Okay... for those who don't have me on "ignore" from this morning's melee (sorry about that :blush:), this is a follow up to a
email conversation I'm have with a old college mate. One of those conversations that you couldn't fathom twenty-five years earlier.
Here is that person's response. Mine follows in italics:
For me the authenticity isn't the importance. I just hear so many that respond negatively about our country, our people and others not holding citizenship in the US etc, that don't appreciate some of the basic freedoms we have. It isn't a perfect world we live in and neither are the people. I personally hold that if you don't like it here, please return to wherever you resided prior to entering the US. My grandparents originated in Russia, lost everything during the Bolshevik revolution and my grandfather often commented to the effect of 'what spoiled people the US citizens are'. He knew the differences and lived it first hand. So I pass the email as a reminder to keep our country free. I do not out of promote invading another's land or medling with another's government because some little man such G. Bush who enacted this war deemed it politically correct.
Well, for me authenticity is important. To say that authenticity isn't important sounds like something Dick Cheney would say. In fact, I would dare state that the lack of authenticity is precisely why this nation is in the predicament that it is.
As for keeping our country free, our personal freedoms have never been so threatened as they have been for the past six years under this administration. They have done more damage to our reputation as a nation worldwide - it's no wonder people talk shit about us - and they are doing this under OUR name.
These ungrateful immigrants you speak of. Who are these people? Where are you meeting these people and what, exactly are they saying? The only thing negative I've ever heard is that we're "spoiled rotten" but your grandparents knew that already nearly a century ago. I don't need a fake xenophobic story to whip up pride in my country.So that's it so far... it doesn't have that special "zing" I think it needs. It's missing a few things that I can't figure out how to phrase. Can anyone give me feedback so I can make that happen?