My dear father-in-law just doesn't get it. I know he knows I'm a Democrat. I know he knows I'm opinionated. So why would he send me his latest mass email on John McCain's sons, with a horrible misquote of Senator Obama at the end?
Oh well. Lovely daughter-in-law that I am, I responded quickly. I told him I have nothing but honorable feelings for Senator McCain's sons, but...
This quote: From Barack's book, Audacity of Hope:
"I will stand with the Muslims should the political winds shift in an ugly
direction."
HE DID NOT SAY STAND WITH AMERICANS!!!!!
is taken so far out of context that I had to respond to him (and to everyone else on the email list) with this:
From Audacity of Hope: 'I will stand with the Muslims should the political winds shift in an ugly direction.'
FULL QUOTE
"Whenever I appear before immigrant audiences, I can count on some good-natured ribbing from my staff after my speech; according to them, my remarks always follow a three-part structure: "I am your friend," "[Fill in the home country] has been a cradle of civilization," and "You embody the American dream." They're right, my message is simple, for what I've come to understand is that my mere presence before these newly minted Americans serves notice that they matter, that they are voters critical to my success and full-fledged citizens deserving of respect.
Of course, not all my conversations in immigrant communities follow this easy pattern. In the wake of 9/11, my meetings with Arab and Pakistani Americans, for example, have a more urgent quality, for the stories of detentions and FBI questioning and hard stares from neighbors have shaken their sense of security and belonging. They have been reminded that the history of immigration in this country has a dark underbelly; they need specific assurances that their citizenship really means something, that America has learned the right lessons from the Japanese internments during World War II, and that I will stand with them should the political winds shift in an ugly direction." [Page 260-261]
While these emails have been circulating for months, I am sure we will all be inundated over the next months. I have made a pledge to myself to always, always respond. Even to my FIL. Sorry Dad. You're spreading false information and I can't let it go on.