My American Credentials

My earliest ancestors on both sides of my family immigrated lawfully, legally into the American colonies. My 5th and 4th paternal great-grandfathers were patriot soldiers in the American Revolutionary War. Both of my great-great-grandfathers were Confederate soldiers in the War Between the States. My paternal grandfather was an Army infantryman in WWI. My father was a US Marine during WWII. My uncles wore various uniforms of the USA. My father-in-law and his ancestors also wore various uniforms of the USA and served in various conflicts all the way back to the Revolution. My nephew has served two terms in Iraq and is currently in Afghanistan. Though I have never served in the military, I tried to enter several times and was turned down due to medical disqualifications. I have voted in every election since I turned 18 and feel it my obligation, my duty, and my privilege to do so in honor of my ancestors and all like them who fought to insure that I could vote. These are my credentials as an American, a tax-paying citizen of the United States.

Thanks for the Insult

Am I the only one who is bothered by email messages that I don't ask to receive which end by telling me to pass it on to someone else? Especially the ones that sound like chain mail saying that if I forward it wonderful things will happen, but if I don't, then watch out.

I think I am intelligent enough to know whether or not the unrequested email has any merit or is WORTH sending to someone else. I don't need the anonymous author telling me, even scolding me, about sending it to everyone else in my address book.

Usually, I simply delete all messages that tell me to send it on (or tell me to do anything else, as if I am not intelligent enough to figure out what to do without being told). Occasionally, though, I do decide to send a message to someone else. But the first thing I do is delete all the forwarded addresses. Then I delete the ending, which tells the recipient to forward it or something else. If the story or anecdote has merit, it will stand on its on and does not need any commentary by me or anyone else, much less a scolding about forwarding it. Now all this takes time, at least a few minutes. But, if the piece really has merit, and if I think enough of the recipients I intend to send it to, then surely a few minutes of time to "clean it up" are worth the bother.

So, if you have an urge to hit forward and send me something from your email in box, please first delete all the headers with dozens of email address that I don't want or need. And please correct all spelling and punctuation. And please deleted the ending that tells me what to do with the story. Then, if I think it has merit, I will thank you for it, and possibly send it to someone in my address book.