FW: If your proud to be an american..read this

My sentiments exactly....

-----Original Message-----
From: Ashley, Pat [mailto:Pat.Ashley@SW.Boeing.com]
Sent: Thursday, October 25, 2001 9:04 AM
To: Lee, Andrea; Harlan, Janice A; Gyorfi, Ron; Grant, Karolyn L; Brown,
Christina D; 'Barbara'; 'Dennis'; 'Blake'; 'SJBujak@aol.com';
'SLeJune@wk'; Suarez, Theresa
Subject: FW: If your proud to be an american..read this

This is long but definately worth reading....

-Subject: If your proud to be an american..read this

< In an "act of tolerance" the head of the public library at Florida
<
< <Gulf
< <<Coast University ordered all "Proud to be an American"
< <<signs removed so as to not offend international students.
< <<I, for one, am quite disturbed by these actions of so-called
< <<American
< <<citizens; and I am tired of this nation worrying about whether or
< <<not we
< <<are offending some individual or their culture. Since the terrorist
< <<attacks on September 11, we have experienced a surge in patriotism
< <<by
< <<the majority of Americans. However, the dust from the attacks had
< <<barely
< <<settled in New York and Washington D.C. 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. In fact, our
< <<country's
< <<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 native Americans, need to understand.
< <<
< << First of all, it is not our responsibility to continually try
< <<not to
< <<offend you in any way. This idea of America being a multi-cultural
< <<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, called the "American Way" has been
< <<developed
< <<over centuries of struggles, trials, and victories by millions of
< <<men and
< <<women who have sought freedom. Our forefathers fought, bled, and
< <<died at
< <<places such as Bunker Hill, Antietam, San Juan, Iwo Jima, Normandy,
< <<Korea,
< <<Vietnam,
< <<
< << We speak English, not Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese,
< <<Russian, or
< <<any other language. Therefore, if you wish to become part of our
< <<society -
< <<learn our language! "In God We Trust" is our national motto. This
< <<is not
< <<some off-the-wall, Christian, Right Wing, political slogan - it is
< <<our
< <<national motto. It is engraved in stone in the House of
< <<Representatives in
< <<our Capitol and it is printed on our currency. We adopted this
< <<motto because
< <<Christian men and women, on Christian principles, founded this
< <<nation; and
< <<this is clearly documented throughout our history. If it is
< <<appropriate for
< <<our motto to be inscribed in the halls of our highest level of
< <<Government,
< <<then it is certainly appropriate to display it on the walls of our
< <<schools.
< <<
< <<God is in our pledge, our National Anthem, nearly every patriotic
< <<song, and
< <<in our founding documents. We honor His birth, death, and
< <<resurrection as
< <<holidays, and we turn to Him in prayer in times of crisis. 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 and we are proud to have Him.
< <<
< <<We are proud of our heritage and those who have so honorably
< <<defended our
< <<freedoms. We celebrate Independence Day, Memorial Day, Veterans
< <<Day, and Flag
< <<Day. We have parades, picnics, and barbecues where we proudly wave
< <<our flag.
< <<As an American, I have the right to wave my flag, sing my national
< <<anthem,
< <<quote my national motto, and cite my pledge whenever and wherever I
< <<choose.
< <<If the 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.
< <<
< << The American culture is our way of life, our heritage, and we
< <<are proud
< <<of it. 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. We are
< <<Americans,
< <<like it or not, this is our country, our land, and our lifestyle.
< <<
< <<Our First Amendment gives every citizen the right to express his
< <<opinion
< <<about our government, culture, or society, 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 onto other Americans!!! It is
< <<time****
< <<to take a stand!!!!
<