RE: An intelligent approach

[thansen@moscow.com]

Greeting Visionaires -

A thousand "thumbs up" to Shahab.  I am behind him 1,000%.

You can never unite the whole by segregating its parts.

Take care and take pride,

Tom Hansen


> 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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> >
> 
> 
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