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What's a Blog?  It's short for "Web Log," a means for us computer freaks and thought exhibitionists to post our opinions in a public forum.  Some blogs have thousands and even millions of readers, but if you've stumbled upon mine, you may consider yourself one of about seven select individuals who know or care about what I think.  I will try to update this blog about once a week or so, or whenever there is major news about which I have an opinion.  This blog will go in reverse chronological order.

5/5/06
We've had enough! If you choose not to keep reading, so be it. But I've sat by quietly for years, reading this kind of stuff (dozens of e-mails like this every week!) while disagreeing with 75% of it, but this one pushed me over the edge. Time for me to share our opinion about this pro-white, anti-immigrant, anti-gay, anti-free thought, anti-anything-other-than-Christian e-mail rhetoric that so many people see fit to shove down my throat. In this case, however, these are my own words, not just something we copied from someone else and chose to forward to everyone in our address book, passing the thoughts off as our own.

Incidentally, I say "we" and "our" because I am writing on behalf of both myself and Derek, who doesn't use e-mail, but was as bothered by this one as I was. He and I don't share the exact same religious beliefs, but we do share one overwhelming and important mantra: people have the right to choose their own form of worship.

I'll let you read the e-mail I received first. But if you do, don't just stop there and immediately delete it. Please grant me the courtesy of reading my response at the end.

***************************

Subject: True American

It is time to change from REDNECK humor to TRUE AMERICAN Humor! Only I don't see it as Humor, but the correct way to LIVE YOUR LIFE ! If you feel the same, pass this on to your True American friends. Ya'll know who ya' are...

You might be a TRUE AMERICAN if: It never occurred to you to be offended by the phrase, "One nation, under God."

You might be a TRUE AMERICAN if: You've never protested about seeing the 10 Commandments posted in public places.

You might be a TRUE AMERICAN if: You still say "Christmas" instead of "Winter Festival."

You might be a TRUE AMERICAN if: You bow your head when someone prays.

You might be a TRUE AMERICAN if: You stand and place you r hand over your heart when they play the National Anthem.

You might be a TRUE AMERICAN if: You treat Viet Nam vets with great respect, and always have.

You might be a TRUE AMERICAN if: You've never burned an American flag.

You might be a TRUE AMERICAN if: You know what you believe and you aren't afraid to say so, no matter who is listening.

You might be a TRUE AMERICAN if: You respect your elders and expect your kids to do the same.

You might be a TRUE AMERICAN if: You'd give your last dollar to a friend.

If you got this e-mail from me, it is because I believe that you, like me, have just enough TRUE AMERICAN in you to have the same beliefs as those talked about in this e-mail.

 

God Bless the U S A !

 

Git 'er done!!

*********************

I'll get to the Larry the Cable Guy reference in a minute. But first, the important stuff.

1. Be careful about the use of the expression "True American." Technically, the only "true" Americans are Native American Indians and Inuits, whose earth (not their "land" or their "property" or their "country" because they didn't perceive it as theirs) was usurped by our white ancestors. At one time or another, every American's family, except Native Americans, was an immigrant family.

2. Get this straight: "American" is not synonymous with "Christian." While Christians do comprise the majority of Americans (as evidenced by the 2004 presidential election), the ratio is dwindling. U.S. Jews, Buddhists, Muslims, apathetics, and even atheists are every bit as American as Christians. Let me remind you of some famous Americans--some of them FOUNDERS of this country--who were purported atheists (if you want sources, just ask):

Thomas Edison

Benjamin Franklin

Andrew Carnegie

President James Madison

President Abraham Lincoln

Isaac Asimov

Helen Keller

Albert Einstein

Ernest Hemingway

Mark Twain

Charles Schultz

Although he was not an atheist, here's a quote from President Thomas Jefferson that most self-described "true" Americans will surely find hard to believe: "Question with boldness even the existence of a God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason than that of blindfolded fear."

I hate to break it to you, but it is indeed possible to be a good person without being religious. One is not judged by which God he chooses to worship, but by the way he treats other human beings. I'm not trying to suggest that everyone should be an atheist or agnostic or secular humanist. I'm asking only that you don't try to push your religious beliefs on others, or assume that everyone shares yours.

3. This e-mail suggests that anyone who disagrees with some of the big, controversial things like posting the 10 Commandments in Public Courthouses must, therefore, also be the kind of person who is mean to old people and war veterans. I suppose that makes me the kind of person who kicks puppies too? LUDICROUS. SOPHOMORIC. IGNORANT.

4. The absurdity of burning a flag. Flag burning is not about desecrating a piece of nylon with red, white, and blue on it. It's about the right of free speech. ...you know, the very FIRST amendment our forefathers chose to adopt? If anything, it's the first 10 AMENDMENTS, not the 10 COMMANDMENTS, that should be emblazoned on our courthouses and government buildings. Hello, ever heard of a little thing called "separation of church and state"? The 10 Commandments should be displayed PROUDLY in churches and, if you choose, your home. Flag burners are zealots, extremists. To most people, even hardcore lefties like me, the notion of burning a flag or any other symbol of America is preposterous and pointless. I'd rather burn my bra; now there's some symbolism that I can get behind. Were it not for the chafing and discomfort that would inevitably ensue, I'd like to burn ALL of my bras, and pantyhose right along with them.

5. Most people who push these kinds of "True American" beliefs are heavily influenced by one thing: geography. It's easy for you to think that everyone should feel this way because you've been surrounded by homogenous straight, white, Christian people your whole life in the

Midwest or the South or wherever you happen to have been raised. If you were born in the Middle East, you'd probably be touting Islam with the same passion. If you were born in Israel, you'd wish everyone shared your beliefs in Judaism. But heck, let's make it even more relatable and take it stateside: If you were born on the lower East side of Manhattan, you might be thinking "Why isn't everyone Jewish?" And if you were raised in Dearborn, Michigan, there's a good chance you'd be pushing Islam rather than Christianity. Just because you were born a Christian in the Midwest doesn't make YOU right and OTHERS wrong.

Now, about Larry the Cable Guy. Where do I beg in ? How about the fact that his name isn't even Larry? It's Dan. And he was born in Nebraska (not exactly the heart of "redneck" territory) and went to private school in Florida. Or how about....Wait. I'd better not. I'll save that rant for another day.

I'm sure there will be responses to the contrary, and we respect and value them.

Sincerely,

Betsy & Derek

 

2/23/05
So much for "once a week or so"!  I do have a life outside of this website, and it's been quite busy.  Don't get me wrong, I think about politics every night when I read the news.  I think about George Bush every time I get a headache or have to go to the bathroom really, really bad.  But I'm too exhausted to blog about it.  Yes, he is an idiot.  That never changes.  So I could put an entry for every single day saying "GW is an idiot," but would it make a difference?  

11/15/04
Colin Powell, one of few Republicans that I would ever consider voting for, announced his resignation today. At least five other major cabinet members* have resigned or will officially do so within the next couple weeks.  As Derek and I watched MSNBC this morning, he said, "Bush must be cleaning house."  Are you freaking kidding me?  Clearly these people are resigning out of disgust.  The great irony is that the only one who should not be there, just got reelected.  The wrong people are resigning!  I am annoyed that they stayed on board long enough to get GW elected, and now they are jumping ship.  If there's one thing he clearly needs (besides a smack upside his sniveling frat boy head), it's a competent support team!  

*Along with Powell's resignation, the departures of three others: Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham, Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman and Education Secretary Rod Paige, were confirmed Monday.  Attorney General John Ashcroft and Commerce Secretary Donald Evans resigned earlier this month.