Loyalty Day, 2003
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation

To be an American is not a matter of blood or birth. Our citizens are bound by ideals that represent the hope of all mankind: that all men are created equal, endowed with unalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. On Loyalty Day, we reaffirm our allegiance to our country and resolve to uphold the vision of our Forefathers.

Our founding principles have endured, guiding our Nation toward progress and prosperity and allowing the United States to be a leader among nations of the world. Throughout our history, honorable men and women have demonstrated their loyalty to America by making remarkable sacrifices to preserve and protect these values.

Today, America's men and women in uniform are protecting our Nation, defending the peace of the world, and advancing the cause of liberty. The world has seen again the fine character of our Nation through our military as they fought to protect the innocent and liberate the oppressed in Operation Iraqi Freedom. We are honored by the service of foreign nationals in our Armed Services whose willingness to risk their lives for a country they cannot yet call their own is proof of the loyalty this country inspires. Their service and sacrifice are a testament to their love for America, and our soldiers' honor on and off the battlefield reaffirms our Nation's most deeply held beliefs: that every life counts, and that all humans have an unalienable right to live as free people.

These values must be imparted to each new generation. Our children need to know that our Nation is a force for good in the world, extending hope and freedom to others. By learning about America's history, achievements, ideas, and heroes, our young citizens will come to understand even more why freedom is worth protecting.

Last September, I announced several initiatives that will help improve students' knowledge of American history, increase their civic involvement, and deepen their love for our great country. The We the People initiative will encourage the teaching of American history and civic education by providing grants for curriculum development and training seminars. The Our Documents initiative will use the Internet to bring infor-mation about and the text of 100 of America's most important documents from the National Archives to classrooms and com-munities across the country. These initiatives are important, for it is only when our children have an understanding of our past that they will be able to lead the future.

This Loyalty Day, as we express allegiance to our Nation and its founding ideals, we resolve to ensure that the blessings of liberty endure and extend for generations to come.

The Congress, by Public Law 85-529, as amended, has designated May 1 of each year as "Loyalty Day," and I ask all Americans to join me in this day of celebration and in reaffirming our allegiance to our Nation.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim May 1, 2003, as Loyalty Day. I call upon all the people of the United States to join in support of this national observance. I also call upon government officials to display the flag of the United States on all government buildings on Loyalty Day.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirtieth day of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-seventh.

GEORGE W. BUSH
From: http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/04/20030430-26.html

This is absolute BUSHIT~

I wonder what spin doctor came up with this idea. I smell desperation. Is this to counteract the lovely pictures of our troops torturing Iraqi prisoners?

It's sickening.

How loyal is it to be sending JOBS outside America? What a hypocrite!

Loyalty is a two-way street.

I do have to point out that this is a year old. Also loyalty to ones country is a good thing. Everyone in this forum seems to be working hard to preserve our country and our liberties. Perhaps tomorrow is a good day to redouble your efforts.

Or you could organize a nice Mayday riot like the Europeans do.

I stand firmly on the side of no riots. I don't think their results are particularly effective.

Thanks for pointing out that date thing CaptainM. It actually does make me feel a little better.

Ooooh, May Day....wonder what's happening here.

I actually like the concept.

A day to stop and think about what's good about being American and maybe what could be better. Learn a little more about our history maybe get a bit more involved in your community and the political process (you know it really would be great if our Politicians and I mean all of them decided to participate in the holiday). Granted this politically reminds me a bit of the adding of "Under God" to the pledge in the 50's to differentiate America as a country of religious tolerance from the Soviet system of State Atheism, as May 1st is also International Labor Day which was primarily celebrated by Communists and Socialists during the Cold War.

I'm going in pursuit of happiness and I think the only way to achieve my happiness is to download a couple of hundred songs off of Kazaa.

What kind of salute do I give on 'Loyalty Day'? I'm wavering between Nazi and one-fingered.

The next day, May 1, the president declared 'major combat operations' in Iraq had ended.

I think it is a great idea. There are too many citizens of this country who take their rights and freedoms for granted, without pausing to remember those who took up arms to guarantee those freedoms. Of course, I am a proud veteran who stands behind today's troops, and my president in this time of war. I will defend your right to speak ill of my country, as well as my right to kick your ass for doing so.

Supporting the troops doesn't mean you have to support the war. Have you ever tried to kick the ass of an angry woman with PMS? Bring it on!

This president is an imbecile.

I was unaware that President Bush had gone before congress, asked for and received a declaration of war. We are NOT at war. When we actually declare war, we don't quit, we don't half-ass it, we take the shackles off of the military and the entire country puts everything we have into it. This hasn't happened since WWII. We've been playing stupid games ever since.

"On Loyalty Day, we reaffirm our allegiance to our country and resolve to uphold the vision of our Forefathers."

If I was truly loyal to the vision of our Forefathers, then I would denounce virtually all of the Congress, most of the judiciary, and a large percentage of the Executive branch, because their operations bear little resemblence to the original principles. Government was never meant to be the giant life-sucking intrusive monster it has become.

Since this is loyalty day, and I am loyal to the principles of Adams, Jefferson, Ben Franklin, George Washington, and others who brought this baby to birth, I suppose I should write a letter to the editor, detailing why I do not feel loyal to this government -- because it is in opposition to the principles upheld by the President's pronouncement.

The government's involvement in income taxation, health, education and welfare, are all unconstitutional by original principles. As are many of the police powers of our law enforcement and intelligence agencies. Thomas Jefferson, were he to rise from the grave, would organize an opposition to this anti-American pigocracy (or oligarchy, call it what you will) that has developed out of the original Republic.

This site has really gone downhill. I'm glad I took the boycott-riaa.com sticker off my car.

Instead of wasting your time bitching about politicians you don't like- help stop the RIAA!