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  • Message ID: #8
  • Subject: July 4th and Patriotism (07/03/2008)
  • Date: 2008-07-03
  • This message is a follow-up of: #7
    Dear Ping Kwan and Grace:
    
       Go to hear from you indeed.  Ahh, ECCFC reminds me of the good ole' days.
    
        Are you 80-20 members?  If not, may I ask you to consider joining
    as member and then running for candidate for Delegates to 80-20's Endorsement 
    Convention.  Please read my email to 80-20 members in the Bay area, you'll understand 
    what it is all about.  If you both  join, you can both run.  Thanks.
    
    SB (for joining go to http://80-20initiative.net Click on "Join" and pay very reasonable
    membership fee)
    
    
    	Subject: 	All Eyes On 80-20 Members in Bay Area
    	From: 	  sbw@UDel.Edu
    	Date: 	July 2, 2008 1:58:15 PM EDT
    
    Dear  S.B. :
    
       History often calls upon the few, who happen to be in an 
    opportune location, to do more for the whole.  You reside in the 
    Bay area where 80-20 is holding an Endorsement Convention on 
    August 2 (Saturday) for the political welfare of our community.  
    We need more people to attend our Convention and you can 
    participate in this historic event without flying.
    
       To hold a good Endorsement Convention 80-20 needs at least 10 
    Delegates from each of the political identities -- Republican, 
    Democrat and Independent/Decline.  We also need 3 alternates 
    from each, in case some Delegates can't attend the Convention in 
    the last minute.
    
       Hence, we need 39 candidates, although we currently only have 
    30.  You can participate in this significant event at the Crowne 
    Plaza in Foster City without too big a sacrifice.  I strongly 
    appeal to you to consider helping our whole community.  Note 
    that every candidate will be elected!  The only difference is 
    whether one gets elected as a Delegate or as the first, or 
    second or third Alternate in your political party, as decided by 
    the number of votes cast for each candidate.
    
       Please step up & respond to this historic call.  Please go to 
    
    http://www.80-20initiative.net/about/80-20DelegateApplForm.pdf
    for an application form, print it, fill it out and fax it to 1 
    800-877-1676.
    
       The deadline to file as a candidate is 8/7.  Please email me 
    & say YES!  Pioneers bear heavier burdens.
    
    
    Warmest regards,
    
    
    SB
    Founding President, 80-20 PAC, Inc.
    sbw@udel.edu
    Back || Post a follow-up message || Manager only


           July 4th and Patriotism

    On July 4th, we celebrate the blessings of liberty which we enjoy as
    Americans. Let's all display a flag, shall we?

    Patriotism is "love and devotion to country. The questions are how we
    love it and how we express our devotion."

    There is a great article in Time magazine by Peter Beinart on patriotism
    (July 7 issue). I can't do it justice by summarizing it. Nevertheless, I'll try
    with the aim to entice you to read the article itself. He wrote and I
    paraphrase liberally:

         American patriotism wears tow faces. Conservatives prefer the
       patriotism of affirmation. Liberals choose the patriotism of dissent.
       Conservatives think that being born into a nation is like being born into
       a family. You love it because it is yours. Liberals think patriotism is a
       struggle to narrow the gap between American ideals and America's
       reality. To conservatives, the devotion to America must come first,
       struggle to improve it is secondary. To liberals, America must earn our
       devotion by making good on its ideals.

         Both brands of patriotism have defects. Celebrating America too
       unabashedly risks becoming self-righteous and turn patriotism into
       nationalism. However, loving America purely because of its ideals could
       lead to switching allegiance to other nations too easily.

          America needs a mixture of both brands, because love of country
       requires both affirmation and criticism.

    Many Asian Americans are personal embodiments of this ideal
    mix.
    We give America our primary allegiance*. At the same time, we are
    engaged in a great struggle prodding America to fulfill its core value --
    equal opportunity for all Americans.

         Please display a flag. July 4th is affirmation time.
    Commets are welcome at
    http://www.80-20educationalfoundation.org/politicaledu/posterboard.asp

    Warmest regards,

    S. B. Woo
    President, 80-20 Educational Foundation, Inc.
     

    * What if a naturalized citizen still has strong feelings for his/her old
    country? That is quite OK, so long as he/she gives first allegiance to
    America. America is a great and wise nation. It knows that people who
    can forget their old country over one naturalization ceremony could easily
    forget America the next moment.