It’s nice to see the majority standing up to put God and Patriotism back in public schools.

For too long a minority has ruled that political correctness is more important than the principles this country was founded on. We’ve been embarrassed to be patriotic.

A nation founded on independence and the “can-do” attitude, we’re sometimes embarrassed to embrace God.

Too shy, or arrogant, to admit our need.

I remember, as a young girl attending Mark Twain Elementary, near what was then Swope Park in Kansas City, standing in the darkened hall, a bunch of shuffling first graders lined up for bathroom and then playground, we’d be hushed to sudden silence as we walked past Mrs. MacGregor’s fifth grade class.

There students sat, Bibles open on their desk.

It was a public school, and I never knew what was taught during that time.

My guess is ethics, morals and the Ten Commandments.

I don’t believe any one religion was given preference over another.

All I know is, as a young girl standing in quiet awe outside the door, I knew it was IMPORTANT.

And as with all younger kids, I wanted to be grown up, and in that classroom.

Unfortunately, I never got that chance, because it was about that time religion was “removed” from public school.

There are other things I remember. Like being taught the “Pledge of Allegiance.” Having to memorize the preamble to the constitution and Gettysburg address. A lot of it was boring, but I knew it was IMPORTANT.

I knew that from the way the information was presented. The information was presented with respect, and we were expected to know it.

To pass civics, I had to write the preamble start to finish without one error, that included punctuation and spelling. Another important thing was the VOTE. It was drilled into our heads. There was no talk of “one vote doesn’t matter,” or “I can’t make a difference.”

We were told that voting was a privilege, and a duty, for enjoying the freedoms America offers.

Just imagine if everyone now flying a flag, and feeling patriotic fervor, would go down to the election office and register to vote.

What a difference we could make. There is no better way to show our patriotism.

In that way, we can stand united. My grandpa used to say about the coming and going of Republican vs. Democrats, conservatives vs. Liberals, the Victorian Era vs. The Roaring 20s, the Eisenhower 50s vs. the 60s flower children, “Honey, the pendulum swings.” And it appears now the American pendulum is swinging back towards our center – Pride in Country, Morals, Belief in God and Patriotism.