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!!!!
>