[dukeman]

I have a teenaged daughter and I really relish the opportunities to demonstrate to her how good she has it in America. Things like, "If you did that in an Islamic country, you'd have an appendage cut off," or "If you were born into the wrong caste in India you might aspire to be a latrine cleaner at most." She hates it, but it's my duty as a father to educate her. Now I have more ammo!

[elbucko]

She hates it, but it's my duty as a father to educate her. Now I have more ammo!

Good for you! It is our duty, as fathers, to educate or kids about citizenship. Dumb adults come from dumb kids and elect dumb leaders. I was fortunate enough to be able to take my 21yr. old daughter to Europe for two weeks in '98. She saw Buckingham Palace and the council housing (projects) of Manchester, England and Glasgow, Scotland. I did the same for the other countries that we visited.

When we got home, she began to change. She re-enrolled in college, began to ask me serious political questions. On the Fourth of July following our trip, she presented me with a Colonial, 3' X 5', American flag with a 13 star circle in the field of blue. I wept like a baby. All of a sudden, every hardship of the service, became a worthwhile memory.

Regards, Buck.