LISTEN UP AMERICA!

[NewbieZ71]

LISTEN UP AMERICA!

 

   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 comprised 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, 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 to take advantage of one other great American freedom, THE RIGHT TO LEAVE.

[gandolphxx]

NewbieZ71 - you will love this.

 

http://www.frontpagemagazine.com/columnist.../ac12-27-01.htm

 

I am old enough to remember when you saluted the flag, celebrated Independence Day on July 4th and actually called them Christmas Parties - and I grew up in a neighborhood that looked like a UN poster.

 

And I really like my flag bowtie!!!

[sincityZ71]

I can't agree with you more.  I am also very angered by the people who show disrespect to our military, our police, our firefighters, and all of those who are out there risking their lives to protect us and protect the rights and freedoms that we are priviliged to have as Americans.  They complain that the police have too much power or the military is evil and just a bunch of babykillers.  Yet the very second they are in need of these very people, they complain once again about how they do there jobs, that they were to slow responding to a fire (why, because these very people cut their budget), or the military wasn't prepared enough, or the police were lacking in there enforcement.  What a bunch of friggin' hypocrites.  Theses hereos, these proud Americans, put it on the line everyday for us and even for the very people they despise.  They are true Americans and true patriots.  They stand for the very ideals that this country was created from and what the beautiful Stars and Stripes represent and they need to be shown the proper respect they deserve.  And to all those who cannot respect these pround Americans and who refuse to respect America and its ideals in general, well, all I have to say is there are many places in this world where you would be more welcome, maybe a crappy communist country would be more your style, so if you would please, get the hell out of this country or start showing these heroic Americans the proper respect they deserve.

 

Also we need to respect the farmers and ranchers in our country, because they are what keeps this country running.  Without the food and other crops that they produce we would not survive as a country and would not have the grand selection of foods and products that we are lucky to have as American citizens.  You guys are the backbone of this country and deserve alot more respect and a lot better living then you have.  I know how hard it is for family farms to survive in this country since I come from a family that has been farming in this country for over 100 years.  Thanks to all of you.

 

Sorry for the long post, but I too feel very strongly about what newbie said and just wanted to add some more to it.  And lastly thanks to all of the proud members of the military, law enforcement, firefighting, rescue, and farmin/ranching communities out there.  God Bless You All.

[DigUout]

Well said gentlemen -  

[amd103]

Ladies and Gentlemen,

 

I've read this board with great interest for a while now.  I've always found it informative with great people from different backgrounds.  

 

With that said, let me also say that I agree a great deal with most of "newbie"s post.  Well said indeed.  The issue I have is that of religious intolerance.  One of the things that makes this country great is the fact that people may escape religious persecution for their beliefs (or lack thereof).  The post seems inflamatory because it appears to deny this.  Our founding fathers were the first heroes of this great country who recognized this early on and recognized that people of different backgrounds can coexist with respect for their religious beliefs.  This country and its constitution have never been about missionary work.

 

Believe what you want.  Respect other's beliefs (that's key...that means don't fly airplanes into World Trade Center buildings because you don't like Christians or whatever).  Defend the democracy.  Uphold Truth and Justice.  The melting pot works only with respect for others.

 

I'm off the soap box now.

[chevy4x4trucks]

Welcome a board, I'm sure you'll be a great addition to the site since that was such a great addition to newbie's speech.  Very well said indeed.

[CMNTMXR81]

Amen!  

 

If you're gonna force me to live with your lifestyle/religious beliefs/sexual connotation then best be prepared to live with mine!

 

If you are "offended" by it, I have a nice long middle index finger waving for you.  

[NewbieZ71]

Let me clarify one thing...this is not my writing, it was emailed to me from some source that I have forgotten...I posted it just to stir the thoughts a bit....I agree on the religious intolerance....and I dont believe the post mentions whose or which "God"...but do not put the "Christian" god down because he/she (oh sure, NOW I get politically correct!) isnt YOUR God......to each his own.  I spent a lot of time in the middle east...each day I heard Islamic chanting over loud speakers everywhere at the appropriate times...should I expect them to stop it because of my Christian beliefs?  Should I expect them to add on Christian prayers after the Islamic stopped so things were "even"? Of course not....others should give me and you the same respect in our own country......I'm not going to jam my beliefs down your throat....dont try to jam yours down mine.....

[patrick]

Actually, the separation of church and state was created because of the different beliefs that people had at the time of the drafting of the constitution and bill of rights, the vast majority of the country was christian, but not all, in fact quite a few drafters of the constitution were atheists.  Religious persecution like what you do see in some parts of the country right now against islamic peoples are exactly why most of the original settlers came to this country in the first place.

 

I will not defend people that, under the banner of "patriotism" do things such as: burn mosques and kill people because they look islamic.  A reporter in Seattle dressed in a traditional islamic robe the week after Sept 11 to see what would happen .  Someone tried to push her in front of a bus.  A family whose ancestory is Afghan in northern Virginia, is scared to go out of their house because of threats to their life.  This woman's great grandfather emigrated to the united states and fought in the spanish-american war, her grandfather in world war II, and her father in korea and Vietnam.

 

This is a nation of immigrants, which is the reason that the United States is the ONLY country in the world WITHOUT an 'official' language.  I am sorry, but people that emigrate here DO try and succeed at learning english.  It takes much time to learn a language as an adult, and you cannot always learn it fully.  How many American tourists go into foreign countries every day and expect the indigenous people to understand English, and when they can't, talk louder because they think it helps... then come back home talking about those ignorant people that can't even speak English?

 

 

Tolerism is a horrible thing to strive for.

Acceptance is what we need.

[pacodiablo]

for once i can agree with you newbie.  i am sick of people who say that being patriotic might offend someone, it completely contrididcts the amarican way of life.  if people in this country were not patriotic in some way, we would collapse.  if you don't like it here, than go somewhere else, don't complain about those who simply want to show pride and respect for their country

[GreenRado]

Welcome amd103.  I agree with your comments, and like you, most of the contents of Newbie's post as well.  It is important to recognize that's what makes us the great nation that we are - our people (the melting pot), and they way our founding fathers crafted a new nation.

 

Since we're on the issue of patriotism . . .  I live in a relatively politically liberal town, and there has been a fair amount of discussion/debate in the local paper, etc about patriotism, etc since the 9/11 terrorist acts.

 

Now, I'll be the first to admit that up till that tragic day, I didn't fly my flag continuously, but the morning I saw the second plane hit the WTC live on TV, I put my flag in the window, and by GOD that's where it will stay.  About 1/2 of my neighbors have some flag flying, but the percentage in this town is typically less than that in surrounding communities.  I have had people ask me why I do this, and say that they aren't comfortable because they do not necessarily support fully our efforts in Afgahnistan.

 

My inference is that they feel hypocritical if they fly a flag.  I fly that flag because I love and support what it represents.  I fly the flag after Sept. 11 also in sympathy for those who died, and their grieving families, and those brave fire fighters and police officers who sacraficed it all to save others.  I fly that flag to support our service men and women who risk it all, every day, defending the ideals that very flag represents.

 

I do not equate flying the stars and stripes with blind patriotism, like some of the complainers, whiners, etc, seem to.  But rather I can still agree to disagree over issues, policies and actions our government takes, AND care deeply enough to fly the flag. Although in this case, I fully support what we are doing and why.

 

Apologies for the rant, but I needed to get this off my chest.  :angry:

[sincityZ71]

I too have had my flag up every single day since September 11.  The actions of those firefighters, military personnel, and police officers truly showed the meaning of what the Stars and Stripes represents to me as a proud American.  I am ashamed that I didn't have the flag up everyday before then to show the support I have for these people to the whole world, but that flag outside ain't coming down as long as I am here.  God Bless America and its protectors.  

 

Heres a quote I have always liked and really hits the point on those people who believe that war is worth nothing and are offended by patriotism and have no shred of moral being or pride in their country and what they are lucky to have because of the wars our brave defenders have fought:

 

War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse. The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself.

-John Stuart Mill

[Jpshostr]

The reason we are going through all this crap is that the Americans that are complaining so loudly about offending others haven't been anywhere else to know how good they have it, they have always had the liberties the the good ol USA gives us.  Goes along with something I've heard in my line of work, you never hear a hungry person complain about farmers, only the fat full-stomached ones chewing their food.  You never hear a Mexican immigrant or soldier back from overseas complain about the USA, they've come from areas where the people aren't so lucky.

[siume99]

First of all, welcome to the forum amd103.  You sure have a way of making yourself noticed.  

 

It's quite obvious to me that everyone who has posted here, is patriotic.  Isn't it great to be able to voice your opinion?  Did you worry if you were going to get arrested, or worse, killed for speaking your mind by posting here?  That first amendment is truely a "living" work of art.  If people didn't have the right to voice their concerns or thoughts, problems wouldn't be solved as quickly or as well.  

 

Multiple minds, multiple ideas.  Different people, cultures, and beliefs have different ways of viewing things.  Understanding these views is a key to success.  I feel that if we didn't have the right to free speech, the government would constantly be overthrown by a group wanting everyone else to do things, or hear things, their way.   (much like ancient Rome, ancient China, and Afganistan)  

 

The WTC attack showed how weak Osama was.  Abraham Lincoln said, "Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." This, IMO, goes for nations as well.  The Towers weren't military targets.  

:angry: The jets weren't military bombs.  :angry:  The businessmen and women, the firefighters, the police officers, the medical personnel and the immediate volunteers weren't officially military personnel.  :angry:  The USA has the money and the military power to destroy everyone and everything in Afganistan.  But, obviously, it also has the understanding that only a few people are responsible for the actions on 9-11.

 

I thank all of the men and women who put their lives on the line to protect my freedoms.  Even if you don't believe in a particular religion, treat others as you would like to be treated....with RESPECT and understanding.

 

When you hear "God Bless America" did your hair stand up on the word God, the word America, or the combination God Bless America?  IN MY OPINION, I just hope your hair stood up.  

 

(I'm glad that was a sturdy soap box!)  

[MountaineerTom]

Goes along with something I've heard in my line of work, you never hear a hungary person complain about farmers, only the fat full-stomached ones chewing their food.  You never hear a Mexican immigrant or soldier back from overseas complain about the USA, they've come from areas where the people aren't so lucky.