Here’s what he wrote:
My name is Joe Ptak and I live in Island Lake, Illinois.
I attended the Joe Walsh-Melissa Bean “forum” and I WAS THE INDIVIDUAL who stood up and wanted to know why the pledge of allegiance was not going to be recited…I thought it might have been an oversight.
I was flabbergasted and stunned to hear the LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS moderator say to me, and the audience, that it was never part of their program at these events and will not allowed.
Please keep in mind that this “forum” was organized in Grayslake High School for the benefit of the students, who were asking the questions. Furthermore, there were numerous students present (gaining extra credit) as well as 350 adults and media who packed the auditorium.
I served in the USAFR’s for ten (10) years and there were many veterans in attendance.
I was so proud when the audience rose up one by one, then in mass to recite the pledge of allegiance with loud and heavy emphasis on the words LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
The moderator then had the gall to admonish the audience and for “disrespecting her”…my wife told me if that woman did not shut up she was going to get her “Brooklyn up” (being from NY).
I happen to be an Hispanic immigrant from Peru, South America, who was brought to this great country by my parents, along with three other siblings in 1960, when I was eight years old.
I was raised in Chicago, have seen, and experienced a lot in this world.
People are literary dying each day for just the OPPORTUNITY to live in this great land I call my home.
There are ignorant people in this land who do not have the slightest idea, nor understand, what it means to be an AMERICAN.
Our Liberty, Freedom of Speech and the Press are never guaranteed and we must always fight to maintain them.Red Skelton pledging Allegiance to the Flag.
I think our students in attendance witnessed that first hand and gained a lot of extra credit for themselves.
= = = = =
More comments can be found under the following stories
10-21-10 Joe Walsh Campaign Reacts to League of Women Voters
And 50 years ago commedian Red Skelton gave this monologue on the Pledge of Allegiance.
Thank you for the Skelton monologue. (Note to others – this is not a piece of comedy.)
Yes, Freedom IS everyone’s job.
I’m old enough to remember seeing the Red Skelton monologue when he did it on his show. It was, and IS, an inspiration.
Also, sounds like the audience did NOT have this pre-planned; to bad the league didn’t pre-plan it.
How come it take someone, who was initially from another country, to remind us about our liberty and justice for all.
Did the league at least have an American Flag on stage?
Joe, thank you for standing up and “inciting” the rebels in the audience to recite the Pledge of Allegiance. Had I been there, I would have been standing right alongside you.
Monday night at MCC the McHenry League of Women Voters will conduct forums for the candidates for Sheriff (7:00PM) and for County Clerk at 8:00PM. The program WILL begin with the Pledge of Allegiance.
This you tube video needs to be shared with your email lists.
Here is the link as this is a must see for everyone.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYHLVUVctQk
The Duke has a great thoughts on the Pledge give it a listen as well.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Jf3MQpffBc&feature=related
Cal, you should refer to him as Joe the pledger
How come the Northwest, in its article, didn’t point all of this out?
Watch this video and you will better understand why this moderator acted like she was in her classroom. Listen to the portion where she tries to explain her actions, starting with “As a teacher…………”.
It’s obvious she expects total control in her classrooms and forgot that the attendees at the forum were voters and NOT her students, bowing to her refusal to recite the Pledge and her constant demands for total silence.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElkVtUloHEw&feature=player_embedded
Here’s more hope for change in Illinois
“Early Voting Around Chicago Scaring Democrats”
http://strata-sphere.com/blog/index.php/archives/14961
And THIS is what’s driving the Republican Tsunami
http://tinyurl.com/2cmssch
Joe Walsh is a right wing, christen, extremist who trys to bull his way onto other people no matter what others think.
These are the same republican extremists who bulls#!ted into a war, who allow the financial institutions of this country to run wild. Joe Walsh types are the reason this country is in such financial discord.
If Joe Walsh is such an American then why, after the highest court of the nation said “under God” can no longer be a part of the pledge do his extremist’s followers continue to say it?
Forcing an institution to change its rules to suit your agenda is nothing more than bulling. I’m surprised Joe’s followers didn’t have their hoods with them or maybe they did.
The debate was a “fix” by Bean and her Acorn worker/activists from Evanston, that’s why she showed up. All 5 questions asked were phony and put up by the liar Democrats.
Real bunch of un-Americans in action…including the Bean
Did Patrick McKenna really just compare those who wish to say the pledge of allegiance at political debates to KKK members?
Really?
Those wanting to say the pledge of allegiance are akin to those who wear white hoods?
Who is the Political ideologue extremist?
Just, you and I both know there is but one religion allowed anymore in the United States… Progressivism.
If you have the audacity to stand up for Freedom of Religion there are those who will hound and abuse you for not subscribing to their view.
It is alright.
This is what “freedom” is all about.
I don’t really think Mr. McKenna equates those who recite The Pledge with racist extremists.
He is merely emotionally reacting to people who have the audacity to believe differently from him.
People are at all stages of personal development and it is incumbent upon the rest of us to be tolerant when the children lash out.
We don’t have to allow them at the “Big People” table when we talk but we certainly can pat them on the head and urge them to think their statements through a little better before speaking.
We love you Mr. McKenna.
Everything is going to be alright.
You don’t need to make knee jerk hate filled remarks to make your point about how hate filled everyone around you must be too.
Perhaps a little introspection would lead your perspective to be more tempered before you accuse others of being awful hate mongers(Don’t throw rocks in a glass house sweetheart).
P your first sentence says it all “Just, you and I both know” Because you are both in a world of your own, where you are always correct and all others are only there to amuse you.
I have no problems with those who believe differently then I believe.
My issue comes in when someone has the audacity to tell me what I should believe.
So if the “adults” are going to have the type of close minded conversations that you and j have, than please put me at the kids table, they are more tolerant, open minded, mannerly, and they follow rules, better than adults.
The Democratic or is that Demon-crats Politicaly charged word is ” Extremist”
It is no longer politically correct to liberals to have a different opinion.
So anyone that has a different opiniion is an “EXTREMIST”
Well Hope and Change got elected and the Pork and bribes ran wild with the power they had.
There went to the EXTREME and now they are paying the price. The extremist are coming out of the wood work challeging everything the Demoncrats did with complete control.
Done.
Mr. Thirtyacre meet Mr. McKenna.
Please play nice and try to mind your manners.
If you throw ignorant hate filled judgments about people’s intent when speaking about their personal belief systems I will spank you.
Otherwise I’ll be happy to allow you to say anything your little hearts desire to experiment as you find your own paths to enlightenment.
Once again, we love you and want you to grow as little human beings but we want you to learn civility with a modicum of knowledge.
Sally Wiggins – Independent for Judge – committed to saying the Pledge in her Court before saying the pledge was news … while the rest of you were sleeping
Quit fighting and Wake up!
vote for Change
Her court? Before it was news? What court? She hasn’t even appeared in court in McHenry County other than in her own case. A bit presumptuous isn’t it to say that the Pledge will be recited in HER court?