Our next battleground will require some new heroes and heroines to show themselves. Each and every one of us has power to effect change in those around us. A simple display of your American pride may not convince someone to change his or her convictions but it may very well plant seed that blossoms week or months later. Our troops know where patriotism grows. It grows in every hard fought battle for liberty and justice. It casts a shadow on every country that we help around world. Our troops know it. Shouldn’t we?

How do you show your American pride?

We should not feel ashamed of our love of country. We should feel free and comfortable to express it. Is that not spirit of what America was founded upon?

American patriots display their pride in many different ways. Some patriots where red, white and blue. Some patriotic souls where old glory flag as pins, hats, t-shirts and even bake flag shaped cookies. The point is, if you feel patriotic pride then show it! It is not hard to find plenty of great patriotic gifts and patriotic gift ideas. There are many patriotic Web sites and store. Some of these Web sites even offer free patriotic stuff. Now that’s showing patriotic pride. What ever you do, showing your pride is just first step. Sharing your pride is next. Try encouraging friends and neighbors to show their American patriotism by buying a bunch of American flag lapel pins and passing them out to everyone that you see in a day.

Others may not understand or approve your displaying pride. This will provide a great opportunity for patriotic “bridge-building” that we so desperately need in this country. If someone gives you a hard time for wearing a star and stripes jacket or playing basketball with a red, white and blue, basketball, then just remind them that no matter who you voted for in last election, or even who your parents voted for in past elections, we are all still American citizens today and will be tomorrow.

http://www.Patriot-Mall.com

To prevent a complete turnover every four years, terms could be staggered so that half members of House are up for re-election every two years. However, in first House election under my plan, half of House would get four-year terms, with other half getting two-year terms. A way to determine who gets four-year terms in initial election would be as follows: The House member in each state with widest margin of victory in that election would get a four-year term. The 168 remaining members (on an at-large basis) with next highest victory margins would also get four-year terms, for a total of 218. The remaining 217 members would get only two-year terms for that election only. For next election only, members who got two-year terms would be allowed to run for re-election, without sitting out two years. Then, beginning with that election, they would all get four-year terms and term interruptions rules would fully take effect.

Terry Mitchell is a software engineer, free-lance writer, and trivia buff from Virginia, USA. He operates a website - http://www.commenterry.com - on which he posts commentaries on various subjects such as politics, technology, religion, health and well-being, personal finance, and sports. His commentaries offer a unique point of view that is not often found in mainstream media.