About an email

I received the following email a few days ago; read through it and meet me on the far side for discussion
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WE NEED OUR COUNTRY BACK!!!!


I Like This Guy!


YES, I'M A BAD AMERICAN

I Am the Liberal-Progressives Worst Nightmare. I am an American.
I believe the money I make belongs to me and my family, not some Liberal governmental functionary be it Democratic or Republican!
I'm in touch with my feelings and I like it that way!
I think owning a gun doesn't make you a killer, it makes you a smart American.
I think being a minority does not make you noble or victimized, and does not entitle you to anything.
I believe that if you are selling me a Big Mac, do it in English.
I believe everyone has a right to pray to his or her God when and where they want to.
My heroes are John Wayne, Babe Ruth, Roy Rogers, and whoever canceled Jerry Springer.
I know wrestling is fake and I don't waste my time watching or arguing about it.
I've never owned a slave, or was a slave, I haven't burned any witches or been persecuted by the Turks and neither have you! So, shut up already.
I believe if you don't like the way things are here, go back to where you came from and change your own country! This is AMERICA
If you were born here and don't like it you are free to move to any Socialist country that will have you.
I want to know which church is it exactly where the Reverend Jesse Jackson preaches, where he gets his money, and why he is always part of the problem and not the solution. Can I get an AMEN on that one?
I think the cops have every right to shoot your sorry rear if you're running from them..
I also think they have the right to pull you over if you're breaking the law, regardless of what color you are.
And, no, I don't mind having my face shown on my drivers license. I think it's good.... And I'm proud that 'God' is written on my money.
I think if you are too stupid to know how a ballot works, I don't want you deciding who should be running the most powerful nation in the world for the next four years.
I dislike those people standing in the intersections trying to sell me stuff or trying to guilt me into making 'donations' to their cause.
I believe that it doesn't take a village to raise a child, it takes two parents.
I believe 'illegal' is illegal no matter what the lawyers think.
I believe the American flag should be the only one allowed in AMERICA !
If this makes me a BAD American, then yes, I'm a BAD American.
If you are a BAD American too, please forward this. We want our country back!
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There are lots of things to discuss here. Interestingly, there is a lot here I agree with...and a lot more I don't. But lets just deconstruct the heroes, for example:

John Wayne
To start with, in the interest of full disclosure, I like Westerns. I like John Wayne movies.
I also know something of his life. He was a womanizing, smoking,foul-mouthed drunk. Now, the average person who would forward said e-mail is seemingly what is denigrated in today's society as " a fundamentalist" or a "right-winger". The 2 are not the same...and have different interests. A fundamentalist, as defined by the label-makers and users, is someone who is against smoking, drinking, adultery and fornication...all things John Wayne did and did proudly. Hardly the type of person who should be held up as a hero.
Never forget the role he played in The Searchers; that is part of his legend too.

Babe Ruth
The Babe was noted for his gluttony, his womanizing, and his capacity for liquor. He was a tremendous batting talent...and a rotten human being.

Roy Rogers
By all accounts, the wholesome, good guy roles he played were pretty close to his character. Rogers had a reputation as a clean-cut guy with a loving family. He was also an actor, but we will let that one pass...so yeah, he seems like a decent guy to honor.

As for canceling Springer...while that was a good step in theory, look at the results...Keeping up With the Kardashians, Rock of Love, Flavor of Love, A Shot at love With Tila Tequila, Scott Baio, etc...ugh. Bring back Springer. Yeah, it was crap...but it was better crap than that crap. I would assume, anyway...never saw the show.

Of course, other parts of it are puzzling...such as "I am in touch with my feelings" when the TYPICAL accusation is NOT being in touch with feelings...


If you are going to be proud that "God" is on the money (and yes, I DO like that), try to act at least vaguely in ways that don't shame Him...less anger, less spite, more care for your fellow man...less profanity, alcohol abuse, tobacco abuse...does not the Scripture of that self-same God say, "Your body is a temple, keep it Holy" and "the Fruit of the Spirit is Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Gentleness and self-control"? Why then are the most vociferous people defending the symbolic nature of the name of God on the money and so forth people who pretty much embarrass many of the rest of us who actually...you know...READ and try to act on the Scripture?

1 flag in America? I know what is meant...but how much you want to bet that many people who nodded at that one have a State flag within site...or an ACE flag...or some other religious organization...and, in some exceptionally misguided cases, maybe the Confederate Stars & Bars?

Too often these things get passed around without any thought being put into what is being stated. I certainly don't want to glorify many of these concepts...maybe that is because I have fairly advanced linguistic and analytical skills and choose to use them.