Message-ID: <30823346.1075859029791.JavaMail.evans@thyme> Date: Tue, 16 Oct 2001 12:37:02 -0700 (PDT) From: jon.trevelise@enron.com To: tracy.geaccone@enron.com, nancy.carpenter@enron.com, james.saunders@enron.com, exec.jones@enron.com, robin.border@enron.com, joe.richards@enron.com, sabine.pelan@enron.com, molly.sample@enron.com, karl.jackson@enron.com Subject: American Way Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-From: Trevelise, Jon X-To: Geaccone, Tracy , Carpenter, Nancy , Saunders, James , Jones, Robert W.- HR Exec , Border, Robin , Richards, Joe , Pelan, Sabine , Sample, Molly , Jackson, Karl X-cc: X-bcc: X-Folder: \TGEACCO (Non-Privileged)\Geaccone, Tracy\Deleted Items X-Origin: Geaccone-T X-FileName: TGEACCO (Non-Privileged).pst ----- Forwarded by Jon Trevelise/Houston/Eott on 10/16/01 02:40 PM ----- "Al Stento (816-GM)" 10/16/01 02:31 PM To: Billy Bob , Carmen , Carol , Charlie Farrell , Dominick , Doug , Dr Grace , Faith , Fredsall , Gretchen , Jeremy , Jon Trevelise/Houston/Eott@Eott, Mike O , Murphy , Sellers , Siggi , Sue , "The Grabosky's" , Tommy , Tony & Harriett , Tony & Maritza cc: Subject: American Way HELLO! THIS IS AMERICA! > > > > >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, >if it was so superior, go home. > >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!! > >MAY GOD BLESS AMERICA >LAND THAT WE LOVE!!!