Just a note to all my American SDMBers (Please read)

techchick68 · October 30, 2001, 5:46am

Okay folks, this is a note (abridged) that I sent out to my close friends and family members. I am going to reprint most of it for you.

Okay so we all have been dealing with events of 9/11 and anthrax scares in places far from us but there is a very important duty coming up on November 6th that we all should participate in, Election Day.

Granted, here in C Springs it’s not a major election, at least in my specific area anyway. But here is a chance for all of us to take action in our communities by voting for or against what is presented to us by our schools, cities and the state on a ballot. Since we all hold our freedom so dear, get out there and vote and show those horrible people that we value our freedoms.

Please remind your friends and family members across the nation, put a note on your calendar or mail in your ballot. Send a message to the community you live in and the country at large that voting is more than just an American right but the freedom of representative government is worth fighting for in a free society. Our votes do count.

Voting has been an important part of my life as of recent past and I will continue to make it such. I hope you don’t consider this email as intrusive but I think that more than ever, even in small elections, it is important that we all get out there and have our say just by being a part of the process.

Oh and an aside, I will be asking this of my family and I will be asking all of you to consider this. Since November celebrates Thanksgiving, start a new tradition; burn five candles throughout your Thanksgiving dinner. One large one for the country and four smaller ones to represent the four planes which were used in the attacks. It’s just a thought but maybe a tradition your family may appreciate, especially for this year.

Bless you all

I hope this isn’t too politically pushy (there’s not pro or con) and the last part wasn’t too schmaltzy (sp) but I felt it is important to spread the word of getting involved in your local community. Stop for a sec, get those local ballots mailed, made, whatever it takes.

Oh and yes I do think it would be highly appropriate for people to burn a candle or candles in memory of those lost and for the country as a whole.

I would even love to hear any other ideas for Thanksgiving that anyone might have. I think this years Thanksgiving will be a mixed blessing.

techchick68 · October 30, 2001, 6:11am

I guess I should be a little more sensitive to my Canadian SDMBers and the Mexican and further south SDMBers…the title should read:

Pretty arrogent (sp) of me…not meaning to.

Miller · October 30, 2001, 6:26am

Do any Canadians or Mexicans honestly get angry when people in the US a refered to, or refer to themselves as, Americans? If you do, what should we use instead? I mean, United States of Americans is a bit of a mouthful.
Also, go vote. People are risking their lives right now so you can do that.

Gala_Matrix_Fire · October 30, 2001, 2:29pm

Miller, I had a boyfriend from Colombia who used to insist that we Americans shouldn’t call ourselves Americans, because Colombians and everyone else are also Americans, but I never took him seriously.

It’s kind of like someone arguing that saying “Oh my God” means you believe in God.

gobear · October 30, 2001, 2:36pm

Sorry, Canadians and Mexicans, not to mention Colombians, Peruvians, Tierra Del Fuegians, and so on, are not Americans. American is not used to refer to everybody living on one landmass, becuase the Americas are divided into three: North America, Central America, and South America. Canadians live in North America, and Mexicans live in Central America, but the term “American” is used to refer to folks from the U.S. of A. We are the only nation that has America in its official title, so we are Americans.

And, yes, I’ll be voting on Tuesday; I haven’t missed an election since I turned 18. Warner for Virginia Governor!

Balduran · October 30, 2001, 4:07pm

Nah, you guys can have the title. Most people I know in Canada refer to you all as Americans. Also, we’ll often call the USA America.

ShibbOleth · October 30, 2001, 4:14pm

How about referring to people from the USA as “gringos”?

Actually, I am surprised that Mexicans don’t get upset that we are called the United States, since they are also the United States (of Mexico).
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Back to the OP: techchick I like your idea to do something special on Thanksgiving, but not so sure about five candles. Maybe just one big one.

Kyla · October 30, 2001, 6:34pm

I once referred to Mexico as being in Central America in front of one of my Mexican cousins, and he immediately informed me that it is in fact, in North America. He seemed rather insulted.

Ellen_Cherry · October 30, 2001, 7:22pm

Britannica agrees with the insulted cousin and states that Mexico is in North America.