Here's the email:
Subject: Fw: America the Melting Pot
AFTER READING THIS I JUST HAD TO FORWARD
THIS TO ALL OF YOU PLEASE FORWARD IT TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW THANK YOU.
Will we still be the Country of choice and still be America if we continue to make the changes forced on us by the people from other countries that came to live in America because it is the Country of Choice???????? Think about it........
All I have to say is, when will they do something about MY RIGHTS? I
celebrate Christmas, but because it isn't celebrated by everyone, we can no longer say Merry Christmas. Now it has to be Season's Greetings. It's not Christmas vacation, it's Winter Break. Isn't it amazing how this winter break ALWAYS occurs over the Christmas holiday?? We've gone so far the other way, bent over backwards to not offend anyone, that I am now being offended. But it seems that no one has a problem with that.
This says it all!
After hearing that the state of Florida changed its opinion and let a Muslim woman have her picture on her driver's license with her face covered this is an editorial written by an American citizen, published in a Tampa newspaper. He did quite a job; didn't he? Read on, please!
IMMIGRANTS, NOT AMERICANS, MUST ADAPT. I am tired of this nation worrying about whether we are offending some individual or their culture. Since the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, we have experienced a surge in patriotism by the majority of Americans. However, the dust from the attacks had barely settled when the "politically correct" crowd began complaining about the possibility that our patriotism was offending others.
I am not against immigration, nor do I hold a grudge against anyone who is seeking a better life by coming to America. Our population is almost entirely made up of descendants of immigrants. However, there are a few things that those who have recently come to our country, and apparently some born here, need to understand. This idea of America being a multicultural community has served only to dilute our sovereignty and our national identity. As Americans, we have our own culture, our own society, our own language and our own lifestyle. This culture has been developed over centuries of struggles, trials, and victories by millions of men and women who have sought freedom.
We speak ENGLISH, not Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, or any other language. Therefore, if you wish to become part of our society, learn the language!
"In God We Trust" is our national motto. This is not some Christian, right wing, political slogan. We adopted this motto because Christian men and women, on Christian principles, founded this nation, and this is clearly documented. It is certainly appropriate to display it on the walls of our schools. If God offends you, then I suggest you consider another part of the world as your new home, because God is part of our culture.
If Stars and Stripes offend you, or you don't like Uncle Sam, then you should seriously consider a move to another part of this planet. We are happy with our culture and have no desire to change, and we really don't care how you did things where you came from. This is OUR COUNTRY, our land, and our lifestyle. Our First Amendment gives every! citizen the right to express his opinion and we will allow you every opportunity to do so. But once you are done complaining, whining, and griping about our flag, our pledge, our national motto,
or our way of life, I highly encourage you take advantage of one other great American freedom, THE RIGHT TO LEAVE.
If you agree -- pass this along; if you don't agree -- delete it!
AMEN
I figure if we all keep passing this to our friends (and enemies) it will also, sooner or later get back to the complainers and those others who need to hear this message. Just send it
And my reply:
I’ve got to debunk some of this email, it is like so many that travel the web these days so please indulge me.
“when will they do something about MY RIGHTS?” - notice the selfness here, the use of caps which is akin to shouting. Why does the white Christian majority in this country feel that someone is intruding on their rights? Often it is a white male as well. And what are they protesting - the change from Christmas Holiday to winter holiday? How does that affect their rights I ask you? No what it does is takes emphasis off a religious holiday that not all people in this country celebrate, it doesn’t mean white Christians can’t celebrate Christmas, it merely means that black Muslims, brown Hindus, white Jews and atheists of all colors don’t have to.
“we speak English” – this has never been exclusively so. In fact, for many years during the 19th century, making German the main language was discussed frequently, as there were so many German immigrants, including my grandparents. Then there were Yiddish-speakers, Italians, etc. Have you noticed how much Yiddish has enriched the English language? Call someone a putz and try to not speak Yiddish! And Italian music and food has enriched our culture - should Andrea Bochelli be forced to sing in English just because he lives in New York now? After all, the language of music is Italian, and the language of song can often be Italian.
Already, the Hispanic immigrants who have come here are influencing and enriching our everyday speech, art, music and food as previous waves of immigrants have done. Already they’ve made a huge impact on popular music, enlivening the dance beat and song lyrics of our music and movies.
"In God We Trust" is our national motto. This is not some Christian, right wing, political slogan. We adopted this motto because Christian men and women, on Christian principles, founded this nation, and this is clearly documented.” – Okay, I googled this from the Treasury Department web site: “The motto IN GOD WE TRUST was placed on United States coins largely because of the increased religious sentiment existing during the Civil War. Secretary of the Treasury Salmon P. Chase received many appeals from devout persons throughout the country, urging that the United States recognize the Deity on United States coins.” -
http://www.ustreas.gov/education/fact-sheets/currency/in-god-we-trust.html . So I guess we were an atheist country or not a nation before the Civil War, huh?
There is nothing in the Constitution that says we are a Christian nation and in fact our first half dozen Presidents were deists, not Christians which brings us to number 4.
“If Stars and Stripes offend you, or you don't like Uncle Sam, then you should seriously consider a move to another part of this planet.” - this is easily the most offensive part of this email. It says, “If you don’t agree with me then you should leave the United States” and to this may I quote the First Amendment of the Bill of Rights: Amendment I - Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.”
I love my country and I will not stand for a bunch of right wing fascists to tell me what to believe in, what to say or what to think. I am a proud liberal. I am staying right here, and I am speaking my mind.