I was fortunate enough to be born and raised in Texas. I am primarily of German-Irish descent, with possibly some Cherokee. My wife of 30 yrs. is Hispanic, which makes her primarily of Spanish and Indian descent. Our kids, as one teacher put it, are "mutts" (no insult intended and none taken). We are a walking, talking melting pot.

I believe our society has progressed beyond major racial problems until you involve politics.

By the way, Wendy: Where were you educated?  Your grasp of syntax and grammar is sorely lacking.

Tom Dreyer

--- On Sun, 6/22/08, pm cav <headcutter75@...> wrote:

From: pm cav <headcutter75@...>
Subject: Re: [Spinalcordinjury] Re: Interesting Parallel
To: Spinalcordinjury@yahoogroups.com
Date: Sunday, June 22, 2008, 5:59 PM

First question for y'all is: when an observation is made about something like not liking the message on the phone to say crap like "press 1 for english...." is to be considered racist? The neighborhood I spent the first 11 years of my life in was pretty "balanced" if you want to call it that. Half the folks were pale-face, the rest Indian, Mexican and Black. (I have substantial Indian blood in my black Irish skin) The only criterion to us all playing together was we had ball-gloves and some were lucky enough to have bats.  Our parents all worked hard every day and most had side jobs. My grandma was the most racist person you'd ever meet and said countless times that I "might as well be playing with ni&&ers" when I hung aroung the mexicans and italians. But ALL of the kids I buddied around with were busy melting in to the American experience. Do y'all remember that phrase "Melting Pot". Well that's what made America great was all striving for one great culture. The liberals have been so busy pocketing people into little corners that we've since become very divided instead of coming together. My Mexican or Guatamalan neighbors at the time left the hell-holes they lived in behind and wanted to make better lives. That meant learning english and becoming self reliant. With that great era in mind, just imagine if things were to continue on this current slouch to break America into several little "recognize your heritage" ways. The phone would say "press one for english, dos para espanole," etc etc. Eventually it would be "For native american, press 8" or something. Then I'd be looking forward to how far the dialects would go...Press 1 for Souix, press 2 for Lopi, press 3 for Seneca (hey, that's me) So cut the crap and whining. It's called "America". E pluribus unum. Some people make a good living being racist pimps but there's a helluva lot more progress here against racism than nearly every other country in the world. Your history teachers never told you it was other black tribes that sold slaves to the anglo traders did they? And "necklacing" wasn't a white on black event in S. Africa. And don't the Junta's get along with everybody their color? And read your history books about Indian wars. Wow. Yeah we have a few warts, but overcome them pretty damn fast considering we're only 222 years old. Here's another thought, as told me by my Viet Namese buddy. There's a reason pilots all speak english. It's the universal aero-language for SAFETY purposes. And in that trade, you better learn it for yours and your passengers survival. Then here's his closer...If you went to Viet Nam or even China, wouldn't you at least learn how to say "I need a doctor" in the language or have your own interpreter? And don't expect a voting ballot to be in 2 or 4 languages while you're there" Funny how we never hear what "foreigners" think of us when it's thoughts like that. --- On Sat, 6/21/08, dave0c@... <dave0c@...> wrote: From: dave0c@... <dave0c@...> Subject: Re: [Spinalcordinjury] Re: Interesting Parallel To: Spinalcordinjury@ yahoogroups. com Date: Saturday, June 21, 2008, 9:16 PM AMEN you crazy Mo-Fo!!!   lad you are here rowing frontwards.   We need many more just like you. AZDAVE     In a message dated 6/21/2008 6:28:12 P.M. US Mountain Standard Time, matlot669s@comcast. net writes: It's actually Welsh with an S. But no big deal. I immigrated from Scotland in 1991 and have received nothing but kind and generous experiences from my fellow Americans. I am still a resident Alien and not a citizen due mainly to the fact that the only real difference would be that I could vote. As their is no one worth voting for I am happy to carry my British passport. Taxation without representation actually turns out to be no different than "Liberty" Wow what a concept, all that fighting for Independence and a damn Brit get's to share it all anyway. Nonetheless, I love this country, I love the people and I love the ability that "WE" have to share our thoughts without fear of reprisal "somewhat". I am presently on Social Security Disability but I am in the process of getting back to work full time and getting off. Why? Because, even though I worked hard and earned the right to collect, I want to get back to earning a decent salary for my family and being a productive member of society. It's the American way, even though I am not an American, just like most of those great Pioneers that created this great nation. I have the same dreams and desires to make this country greater.  That is what it is to be an American. Not a passport, or a birth certificate, or a skin color. Let's all stop fighting over this petty stuff and join together to fight for a cure for Spinal Cord Injuries. After all, isn't that The American Dream?   ------------ -- Original message ------------ -- From: Barbara Hill <ellijaygal@yahoo. com> hahahahahahaha rr10269@cedarnet. org wrote: Yeah... And we all know that it's those pesky people who live in International Falls, MN. that are really to blame. I mean you really know it gets cold in a place in the Winter when a town erects a giant thermometer in it's town square and brags about how cold it gets... They are not right in the head...IMO:) :) As for inter-racial couples... I can live with anything... except English and Welch combinations. ... SHIVER:(:):) > Well mine were from Germany, England and were American Indians....it' s > assinine to the point of stupidity to blame illegal immigrants or > inter-racial couples for the problems with our healthcare or social > security in this country. > > rr10269@cedarnet. org wrote: "Well my ancestors didn't come over > on the Mayflower... but they were with > the party that met them at the dock..." > WILL ROGERS > > gt; All I will say is "ditto what candle said" because if I addressed so >> many >> of those closed minded, racist and misspelled comments I wouldn't be so >> kind. >> >> Candle <silverstreams@ sbcglobal. net> wrote: Wendy, mixed >> races is what this country is about. Terrorism is not the same as >> immigration. Unless you are Native American, you are descended from >> immigrants. As for doing things legally, I'm sure the Native Americans >> would have something to say over the way that the European immigrants >> stole their land and killed their families. Now, being a daughter of a >> military man (Army) and having many other military people in our family >> (Navy-uncle, Airforce-uncle and cousins, and Marines-grandfather s and >> cousins), they believe that the liberties and freedoms that they fo ught >> for are for all the races that live here, not just a chosen few. When my >> father met my mother in South Korea and fell in love with her, he did >> not >> assume that she would be a second class citizen here because she was of >> a >> different race. He told her of all the benefits of coming Stateside and >> how their children would gain so much from living in this country >> compared to South Korea. I do not feel I deserve less because I am of a >> different or mixed race. Yes, I found this post offensive and hurtful. >> >> My relatives in the military tell me that people become bigotted towards >> those they do not understand or those they fear. My father didn't fight >> in Nam to have his daughter feel as though she should walk in shame >> because she was not all white. My uncle did not fight in Korea so that >> Koreans would have to be subjugated to unfair judgements. My grandfather >> did not fight in WWII so that the Jews would be discriminated against. >> Our country helps many nations and many races. No wonder they want to >> come here. >> >> Yes, illegal immigration is a problem, but do not expect those of us who >> are legal and of diverse families to ignore your racist comments. I grew >> up on a small midwest town where you did not have to lock the doors. >> They do now, but not because of diversity, but because the town has >> grown and not everybody knows everyone else. My mother was the only >> person of a different race and she is still the only person of a >> different race in that town. People do not fear her, quite the contrary. >> As for me, I have moved to a bigger community where it was very diverse. >> >> This is the only post that I will post about this. I do not wish t o >> start a war of words. If you wish to comment to me off list or on list, >> that is fine, but I won't say anymore. I had a few people who knew of my >> interracial status who urged me to comment or they would. (They are >> white by the way.) I have done so and I appreciate the support that was >> given me. You guys are the greatest and I really appreciate your words >> of encouragement. >> >> Candle >> May there always be a light to guide you. >> ************ ********* ********* ********* ********* *** >> >> >> ----- Original Message ---- >> From: Wendy Sell <wps1@...> >> To: Spinalcordinjury@ yahoogroups. com >> Sent: Thursday, June 19, 2008 9:49:01 PM >> Subject: Re: [Spinalcordinjury] Re: Interest ing Parallel >> >> we want to help people but there are steps to take. we keep going the >> way we are we are going we are going to end up just like a third world >> country. our infastructure cant handle the whole world coming >> here.people come here work, dont pay taxes, then send thier money back >> to thier country to help thier family,which is nice for them,but it >> doesnt help our economy.how long can our country last if people do that? >> the government knows who i am, i pay taxes. >> i cant blame this people for trying to better themselves, i would to, >> but they must do it legally. >> as far as drs go...takes me a month to get in, then they shuffle you >> arouund to different drs.by the time they figure out your problem,if >> they do, all your insurance money is spent and you are done and your >> problem is still there. >> you are right i dont know what war is, thank god. but america cant fix >> the world. >> your government needs to be reorganized. i watched the movie blood >> diamond, i beleive your country is like that.i really feel for those >> people.but what can i do? >> your government is to blame. and everyone wants to run away and come >> here. we cant handle open borders. >> i grew up in a small town..we never had to lock our doors, now with all >> the mixed races and gangs, drugs,violence, you cant even go out at night >> without being mugged or shot at or drugs and whores everywhhere. its >> ugly now.i am not racist, my best friend is phillipino, my aid is >> purtorican. i dont get any help from the government like special >> programs and stuff cuz they say i make too much. i went from making $50 >> thousand a year down to $12 thousand, i cant even heat my house. my >> governmen t wont help me,but these people come in and get cash >> assistance, food stamps, free oil, new houses. i worked 2 and 3 jobs all >> my life, i paid into my social security all my life. if i went to africa >> would your government feed me, heat my house,give me a house cheap.i >> dont think so. would they be made to learn english, no i wouuld have to >> learn your language. here you have to be bilangual to get a job.america >> is crumbling. we will be just like every other poor country pretty soon, >> sooner >> than you think. but americans dont stick together, they are too busy.or >> just dont care untill something really tragic happens like 9/11.then its >> too late. >> ----- Original Message ----- >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> > > > > > > / BLOCKQUOTE> Gas prices getting you down? 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