I figured I'd do something that means a lot to me. I was going through my email today, deleting all the old stuff that was just crowding the place, when I happened on an email from a name I didn't recognize. It was someone I had forgotten about, and it was from before I joined the military.
For a little background info, I'm an Arabic Linguist in the Air Force.
I hadn't read it before I joined. I read it now. And I was just a little annoyed by it. Well... yeah... that's an understatement.
Here's a quick copy and paste (for those who actually want to read through it. It'll be in another color so that those who don't can skip it and nab the summary that will be following it).
[Subject: Fw: USPS Christmas Stamp
This is really hard to believe having worked for Pan Am. It is not just that but just being an American. How soon we forget!!! Let you conscience be your guide.
Bill Malarick]
[Subject: USPS Christmas Stamp
This doesn't make me happy being a part of the US Postal Service for 34 years. This is a slap in the face of all Christians and Americans. "As for me and my house" none of these stamps will be purchased. As a matter of fact, I may not buy any other kind this year.]
[I couldn't believe this so I checked it out on www.snopes.com and it is true. I'm sending this to all on my mailing list.
Ed]
CHRISTMAS STAMP
How ironic is this??!! They don't even believe in Christ and they're getting their own Christmas stamp, but don't dream of posting the ten commandments on federal property?
USPS New Stamp
This one is impossible to believe. Scroll down for the text.
If there is only one thing you forward today.....let it be this!
REMEMBER the MUSLIM bombing of PanAm Flight 103!
REMEMBER the MUSLIM bombing of the World Trade Center in 1993!
REMEMBER the MUSLIM bombing of the Marine barracks in Lebanon!
REMEMBER the MUSLIM bombing of the military barracks in Saudi Arabia!
REMEMBER the MUSLIM bombing of the American Embassies in Africa!
REMEMBER the MUSLIM bombing of the USS COLE!
REMEMBER the MUSLIM attack on 9/11/2001!
REMEMBER all the AMERICAN lives that were lost in those vicious MUSLIM attacks!
Now the United States Postal Service REMEMBERS and HONORS the EID MUSLIM holiday season with a commemorative first class holiday postage stamp.
REMEMBER to adamantly and vocally BOYCOTT this stamp when purchasing your stamps at the post office. To use this stamp would be a slap in the face to all those
AMERICANS who died at the hands of those whom this stamp honors.
REMEMBER to pass this along to every patriotic AMERICAN you know
A few Americans who consider themselves "patriotic" are calling for others to boycott an Arabic Christmas stamp, referring to atrocities commited, not by Muslims, but by terrorists.
Some people are idiots.
I was struck, first with anger and then with a deep sense that most average Americans know absolutely nothing about Muslims, that Muslims are hated because a few have tarnished their names--a few, it could be added, who are not considered Muslim followers by their "fellow" Muslims. And the sad thing is that most people don't care to know more.
And the sadder thing is that those people scream lies, thinking that they're facts, through a veil of hatred and ignorance.
The Muslims, contrary to this email and as some of you probably already know (at least I do hope so), actually do believe in Christ. They simply don't believe in him as a son of God--he still holds a very high spot in their religion and is, indeed, held with great respect. He was, to Muslims, a great prophet. Muslims have a Christmas. I'm not entirely sure about the details of how it's celebrated, but one of the first words we learned in Arabic class, from authentic native-Arabic-speakers from Arabic countries, was "Merry Christmas" or "A'aiid Milad".
Beyond which, a stamp with Arabic writing on it is not a religious symbol any more than a Mickey Mouse stamp that has "Merry Christmas" written on it is.
So this is my rant for today.
Enjoy. Eh. Sorry had a rough day in class today =P
cheese_whine
Trysse Community Member 
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