Thank you, Terry. I wish the same for you. ----- Original Message ----- From: "pianolover 88" <pianolover88@hotmail.com> To: <pianotech@ptg.org> Sent: Friday, October 29, 2004 12:55 PM Subject: Re: OT Politicals > <<John Kerry is the prototypical American, who would have found good company > with our nation's founders. He is the very essence of a patriot. > > Peace, > Sarah>> > > > > I truly feel sorry for your gross ignorance and "pie-in-the-sky" naievity. I > hope you take off your blinders soon and face reality. > > Peace > Terry Peterson > > > > ----Original Message Follows---- > From: "Sarah Fox" <sarah@graphic-fusion.com> > Reply-To: Pianotech <pianotech@ptg.org> > To: "Pianotech" <pianotech@ptg.org> > Subject: Re: OT Political > Date: Fri, 29 Oct 2004 01:44:02 -0400 > > Geez Louise! > > Larry, Conrad, etc.... > > "ANTI-AMERICAN" activities? > > "UNPATRIOTIC?" > > Just what do you think patriotism is? Just what do you think it means to be > an American -- a good, loyal American? > > Do you think our country was founded by docile sheep, who mindlessly > followed the dictates of King George and paid their tea taxes like good > little subjects? NO! Our country and government (like most countries and > governments) was born from a rebellion. Our founders recognized that their > government was unjust, despite the fact the "law" said otherwise. > This is how our founders explained themselves in a little letter to King > George, with bold facing added for emphasis: > > "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created > equal...That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these > ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to > institute new Government... But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, > pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under > absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such > Government..." > > Our founders did not look to the law to know what was wrong and right. > Nobody had to TELL them they were being treated unjustly by Britain. These > truths were self-evident. It was therefore the DUTY of these people to > question unjust laws and policies and to rebel against them. Why was it > their duty? Very simply, they were morally obligated to correct what they > saw as being wrong with their state of affairs and the state of affairs of > their fellow colonists. They were morally charged to right what they > believed deeply to be a wrong. This is what it means to be a patriot -- to > love one's land and people enough to take the risk necessary to improve it. > Patriotism isn't about loving what your government is doing, whether it is > right or wrong. Patriotism isn't about blindly and unquestioningly > following laws that may or may not be just. These are the qualities of > sheep, not patriots. > > Patriots are people like Rosa Parks, who refused to sit at the back of the > bus, knowing she would probably be arrested for defying authority. Patriots > are people like the mayors throughout this land who have defied the > "Defense" of Marriage Act and have married gay couples because > they believed the law to be unjust. Patriots are people like the > "right to choose" activists and the "right to life" > activists, who may be on opposite sides of the issue but both believe > fervently in their cause. Patriots are the citizen lobbyists who stream > constantly into Washington to try to change laws they feel are unjust. > Patriots are the conscientious objectors who refuse to pick up rifles and > march off to war, opting instead to go to prison if necessary, because they > feel war is wrong. Patriots are the young men and women who enlist in the > military, putting their lives on the line in service to their country. > Patriots are the Peace Corps volunteers, many/most opposed to war, who often > put their safety on the line in hostile lands in pursuit of American ideals > and for betterment of the world. Patriots are the Habitats for Humanity > volunteers who put in long, hard hours to elevate the living conditions of > the ever-growing ranks of impoverished countrymen. Patriots are the people > who run the soup kitchens for their homeless countrymen. > > Patriotism isn't simply waving a flag and mindlessly saying, "God bless > America." Patriotism isn't showing up at the Fourth of July parades. > Patriotism isn't voting Republican or Democratic. > > True patriotism is seldom easy, and it almost never comes without sacrifice. > > Certain things are UNpatriotic: It is UNpatriotic to "vote for one's > pocketbook" (i.e. vote out of self interest), without concern for the > ramifications for larger society. It is UNpatriotic to break the law for > personal gain. It is UNpatriotic to lie, cheat, and steal at a cost to the > well-being of one's countrymen. It is UNpatriotic not to vote. It is > UNpatriotic not to speak out when you feel something is wrong. It is > UNpatriotic to blindly obey laws you feel are morally wrong. It is > UNpatriotic to hold a public office and not use that position to fight like > hell for the betterment of America. It is UNpatriotic NOT to question > authority. It is UNpatriotic not to consider the larger implications of any > issue. It is UNpatriotic not to think. It is UNpatriotic not to act. It > is UNpatriotic to be inert -- a "sheep." > > It is UNpatriotic to accuse a person of being UNpatriotic or UN-American for > doing whatever his heart of hearts -- his deepest conscience -- tells him is > the right thing to do. It is UNpatriotic to accuse someone of being > anti-American, just because he doesn't conform to your point of view. (How > DARE you?!) > > John Kerry is anything but unpatriotic or un-American. There's more patriot > in that man than we've seen from either major party in a long, long time! > That is the thing that most stands out about him. He passionately wants to > make this land a better place. What better thing could one say about the > man? He's not in it for the money. He's not in it to be ruler of the > world. He's not in it for the power trip. He's in it because he loves > America with all his heart. > > John Kerry is the prototypical American, who would have found good company > with our nation's founders. He is the very essence of a patriot. > > Peace, > Sarah > > _________________________________________________________________ > Don't just search. Find. Check out the new MSN Search! > http://search.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200636ave/direct/01/ > > _______________________________________________ > pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives >
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