In America - become American!

Being that I grew up in Minnesota I am always interested in stories from back home, but this story was a bit hard to hear and quite sad to me.  This is ridiculous that a group (in this report it is Somali's) are given the right to discriminate (not giving rides to "infidels" in their cabs or handling bacon as a cashier) based on their religion yet other religions (Christian churches for not hiring homosexuals or couples living together or stating that marriage is between a man and women to name a few) can't enforce their convictions as that would be discriminatory?  My dad used to say, "That you have the right to swing your arms, until you hit someone in the nose." See my rights (to swing my arms) end when I enfringe upon your rights (of hitting your nose).

I don't have to work for a church if I don't like their policies just as I don't have to work as a grocery clerk if I have convictions about handling "unclean" meat.  The choice is the individuals NOT to work there, not the company's policies to be set to make all employees happy.  Don't like it, don't work there!  If you start a company servicing the public, than you must service the public...ALL those in the public.  Don't like it, don't start a business servicing the public!  Whatever happened to common sense?  People have the choice of where they work and for that matter, what business they start.  This is America and what we  have always stood for...the American Dream = Capitalism!

When I go to other countries, I have to "fit-in" if I want to enjoy the good graces of their country.  In America, we are inclusive. We allow others to come in but they are not allowed to come here and make this country a satalite of their homeland.  They can not take over and impose their rules and cultures on us.  Before you get on the band-wagon that I am intolerant, I am speaking from my own families personal experience!  My mother was an immigrant and she became an American.  She had to forsake ALL allegiances to her homeland.  She learned the language of English and had to use it and speak it.  She became and American citizen and even exercised her right to vote.  This is how it works!  If you want to be here, become one of us!

To quote Theodore Roosevelt, "In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes and American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin.  But this is predicated upon the person's becoming in every facet an American and nothing but an American...There can be no divided allegiance here.  Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all.  We have room for but one flag, the American flag...We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language...and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people." -1907

How can one religious group have freedoms while another is targeted as raciest or intolerant?  Seems we have dual standards that are developing in this country and we need to get back to the basics as outlined by Roosevelt...one flag, one language, one loyalty!  The founders were tolerant of other religions even though most of them were Christian by faith.  They understood that the govenment does not dictate religion and that people need to have the right to choose their faith.  With that, they also knew that without God for us, we would never make it!

I totally understand some of the reporters closing words, "There is such a thing as carrying politeness too far."

Minnesota,  Next Somali? - Posted July 2, 2007

Somali Pirates in St. Paul, Minnesota - Posted November 18, 2009