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The Wisdom Of Barnyard Bruke: SNOW & DEER - RECITING The pledge - Thomas jefferson

Greetings ta ever one in western Illinois and all readers of "The Quill."

SNOW & DEER

Here we go again and it seems the farmers are in their winter boots, waitin' it out as Mother Nature slows down harvest or pulls it ta a halt fer a few days. With daylight savings time end'n, some farmers were have'n trouble adjust'n as their bodies was a wake'n them up at 3:30 and 4 a.m. instead of the usual 4:30 and 5 a.m. With the snow stop'n them, maybe they'll have a little more time ta adjust ta the time change.

With a lot of farmers travel'n from field ta field and along old wind'n country roads, they are find'n herds of deer movin' at dusk, make'n it more dangerous. Many have been out deer hunt'n, so with that, and farmers clear'n the fields, many deer are move'n ta look fer a safe place. And, the full moon Tuesday night was barely visible in our area.

I asked Jasper Jenks if he had any more good advice about "good attitude" and positive think'n and he said, "Corn-fed deer-once a hunter gets one-makes fer some pretty good stew!"

Cornelius Farkwad said he had something. The 26-year-old conservative Alyssa Ahlgren, had written another great article about recitin' the Pledge of Allegiance he thought ever one should read.

She wrote it after the Democrat-controlled City Council in St. Louis Park, Minnesota voted unanimously to stop sayin' the pledge prior ta their meetin's because they felt the Pledge was not welcomin' ta all their diverse community. After receivin' almost universal outrage, the Council reconsidered their previous decision and have since reinstated say'n the pledge before board meet'ns. Here is her message:

Reciting The Pledge

by Alyssa R. Ahlgren

"The St. Louis Park City Council Board voted unanimously to get rid of the Pledge of Allegiance before city council meetings.

"This did not go well. Because well, we live in America.

"We're saying one nation under God actually unites us rather than divides us.

"Rightfully so, the board was met with backlash from protestors waving American flags and showing their support for their choice to say the pledge.

"Notice I said choice, because what the board did, is not get rid of a forceful mandate but they got rid of a voluntary action.

"If you don't want to say the pledge of allegiance, guess what, you don't have to.

"We live in a country who's foundation are liberty and freedom, meaning what you chose to do, or not to do, is within your individual purview ...... However, what someone else chooses to do, is not.

When I was growing up we said the pledge of allegiance at school every morning.

I remember having one or two classmates who sat during the pledge for religious reasons. No one cared. And the students who sat didn't mind one bit to wait 20 seconds while their fellow classmates honored our great nation.

What united us in that moment was not that most of the class was standing and a couple were sitting.

What united us is what the pledge represented. It represents a country that allows you to sit or stand, to recite the pledge or not to recite the pledge.

And that at the end of the day we are still united under God which transcends beyond ourselves and our identity.

By illuminating the pledge of allegiance we are illuminating the choice to take part in what may be the single facet that a room full of diverse people have in common.

By illuminating the pledge of allegiance we are not aiding in unity we are destroying it.

E Pluribus Unum. "Out of many one." Our country was built on this premise. It's a premise that is echoed by the pledge of allegiance and it's a premise that we are eroding away from a false sense of combating division.

The truth is the farther we stray from American values and appreiation for those values the farther we stray from each other. We are one nation, the greatest nation, and we need to act like it.

-Alyssa Ahlgren

Here is another item a friend sent ta share:

Thomas Jefferson

13 April 1743 - 4 July 1826

Thomas Jefferson, our 3rd president, "Father of the Declaration of Independence" championed many things: state rights and felt the federal government should be limited, gained passage of the 12th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution which altered the workings of the Electoral College; founded the U.S. Military Academy, created 4 territories including Illinois; added the 1803 Louisiana Purchase-more than 800,000 square miles added to the U.S. between Mississippi River and the Rocky Mountains.

He really knew his stuff...

John F. Kennedy, at a dinner in the White House for a group of the brightest minds in the nation at that time stated:

"This is perhaps the assembly of the most intelligence ever to gather at one time in the White House, with the exception of when Thomas Jefferson dined alone."

Thomas Jefferson quotes:

"When we get piled upon one another in large cities, as in Europe, we shall become as corrupt as Europe ."

"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not."

"It is incumbent on every generation to pay its own debts as it goes. A principle which if acted on, would save one-half the wars of the world."

"I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people, under the pretense of taking care of them."

"My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government."

"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms."

"The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government."

"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants."

"To compel a man to subsidize with his taxes, the propagation of ideas which he disbelieves and abhors, is sinful and tyrannical."

-- Thomas Jefferson

Jefferson was a remarkable man who started learning very early in life and never stopped.

At 5, began studying under his cousin's tutor.

At 9, studied Latin, Greek and French.

At 14, studied classical literature and additional languages.

At 16, entered the College of William and Mary.

Also could write in Greek with one hand, while writing the same in Latin with the other.

At 19, studied Law for 5 years starting under George Wythe.

At 23, started his own law practice.

At 25, was elected to the Virginia House of Burgesses.

At 31, wrote the widely circulated "Summary View of the Rights of British America," and retired from his law practice.

At 32, was a delegate to the Second Continental Congress.

At 33, wrote the Declaration of Independence.

At 33, took three years to revise Virginia's legal code and wrote a Public Education bill and a statute for Religious Freedom.

At 36, was elected the second Governor of Virginia, succeeding Patrick Henry.

At 40, served in Congress for two years.

At 41, was the American minister to France and negotiated commercial treaties with European nations along with Ben Franklin and John Adams.

At 46, served as the first Secretary of State under George Washington.

At 53, served as Vice President and was elected President of the American Philosophical Society.

At 55, drafted the Kentucky Resolutions and became the active head of the Republican Party.

At 57, was elected the third president of the United States.

At 60, obtained the Louisiana Purchase, doubling the nation's size.

At 61, was elected to a second term as President.

At 65, retired to Monticello.

At 80, helped President Monroe shape the Monroe Doctrine.

At 81, almost single-handedly, created the University of Virginia and served as it's first president.

At 83, died on the 50th Anniversary of the Signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Thomas Jefferson knew much because he studied the previous failed attempts at government.

He understood actual history, the nature of God, His laws and the nature of man. That happens ta be way more than what most understand today.

The boys and I want ta say thank ya ta all our veterans who we owe a debt of gratitude to. These brave men and women laid down their lives ta ensure we may live in safety and freedom.

Mrs. Bruke and I have been throw'n an extra log or two in the fireplace at night, and it sure does feel pretty nice. We are hope'n ta see ya in church this Sunday.

Remember, where ever ya is, what ever ya be a do'n,

BE A GOOD ONE!

Keep on smile'n,

Catch ya later,

BARNYARD BRUKE