[Rhodes22-list] Reply to Herb (You might be a true American. . . )

3drecon at comcast.net 3drecon at comcast.net
Thu Sep 28 14:22:27 EDT 2006 

Herb,
     I am sort of white, Mediteranian.  My parents divorced when I was 10.  My dad, though kind at heart, was not very responsible and did only what the court ordered him to do (never missed a payment) but there were no fishing trips, camping or anythnng like that.  
     My younger brother got his Eagle Scout without any family adult participation and is on schedule to retire at 52 years old (and I mean retire).  He, like I have always worked at least two jobs (unless I was on active duty; officers are generally prohibited from moonlighting).  We put ourselves through college working the whole time.  I am in the Army (again) until I retire, then back to the civilian job.  I started out as a PVT 1 in the USMC and am now a Lieutenant Colonel in the Army.  None of this would have been possible without an education.  An education I paid for working, student loans (which I paid back in full) and Vietnam era GI Bill.  My brother didn't have the GI bill but still paid for his education himself.
     My mother worked her ass off to keep us in clothes, under a roof (her house) and fed while finishing her B.S.
     You make your own luck (when opportunity meets preparedness).  Make your choices and play it out.
     I am now helping my older son through the American Academy of Dramatic Arts (he has been offered a part in Pirates of the Carribean III).  My younger son is in private school.

Philip



-------------- Original message -------------- 
From: "Herb Parsons" <hparsons at parsonsys.com> 

> Phillip, 
> 
> Interesting the diversity of responses Slim's cynical viewpoint 
> generated. 
> 
> My mother never finished high school. We were what most would call 
> "poor white trash", moving all over the country depending on who her 
> husband was. 
> 
> She finally bought a house about 2 years after my wife and I got 
> married (12 years ago). 
> 
> I did a bit better. Make about 90k a year, and even though i was an 
> adult before I bought my first house, it was before my kids were grown. 
> 
> My first married daughter and her fiancé bought their house 3 months 
> before their wedding. 
> 
> I'm sure though, that it has little to do with working hard to improve 
> your lot, and that of your children's, and more to do with living in a 
> white man's world. 
> 
> Yeah, sure of it... 
> 
> 
> Herb Parsons 
> 
> S/V O'Jure 
> 1976 O'Day 25 
> Lake Grapevine, N TX 
> 
> S/V Reve de Papa 
> 1971 Coronado 35 
> Lake Pontchartrain, Louisiana Coast 
> 
> >>> 3drecon at comcast.net 9/27/2006 4:09:30 pm >>> 
> Slim, 
> Your comments are about as extremist as they come. Life isn't a 
> level playing field. We all have our hurdles and it is up to each of us 
> to cross them. The promise of this country isn't equal outcome, rather, 
> we all have the opportunity to achieve the zenith of our abilities. 
> 
> Philip 
> Son of immigrants who speak foreign languages (and English) but did 
> alright anyway! 
> 
> -------------- Original message -------------- 
> From: Slim 
> 
> > I'm sorry if anybody is offended by any more measure than I was at 
> the first 
> > list that Elle posted. Truly, I'm a moderate, not an extremist, but 
> > extremist rhetoric from others brings out the beast in me. 
> > 
> > That said, white man's guilt or not, you have to admit there are two 
> 
> > Americas--one for white men and one for everybody else. Not exactly a 
> level 
> > playing field. 
> > 
> > Slim 
> > 
> > On 9/27/06 3:15 PM, "Brad Haslett" wrote: 
> > 
> > > Slim, 
> > > 
> > > I understand the reasoning behind some of your points. That doesn't 
> mean I 
> > > agree with reasoning, or the points, I just understand the mindset. 
> One area 
> > > where we most vehemently disagree is the white Anglo comment. I 
> didn't 
> > > choose to be born white, male, or the son of a frequently 
> unemployed 
> > > construction worker. That was fate, or whatever. I don't owe my 
> success, 
> > > however modest, to pigmentation or the lack of it. In other words, 
> if you 
> > > must suffer from white man's guilt, do so, but don't project it on 
> me or 
> > > anyone else. 
> > > 
> > > As to the flag, I can wait to sing the National Anthem at the top 
> of my 
> > > lungs in Beijing in two years with my daughter singing along and my 
> wife 
> > > holding her hand over her heart. 
> > > 
> > > Brad 
> > > 
> > > On 9/27/06, Slim wrote: 
> > >> 
> > >> Yeah, OK, I'd like to add a few too: 
> > >> 
> > >> You might be a TRUE AMERICAN if you continue to support the 
> administration 
> > >> no matter how many lies are crammed down our throats. 
> > >> 
> > >> You might be a TRUE AMERICAN if you go to church every Sunday and 
> pray for 
> > >> the destruction of others in the name of God. 
> > >> 
> > >> You might be a TRUE AMERICAN if you think all languages except 
> English 
> > >> should be banned within our borders. 
> > >> 
> > >> You might be a TRUE AMERICAN if you're a white Anglo. 
> > >> 
> > >> You might be a TRUE AMERICAN if you think only TRUE AMERICANS 
> adhere to 
> > >> this 
> > >> list!! 
> > >> 
> > >> On 9/27/06 8:00 AM, "Hank" wrote: 
> > >> 
> > >>> Great email, Elle. I'd only suugest one edit. Add "Remove your 
> hat" to 
> > >> the 
> > >>> part about the National Anthem. That's always been a pet peeve of 
> mine 
> > >> to 
> > >>> see folks at a ball game not take off their hat. 
> > >>> 
> > >>> On 9/27/06, L. Sailor wrote: 
> > >>>> 
> > >>>> Came across my email this AM. Makes one think about 
> > >>>> how those in the middle politically are being 
> > >>>> bullied by the ends of the spectrum. 
> > >>>> 
> > >>>> elle 
> > >>>> 
> > >>>> 
> > >>>> It is time to change from REDNECK humor to TRUE 
> > >>>> AMERICAN Humor! Only I don't see it as Humor, but the 
> > >>>> correct way to LIVE YOUR LIFE ! If you feel the same, 
> > >>>> pass this on to your True American friends. Ya'll 
> > >>>> know who ya' are... 
> > >>>> 
> > >>>> You might be a TRUE AMERICAN if: It never occurred to 
> > >>>> you to be offended by the phrase, "One nation, under 
> > >>>> God." 
> > >>>> 
> > >>>> You might be a TRUE AMERICAN if: You've never 
> > >>>> protested about seeing the 10 Commandments posted in 
> > >>>> public places. 
> > >>>> 
> > >>>> You might be a TRUE AMERICAN if: You still say 
> > >>>> "Christmas" instead of "Winter Festival." 
> > >>>> 
> > >>>> You might be a TRUE AMERICAN if: You bow your head 
> > >>>> when someone 
> > >>>> prays. 
> > >>>> 
> > >>>> You might be a TRUE AMERICAN if: You stand and place 
> > >>>> your hand over your heart when they play the National 
> > >>>> Anthem. 
> > >>>> 
> > >>>> You might be a TRUE AMERICAN if: You treat Viet Nam 
> > >>>> vets with great respect, and alw ays have. 
> > >>>> 
> > >>>> You might be a TRUE AMERICAN if: You've never burned 
> > >>>> an American flag. 
> > >>>> 
> > >>>> You might be a TRUE AMERICAN if: You know what you 
> > >>>> believe and you aren't afraid to say so, no matter 
> > >>>> who is listening. 
> > >>>> 
> > >>>> You might be a TRUE AMERICAN if: You respect your 
> > >>>> elders and expect your kids to do the same. 
> > >>>> 
> > >>>> You might be a TRUE AMERICAN if: You'd give your last 
> > >>>> dollar to a friend. 
> > >>>> 
> > >>>> If you got this email from me, it is because I believe 
> > >>>> that you, like me, have just enough TRUE AMERICAN in 
> > >>>> you to have the same beliefs as those talked about in 
> > >>>> this email. This is Excellent, No Matter what you 
> > >>>> deem fit to call it. It is our Country, It is our way 
> > >>>> of LIFE, and I love it. 
> > >>>> 
> > >>>> God Bless the U S A ! Git 'er done!!!!!!!!!!!! 
> > >>>> 
> > >>>> 
> > >>>> 
> > >>>> 
> > >>>> __________________________________________________ 
> > >>>> Do You Yahoo!? 
> > >>>> Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around 
> > >>>> http://mail.yahoo.com 
> > >>>> __________________________________________________ 
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> > >>>> 
> > >>> __________________________________________________ 
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> > >> 
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