com
See Shane Goodman's previous columns here. |
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Your Clear Mortgage forecast
Our warming trend continues through Thursday, when we may see record highs. Expect breezy conditions Wednesday through Friday, with chances for showers and a thunderstorm Thursday.
For help with pre-approvals or refinancing, get in touch with Originating Branch Manager Carrie Hansen at carrie.mortgage. |
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| CITYVIEW's Best Of Des Moines® | | | The results have been tallied and published in the February issue of CITYVIEW and online!
Best West Glen Restaurant
1. Anna Dolce Ristorante
2. The Breakfast Club
3. El Fogon Mexican Restaurant
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| Featured home for sale | | |
$1,490,000
3515 Arapahoe Drive, Des Moines, IA 50312
Four bedrooms and four bathrooms in this 3,084-square-foot home. Three car attached garage, first floor laundry, dishwasher, dryer, microwave, refrigerator, stove, washer included.
See the listing here.
| | | See More Homes For Sale |
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| From CITYVIEW | | | DES MOINES FORGOTTEN
The Bock Stops Here
By Kristian Day
It’s the busiest time of the year at the CITYVIEW offices with our annual BEST OF DES MOINES winners being announced. I thought it would be fun to dive into some of the past BEST OF DES MOINES winners, which means taking a walk into the deep dark tomb that is under the CITYVIEW headquarters.
To find out about past CITYVIEW lore, I had to enter a dark cave filled with booby traps before I found an underground cliff. I walked to the edge and stared into the dark abyss, wondering if man was ever meant to see the bottom or if whatever lived beneath the surface had ever seen the clouds in the heavens. | | | READ MORE |
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Guinness has expanded its market share more than any other beer since the beginning of COVID. It was the best-selling beer in UK and Ireland pubs, bars and restaurants in 2022, according to hospitality data company CGA. These strides were made possible by a 24% increase in sales to young women world wide. Kim Kardashian and the Princess of Wales have been photographed drinking it, and its reputation as a lower calorie drink than most popular beers or wine helped the brand shake off its macho image. So did the first female CEO of parent company Diageo. Sept. 24 is now Arthur's Day after the founder of Guinness. In Ireland, he is toasted with pints of his invention at 17:59 military time, after the year of Guinness' founding. (Yahoo Finance)
This is nut news. California almond farms are optimistic this year because of the heavy yet nondestructive rains. Last year was their worst harvest ever. Hazelnut growers in Oregon, where 99% of the U.S. crop grows, are pessimistic after rains turned into ice storms. They fear they have lost 20-40% of their harvest, and it could be years before they recoup. (TNWD)
Tuesday brings $4.99 gyros to Opa! (2800 University Ave. West Des Moines).
— Jim Duncan, jd91446@aol.com |
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FROM KCCI: Former Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey dies
DES MOINES, Iowa — Former Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey has died at age 64. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds called Northey "a great leader whose work ethic and passion for Iowa agriculture was unmatched," in a statement Monday afternoon. ...READ MORE FROM KCCI
FROM WHO-TV: How small lifestyle changes lead to major steps in lowering cancer risk
According to the National Center for Health Statistics, 1,958,310 new cancer cases were projected to occur in the United States in 2023. Experts in Iowa say there are major steps individuals can take to help lower their own risk of cancerous diseases. .... READ MORE FROM WHO-TV
FROM WOI-DT Local 5: New bill aims to address uptick in swatting calls
Under a new bill proposed by the Iowa House Public Safety Committee, making a swatting call could be categorized as a felony.....READ MORE FROM WOI-DT Local 5 |
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| Birthdays and notables | | | Happy Birthday Terrie Price and Barry Brown!
These celebrities were born on this date: Axl Rose, Rick Astley, Crystal Reed, Kathy Najimy, Amy Robach, Anna Diop, Mike Farrell, Richie McDonald, Tinashe, Tom Brokaw
SUBMIT: Send your birthday greetings and congratulatory notes to: tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com |
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The answer to yesterday's riddle:
What was stolen from the music store? THE LUTE! - Gail Tomlinson. Or, All of the (Johnny) CASH albums! -William Snyder, Carolyn Rogers
Today's riddle
What do you call a psychic gnome who escaped from prison?
Have a guess? Email tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com |
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To advertise in this daily newsletter, contact Jolene Goodman at jolene@iowalivingmagazines.com, or call 515-953-4822 ext. 319.
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www.biggreenumbrellamedia.com. Add webmaster@dmcityview.com to your address book to ensure delivery. Did someone forward you this newsletter? Click here to get it delivered to your inbox for FREE! |
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