My response follows the offending e-mail
The e-mail...
xxxxx wrote:
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> Date: Mon, 26 Sep 2005 08:36:35 -0700
> From: xxxxx
> To: "xxxxxx
> Subject: New USPS Stamp is a disgrace]
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> Subject: Fw: New USPS Stamp is a disgrace]
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> How ironic is this??!! They don't even believe in Christ and they're getting their own Christmas "Holiday" stamp, (but don't dream of posting the ten commandments on federal property?)
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> USPS New Stamp
> This one is impossible to believe. Scroll down for the text.
> If there is only one thing you forward today.....let it be this!
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> REMEMBER the MUSLIM bombing of PanAm Flight 103!
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> REMEMBER the MUSLIM bombing of the World Trade Center in 1993!
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> REMEMBER the MUSLIM bombing of the Marine barracks in Lebanon!
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> REMEMBER the MUSLIM bombing of the military barracks in Saudi Arabia!
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> REMEMBER the MUSLIM bombing of the American Embassies in Africa!
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> REMEMBER the MUSLIM bombing of the USS COLE!
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> REMEMBER the MUSLIM attack on the Twin Towers on 9/11/2001!
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> REMEMBER all the AMERICAN lives that were lost in those vicious MUSLIM attacks!
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> Now the United States Postal Service REMEMBERS and HONORS the
> EID MUSLIM holiday season with a commemorative first class
> holiday postage stamp.
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> REMEMBER to adamantly and vocally BOYCOTT this stamp
> when purchasing your stamps at the post office.
> To use this stamp would be a slap in the face to all those
> AMERICANS who died at the hands of those whom this stamp honors.
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> REMEMBER to pass this along to every patriotic AMERICAN you know.
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And what of the good Christians bombing Baghdad with Shock and Awe ? A nation that had nothing to do with terrorism, let alone 9/11. All those innocent civilians, Babies, children, mothers, sisters, brothers, fathers. Human beings all. They did nothing to deserve being killed at night from 40,000 feet.
What of the good Christians bombing of all those wedding parties in Afghanistan? Women, children, Bride, Groom, Relatives, Friends, celebrating a joyous occasion, cut down just because they happen to be in the wrong country. Born the wrong nationality. The wrong skin color.
What of the those good Christian solders in Abu Ghurayb prison doing all those unspeakable things to their fellow human beings in their own country. Those good United States Christian solders over there that are committing these atrocities - they are the invaders.
The below is a Hate e-mail! Racist even.
Muslims are not to blame for any of the listed. Each and every one of those atrocities listed below is blow back because the Unites States was interfering in countries where we were not wanted. And have been for over 60 years.
A real Patriotic American would not write an e-mail like this. A Christian that actually followed Christ would not write an e-mail such as this.
There is nothing wrong with that stamp. It is not a disgrace. I would have no problem using it.
Muslims are people as you and I are. Most happen to live in a different part of the world where some other religion other than Christianity is practiced. That does not make them less than us. That does not make them worse than us.
The thinking behind the BS below is why bu$h is still in office. He banks on this kind of thinking to keep his war going.
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A second e-mail that went to all the first one did.
http://www.snopes.com/politics/religion/eidstamp.asp
Should Americans boycott a stamp commemorating Islamic holidays? That's a personal decision, but the following facts may prove informative:
* The EID stamp is an ordinary first-class postage stamp; all proceeds from its sale go to the USPS, not to any Muslim-related groups or organizations. Boycotting the EID stamp is a purely symbolic act with no financial impact on anyone.
* The United States is home to an estimated 6 million Muslims, and according to the U.S. State Department, by the year 2010 the Muslim population of the United States is expected to surpass the Jewish population, making Islam the country's second-largest faith.
* The USPS already issues stamps commemorating the Christian holiday of Christmas (with both religious and festive themes) and the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah as well as Kwanzaa.
* The American greeting card manufacturer Hallmark produces cards celebrating Eid al-Fitr.
* The President of the United States, George W. Bush, has extended official greetings, issued messages, and participated in commemorations of both Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha (even after the September 11 attacks), and the White House web site promotes the EID stamp as well.
(*This is the reverse of Judeo-Christian tradition, which holds that Abraham was commanded by God to sacrifice not Ishmael but his other son, Isaac.)