RE: An intelligent approach

["Shahab Mesbah" <meteor2@moscow.com>]

True... but I also have to express frustration that (for example) we are
expected to teach school in different languages to meet the requirements of
Spanish speakers, or Chinese speakers, etc. I came to this country and at
the time I did not speak any English. I went straight to school and learned
it in 6 months. I had come to this country and it was my responsibility to
learn the language, culture, laws, and the norms and comply with it. I think
the point PC was making was that we as Americans should not have to change
our lives and forego our rights because immigrants come in and have
different cultural, religious, or language needs. As an immigrant it is my
responsibility to learn the norms of my new home. I expect my rights to be
respected but I have chosen to live here and thus it is my responsibility to
adjust my norms so that the two are not contrapuntal.

This does not infer that we as Americans will not adjust and learn from
other cultures and beliefs. The main strength of our society is its
diversity and the unity with which we live. Our culture is a mixture of east
and west to such degree that most of us do not recognize the origins of many
of our customs. I do not think that PC's remarks were exclusionary at all
but stating the rights and responsibilities of all of us. In this country we
are allowed to speak our minds. This will result in certain opinions
surfacing with which most of us do not agree. The great thing about this
country is that the Aryan nation people can march in Coeur d'Alene. The fact
that most of us disagree with their message makes their right to speak their
mind that much more important.

We have much to learn. We only enrich ourselves when we broaden our
experience to include different peoples from variety of backgrounds and
places in the world. There is, however, certain level of "norms" already
here and most of the immigrants can learn a thing or two from us. It is a
two way street. I absolutely disagree with the idea that we should limit our
right to free speech in order to keep from offending foreigners in our
country. If we have freedom it has to be for everyone.

"Your brother in arms"
Shahab...


-----Original Message-----
From: Sunil Ramalingam [mailto:sunilramalingam@hotmail.com]
Sent: Thursday, October 18, 2001 9:12 AM
To: susanp@moscow.com; PhilCooper@webtv.net; vision2020@moscow.com
Subject: RE: An intelligent approach

Phil,
You speak in broad terms that serve to exclude everyone that does not
believe what you do or practice religion as you do; apparently these people
are not Americans per your definitions.

Our Constitution gives us the right to practice religion as we see fit as
individuals, and does not ordain Christianity as our religion.  As an
Episcopalian I happen to celebrate the Christian holy days you mention;
however, the Muslim or atheist who does not is not any less  merican for not
doing so.

This is a time when we are drawing together as a nation.  You are not the
arbiter of what it is to be an American, and I don't see how you help pull
us together by instructing us in how to practice our citizenship.  I
disagree with your thesis that there is only one way for us to behave or
believe, although I defend your right to make those statements and to act
upon them.

Sunil Ramalingam


>From: susanp@moscow.com
>To: PhilCooper@webtv.net (P C), vision2020@moscow.com
>Subject: RE: An intelligent approach
>Date: Thu, 18 Oct 2001 14:26:18 GMT
>
>Phil,
>
>And I have a friend at the University of Idaho who was told to remove the
>sign
>from her office door following the 9-11 tragedy, which read "Embrace Peace
>and
>the Constitution."
>
>Like you, I would like see civil liberties protected for *everyone*.
>
>Susan Palmer
>
> > Broken Arrow, Oklahoma School officials remove "God Bless America" signs
> > from schools in fear that someone might be offended.  Channel 12 News in
> > Long Island, New York, orders flags
> > removed from the newsroom and red, white, and blue ribbons removed from
> > the lapels of reporters. Why? Management did not want to appear biased
> > and felt that our nations flag might give the appearance that "they lean
> > one way or another".
> >
> > Berkeley, California bans U.S. Flags from being displayed on city fire
> > trucks because they didn't want to offend anyone in the community.
> >
> > 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.
> > >
> > > Barry Loudermilk and Carl Lewis
> >
> > > If you agree, pass this onto other Americans!!
> > > It is time to take a stand!
> >
> >
>
>
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