re: #161 Targetpractice

Better yet, ask him if “Under God” was always in the pledge (it wasn’t), where it appears in the anthem (it doesn’t), and when it was added to the former (1950s as part of the Red Scare).

My wife has a picture of her Dad and another worker setting up a window display in a store during the early 50’s (I think it was a Payless store). It was for the 4th of July and the display has the Pledge of Allegiance as it was originally written.

No “under God”.

re: #165 The Ghost of a Flea

Other thing people with the whole “participation trophy” whinge don’t think about: people that organize competitive events want participants to feel valued, because without their efforts there’s no fucking event (and no funding, no community, etc).

It’s a “you put in effort to get here and share something with us, and most people don’t do that” ribbon.

Hell, the adults can even look at their own events for participation trophies. How about a motorcycle poker run? Trophies for longest distance, oldest/youngest rider, worst luck, worst breakdown and numerous other categories.

All to make people feel like they had a part in the event.