this is something that i feel strongly about. Good article. kinda long

[lewichris]

This says it all!

After hearing that the state of Florida changed its opinion and let a Muslim woman have her picture on her driver's license with her face covered, I believe this is even more appropriate. Read on, please!

This is an editorial written by an American citizen, published in a Tampa newspaper. He did quite a job; didn't he?

IMMIGRANTS, NOT AMERICANS, MUST ADAPT. I am tired of this nation worrying about whether we are offending some individual or their culture. Since the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, we have experienced a surge in patriotism by the majority of Americans. However, the dust from the

attacks had barely settled 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. Our 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 born here, need to understand. 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 has been developed over centuries of struggles, trials, and victories by millions of men and women

who have sought freedom.

We speak ENGLISH, not Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, or any

other language. Therefore, if you wish to become part of our society, learn

the language!

"In God We Trust" is our national motto. This is not some Christian, right wing, political slogan. We adopted this motto because

Christian men and women, on Christian principles, founded this nation, and

this is clearly documented. It is certainly appropriate to display it on the walls of our schools. 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.

If 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. 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. This is OUR COUNTRY, our land, and our lifestyle. Our First Amendment gives every citizen the right to express his opinion 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 to take advantage of one other great American freedom, THE RIGHT TO LEAVE.

if you don't agree -- I don't want to hear about it.

AMEN

[Team_Oatmeal_Pie]

Minority rights, Majority rule.

Some how this concept was thrown out the window and common sense and judgement with it.

Why must the airport screeners search the old lady in front of me and skip the obviously middle eastern man behind me.

Why cant my wife read Harry Potter to her 6th grade class, when 2 kids parents minorty religion and parental misguided thinking tells her and the rest of the class, this is witch craft, devil work. When both of these kids have seen movies such as Terminator 2, can you say violent versus, imaginary characters who inspire kids to read.

My religion requires me to wear my Moto helmet at all times, does this mean my drivers license should reflect that?

Seems like common sense, and national pride, take a back seat.

[YZeezee]

Couldn't agree with you more!!!

[lewichris]

i get so damn mad about it. They come here and then they bitch about it. It is one of those things that just amazes the hell out of me.

Crazy.

Chris

[Pete_Z]

That story sounds all too familiar. Canada has always been a little too open in welcoming immigrants, thier cultures and beliefs. As a result we have virtually no national identity. We regularly get taken advantage of by minority groups, and our government has wasted billions trying to keep everyone happy. It's one thing to be a tolerant society, but that can be perceived by many as weakness,which quickly translates into being walked all over by everyone. I have always admired the U.S. for it's "melting pot" philosophy and strong national pride, which Canada lacks horribly. I hope that you are not falling into the same politically correct quagmire that has bogged down my country forever. Beware! All too easily you can lose who you are as a nation. Canada started down that slippery slope about 40 years ago, now the desecration of my country and all that was great about it is mostly complete. Oh - BTW this is a dirt bike site, right? ? Peace - P.Z.

[John_Lorenz]

BORDERS, LANGUAGE, AND CULTURE!

http://www.thepaulreveresociety.com

Michael Savage He may be a bit strong for some, I take and leave some of what he says, but bottom line the dude is right on in the imagra** No Its Illegal alien

Join the Cause

[YAMAKAZE]

The United States of America is no nonger a majority Christian Nation. The current religous majority is Muslim.

Think about this fo a moment....It only took 1 woman to get God kicked out of our schools, and Christians took NO Action. Now it has taken 1 man (So Far) to get GOD kicked out of the Nations Pledge. And only for a moment did the Christian representation in this country stand up.

Beware that when GOD is no longer welcome as the driving force in our society, that this great Nation will cease to exhist as a leader of the free world.

Look around...our cities that once resembled strength and virtue and unity yesterday now resemble Soddom and Gomorah Today........

Those that do not learn from the mistakes of the past are bound to repeat them....

Bonzai ?

[Dodger]

Hey Lewichris, thanks for posting this.........

Listen, this is going to stir the pot a bit, and PLEASE, ALL UNDERSTAND THIS IS A RESPONSE FROM A FRIEND OF MINE AND DOES NOT REPRESENT MY VIEWS! With that said...........I had originally received this as an e-mail from a native american friend of mine, I have known her for a good number of years now, and she lives out here in CO. I've got my own views on this, but they are not totally defined, so I reserve my right to not post them.

But, since we are discussing this, here is a response I got from a friend of mine, I'm simply posting for everyone to read yet another view.....

"That OP-ED Article was lame! One of the best things about the American

experiment is that this is the only country in the world where you can find

people from every other country in the world. French? yep. Nigeria?- count

em. Uzbekistan? -here. Chile? Belgium India Mozambique? you get the idea...

Most other countries are strictly homogenous - typically people who are

different are killed. We must fight these urges.

As for the country being established by religious Christians ... yo this

country did indeed have it's Puritans and Pilgrims, but it was also

established and built by slaves and indentured servants, Spaniards and

French and English criminals, beaver trappers and farmers. Most Christians

today make Hester Prinn look like a Saint. Time for folks to strap on their

scarlet letters and look in the mirror.

as For "We are happy with our culture and have no desire to change" our

culture is a work in progress - more like a verb than a noun. It is growing

and changing ... shoot just 50 years ago I could hang a black man and blow

up his children without recrimination. 30 years ago I could beat my wife

because she was mine. 20 years ago I could drive drunk and get a ride home

from the police as my penalty. Hell, I used to be able to have as many kids

as I wanted and just abandon them for no support. I could go on and on ...

but this blathering symbolic patriotism is revolting. Patriotism means duty

and love of country - and what is this country other than its dynamic people

and the high minded ideal that we are all equally protected and granted with

unalienable rights.

These kind of OpEd make me puke. I love to watch some old coot like this

string up his own folks 3-4 generations back. that's what he's be doing

based on his rigid definition of what it means to be American.

According to his def: (you reverse inference logic here)

Symbols attacked: Woman, non-White, Immigrants, non-Christian, non-English

Speaking.

Traits Idealizes: White, Male?, Christian

Symbols idealized: Nationalism, Flags, Heritage, Authentic Culture blah

blah blah

Re-read the origins of the Bavarian German National Socialist Worker Party

--- IE: the Nazi's ... this gibberish is only a couple steps removed from

1923 Bavaria - Brown shirt crap.

My take....*************

Well, there you have it, just another view.......

Dodger ?

[tripod]

I do have to commend this woman for sticking to her guns, that is the American spirit, however, by god she should not have been issued a drivers license. Have we forgotten driving is a privledge not a right!

[Hick]

All I know is that in my part of the country people who make demands about people speaking English are fighting an uphill battle. Their energy would be better spent learning Spanish IMO.

So I don't subscribe to the notion that Americans can be forced to speak English (or any other language). It is obviously a good idea to since that is the language of (most) official records, residents, and media, but it just looks incredibly arrogant and ethnocentric to run around moaning about immigrants not speaking English.

Also, our economy NEEDS immigration, so people who delude themselves with some variation of a fantasy of closed borders are pathetically naive and ignorant of the reality of our southern border.

But hearing about things like the Berkley CA city council trying to discourage people from flying the American flag does make me want to barf.

[Hick]

BTW some of the most patriotic Americans I know are first generation naturalized or recent immigrants.

[CHris_PArks]

i agree some what, but part of being americans is adapting to become one culture. i think both long time americans and new americans have forgoton that. both sides should open up and try to understand the other side a little more. and i could give a **** about the "In God We Trust". i don't belive in god, never have and never will, the country was not based on god, if you remeber, a country basted on god was what people where trying to get away from.

parx

[Hick]

Originally posted by E.G.O.****:

There are groups in the Untied states planted her by the mexican governemt to infiltrat governments, schools and local sociaty. They have a plan in place to retake the states as there own.

If you really believe that then you are suffering from paranoid delusions, but then we already knew about your frequent delusions. Take a sick day, go home, and take your medication.

And your “shut the borders down” comment really betrays your naiveté. Ummm, exactly HOW do you propose we “shut the borders down?” And don’t say “use the military.” The last time we had GIs patrolling the border they shot and killed an American. I don’t blame the soldier, I blame whatever group of policy makers that came up with the ingenuous idea of deploying the military w/in the US. Talk about something that the founding fathers were trying to avoid…

? Sheesh.

[Team_Oatmeal_Pie]

Art Bell is my leader.

[John_Lorenz]

Hick

I didn’t shave my head and move to Montana for nothing

No what I am saying is that the United States government needs to rethink its open boarder policies to Mexico, Canada.

There are too many holes that allow ill aliens to get into the US undetected. I do believe that Mexico has a plan to retake by population Calif, New Mexico and Texas. And if you don’t believe that then you’re the naive one. Mr. Fox has been on record as stating Mexico is entitled to these states.

Shut down the boarders we did it in WWII we can do it again. Maybe I am paranoid, but that still doesn’t mean there still not after me ?

My main beef is this, Illegal come into this great country 1000's if not tens of thousands a day. They stress or Infrastructure, Hospitals welfare and many other areas.

My Grandparents migrated from Poland to the United States. I remember as a kid they spoke only Polish at home. Out side they were as American as Apple pie. My Mom told me they were told never to speak polish outside the House, there Americans.

My Grandparents came here with nothing, they raised 6 kids, so don’t give me your bleeding heart crap about entitlements to those that poop (did not let me say SH*T) on us. You try and go across the boarder and make a living.

I put my kid through college on a 40 k budget.

The Illegal Dinks next store went to San Jose State and nobody worked

You tell me then who is naive.

Anyway have fun dodging Illegal in Texas

AND OATMEAL ART BELL IS A TWEAK MAN THAT GUY HAS ISSUES

[ July 12, 2002: Message edited by: E.G.O.**** ]

[Optik]

Up here in Canada it's law to wear a motorcycle helmet when riding on public roads. However, some east indians of a certain religion (the ones who wear turbans, I can't remember the name) went to court and fought and won for the right not to wear a helmet because it interferes with their turbans!

Another case was in the legions bar. People arn't allowed to wear hats in there as a sign of respect to those who served. They even have a long standing tradition that if you walk into it wearing your hat you have to buy the bar a round. Then some east indian goes in and refuses to take off his turban so they throw him out, and he then sues the bar! Luckily that one was thrown out of court.

[Hick]

Originally posted by E.G.O.****:

Hick

I didn’t shave my head and move to Montana for nothing ?

haHA! That’s funny.

I did find it ironic when I had to pay out-of-state tuition to attend UTEP (Texas-El Paso) when students from Juarez pay in-state (less than half as much). I’d also be willing to bet that as much as 10% (if not more) of all public school students in EP county are here illegally. But I don’t care.

Because helping to educate our neighbors helps us, in the short AND long term. Just because there is a line on some map doesn’t mean they don’t live RIGHT THERE! If their lives/economy/infrastructure are improved they will buy more products in the US (and steal less cars & smuggle less dope, although there is very little crime in El Paso). As their economy advances they will pollute less. As more of their students are educated at American schools their attitudes and policies will be more favorable for us… Hint: educated Mexicans with job skills are not the ones wading the Rio Grande. So it is a win-win situation, I used to work in Mexico, I’m a fifth generation So. New Mexican/El Pasoan, I’ve seen this with my own eyes.

Illegal immigrants DO place stresses on our infrastructure, nobody knows this more than the avg. lifelong El Pasoan. But every time I hear someone voicing complaints like yours here I KNOW they are most likely from somewhere else. More informed people on the border always realize that what they do that HELPS our economy far outweighs whatever harm they are causing. I also have a degree w/ a minor in LA Econ, so I have more than my own anecdotal observations to back this statement up.

Also, if you really think the borders were “closed” during WWII I have some nice ocean-front property for you down here in New Mex

There isn’t enough cops, border patrol agents, natl. guard members, etc. in the whole country to even begin to effectively seal our southern border. So, instead of trying to wall them off, which is impossible, why don’t we see if we can’t help each other and reduce the flow of permanent immigrants that way. It will be much cheaper to attack the problem that way.

Aquí está mi dos centavos.

[Hick]

Originally posted by Optik:

Up here in Canada it's law to wear a motorcycle helmet when riding on public roads. However, some east indians of a certain religion (the ones who wear turbans, I can't remember the name) went to court and fought and won for the right not to wear a helmet because it interferes with their turbans!

You can blame the PC movement and liberal attorneys for that, I know I do, but the immigrants themselves aren’t necessarily the ones to blame IMO.

Another recent case involved a Muslim woman in Fla who had her license revoked because she refused to remove her veil, or whatever that thing is, to have her photograph taken. I don’t suppose I’d quibble if they deported her, but I think some ambulance-chaser type has filled her head w/ nonsense…

I’m defending immigrants because 99.99% of the ones I run into (there are a lot down here, but most are from Latin America) are very conscientious and productive citizens who are an unmistakable asset to our country.

[BFLee]

Do you think any other country bends over backwards (and forwards ? ) like America does to accomodate/placate every whiner? No way! If we went over to any of these sh!t hole places and started demanding changes they would tell us to shove it.

I don't really care what "principles" our country was "founded" on, we need to do what is right for today. Why is it that the people who have made the biggest contributions for the longest time are the ones who seem to get screwed the most?

I don't really think it's possible to "close" the borders, but the immigration policies are insane. Immigrants should not be eligible for any public services until they have contributed to the system for a good long time. If they can't get a job and support themselves here they should go the hell back to where they came from. WE ARE NOT RESPOSIBLE FOR EVERY FREELOADING LOOSER IN THIS WORLD!!

This is a total load of crap:

According to his def: (you reverse inference logic here)

Symbols attacked: Woman, non-White, Immigrants, non-Christian, non-English

Speaking.

Traits Idealizes: White, Male?, Christian

Symbols idealized: Nationalism, Flags, Heritage, Authentic Culture blah

blah blah

Re-read the origins of the Bavarian German National Socialist Worker Party

--- IE: the Nazi's ... this gibberish is only a couple steps removed from

1923 Bavaria - Brown shirt crap.

White, Male, Christians are the most discriminated against group in America today, and it is sanctioned by the government and the media.

[RLucky82]

That guy is full of sh*t... and if you totaly agree with him you are a hypocrite. "We are happy with our culture and have no desire to change, and we really don't care... " What a bunch of Bullshtt. Our constitution is based on the ability to CHANGE.

I don't see all of you guys happy with your jetting, I don't hear anyone praising the air cut valve or the throttle stop, both of which are unique to the U.S.A. Yes what is the first thing you guys do??? Change and change some more.

If change was no good, then why did we break away from England in the first place?

Personaly I do care! I do care to make the U.S. the best place to live. With out change factories would still be polluting rivers and lakes (I remember when the Cuyahoga river caught on fire). And yes we should respect other cultures. Where to draw the line? That is to be debated. Remember we are all immagrants!

I don't believe in god and don't want to be force fed that crap either.

" if you don't agree -- I don't want to hear about it." ...What a looser!

But all this doesn't mean that I am not open to debate, as I can see our editorial writer is.

Ride on!