OT-Thanks to All & What Is An American?

July 5, 2005

Dear Group,

First I would like to thank everyone for their kind words of

sympathy after my mother died last month. Her death was a shock to our

entire family. She had two crushed verbetrae (L-12 & T-1) which were

repaired successfully with surgery. After the surgery she went to rehab to

learn to walk again but she was unhappy in rehab and passed away one week

later. I feel that she was ready to go and picked her time when she knew

that we were going to pick wild plums to make her plum jelly. It was the

first day that I had not been to the rehab early in the morning to help her

and then return later in the day. It is really amazing how people can will

themselves to do what they want to do. She was concerned that she could not

do the rehab and that she was going to be an invalid for the rest of her

life and have to wear " diapers " . I think that having to wear the " diapers "

may have been the last straw because mother was still a proud woman for 88

years old. I still miss her very much. I am now working on closing her

estate and taking care of the hospital and rehab bills. A word of advice

here is if you can afford elder care insurance buy it now because the costs

for the hospital and rehab are enormous and we/you will need all the help

that you can have financially when that day comes. We need to start taking

measures now to change the elder care health system as it is now because it

is broken and rehab residences are nothing more than warehouses for the

elderly with very little actual care, poor health care workers, poor food

and poor conditions. If I had not been going to the rehab at least 3 to 4

times a day I wonder how well my mother would have been cared for and we as

a society need to think about this and change the conditions.

I have missed replying to the group and I will try to get back to

replying to messages soon. However, I did note back some time ago that were

several posts about immigrants and how they have helped or hurt our country.

First, I am the daughter of an immigrant from Bulgaria. I am first

generation American and proud of it. My dad had a 3rd grade education but

spoke over 12 languages fluently but wouldn't teach us, my brother and I,

any of these languages. He even changed his name to protect his family. It

took me until 2004 to find out what his real family name was and how to

spell it and that was 38 years after his death and 4 trips to Bulgaria. He

said that you are born American and you will speak American and not another

language. You are American and you will act like other Americans. If it were

not for him I would not have had the pleasure of helping a Bulgarian cousin

to settle in the United States in 1990 who made me mad when he said that

Americans couldn't make quality products. Well, 14 years later, I had made

an American made Bulgarian rose otto like rose infused oil that my cousin's

father wanted to import back to Bulgaria. I said no but I had the pleasure

of proving to my cousin that Americans if challenged in the right way can do

just about anything and do it well. But that would not have happened if my

cousin had not wanted so badly to come to America and become an American

citizen. He is now an architect and contributing to our economy in a healthy

manner and not making fun of how, we, Americans do things.

By the way it took me over 9 months to find someone to come in and

help me with mother as she became more ill. I looked first to find American

help but was unsuccessfull. I was told that they had to make $100.00 plus

per 8 hour shift and did not cook nor do housework. This was told to me by

both white and black people alike. Many people even though they had an

opportunity to work, did not really want to work becuase it would either cut

into their unemployment or their government checks. I had tried both men and

women because my mother was about 200 pounds and had been 6 feet tall.

Finally, I called up a friend who placed Hispanic ladies for cleaning and

live-ins. I told her my problem and she found me a wonderful lady from

Mexico who charged $55.00 per day and did housework and some cooking. This

immigrant needed the money to help support her family and was willing to

work while many of our own people think that health care work is beneath

them or they want too much money for what they are doing. I am sharing this

story because of the earlier story about immigrants taking away American

jobs because I tried for many months to find someone at a reasonable, fair

and equitible price to work for us who was American but could not because of

the attitudes that have been ingrained into our culture. So remember to look

at both sides of the coin before one judges this issue.

The following is a story written by Michael Brown in October, 1971

which I ran across this afternoon going through paperwork. It is called:

WHAT IS AN AMERICAN? I feel that it is appropriate for today, July 4, 2005

to share this with my aromatic family. I hope that you all enjoy reading it

as much as I did. Remember that this was written during the Viet Nam War

when it was " uncool " to support your country and not as it is today after

911. This praise story is just as true today as it was in October, 1971.

WHAT IS AN AMERICAN?

An American is not delineated by a particul skin color, or way of

life. He is a person from many places, with many shades of skin; of

differant sizes and varied energies. He has a Masters Degree, or he may

never have finished high school. He may drive an expensive automobile, or

perhaps he relies on two mules to carve his living out of the earth. But

regardless of what he is, lacing the different physical features together is

a bond of strength in tradition which exemplifies the American way; a way

which opens the doors of opportunity to all people who may knock upon them.

An American has a spirit which was born when the bells tooed of

independence, and which has released the adrenalin of his nation time and

time again when its existence was threatened by an aggressor.

An American does not view armed conflict as a means of getting what

he wants, but rather as a means of protecting what he has. He is one who

loves the very concept of Peace for all nations, but will not hesitate to

fight on the shores of others if required to protect his own. An American

sees the knowledge of experience in his past, feels pride in the

accomplishments of the present, and has hope for the future of the world,

even when others would view the days to come with dismay. But a realistic

American finds no guarantee of freedom or security in the future soley

because he has always had it in the past.

An American recognizes the faults of his system and seeks to correct

them through a process unknown to many nations. A process which does promise

absolute perfection, but one which allows for peacefull change, if change is

needed. That process is democracy, and an American holds that word so dear,

that he stands ready at a moments notice to lay down his life for its

perpetuation.

An American finds nothing at all unusual about getting cold chills

when his flag passes in review, for his flag has always been a source of

inspiration; when the smoke cleared over Fort McHenry, when its sheen was

reflectd on the sands of Imo Jima, and when the colors glistened on the side

of the craft which took the first man to the moon. An American sees nothing

strange about getting a lump in his throat when the National Anthem is

played, or weeping unashamed when taps is played for one who paid the

ultimate price for his freedom. He realizes that the only thing that exceeds

that price is the freedom itself. An American never forgets the indebtedness

he has because of that sacrifice, for without it, his freedom would only be

an unreachable concept in some philosopher's mind.

A true American is the essence of pride in a way of life. What is an

American, you say? HE IS FORTUNATE.

I hope that you all have enjoyed this story. Think about it and the

words that it has to say. I know that I am proud to be an American. In the

mid-1970's I was allowed the opportunity to go to visit my Father's family

in Bulgaria, which was at that time behind the Iron Curtain and cut off from

the rest of the world. I learned then what it meant to be an American and I

still remember the strangeness and fear while visiting there. I was

fortunate to get to go back another 3 times and each time when I returned to

American soil, I said a prayer of Thanksgiving to God for my return home,

for being free, and being able to worship as I pleased here because my

Father's family was not free behind the Iron Curtain until 1990. Even today

I still pray for people living without freedom.

Take care and have a Happy 4th of July!

Love to all,

Rhavda Cooper Emison

Scents of Success (http://www.scentsofsuccess.com)

Texas Grown - American Made Rose Oil Products

Rose, Helichrysum, Melissa, & Other Oils & Products

July 6, 2005

Thank you for sharing this story because I feel the same way. The

government wants us to hate illegal immigration which is why they

drive the issue home every chance they get. The people I've found

that complain the loudest about the issue have Hispanic laborers

working for them by way of getting their lawns cut by barely-English

speaking workers and they didn't bother to ask them if they had a

green card, just what they were charging and did the math, or if you

want to drive up to Corona del Mar here in California there's a park

full of Hispanic nannies who I would say most of them are not legal

and this is Republican central down here, yet here in Orange County

we have the biggest protests over illegal immigration. I've seen

some of these complaining " Americans " drive down to the corner and

load Mexicans onto their trucks and bring them home to work on their

houses thinking no one would notice.

Excuse me? I am not going to stand on a street corner whining about

some Mexicans making below minimum wage. Most of them here have

their own doctors and dentists so they are not clogging up the

hospitals down here. Maybe up in L.A., but so are a lot of out-of-

work actors and musicians who draw unemployment so they can do

their " art. " But meanwhile, up in Sacramento we have a bunch a

morons who are making $100,000 a year heading special interest

departments when many of them didn't even attend most of the meetings

they were required to attend and yet this year, felt they deserved a

raise and got one for all the hard work they do - for what? We're

talking $50,000 or more a year here so now these people are making

between $150,000 and $200,000 - I don't have the exact figures

correct but it's just as ridiculous even if it's less. Now we have

the government saying that it's okay for them to snatch your land

away and give it to someone who will bring more money to the

community - namely THEM.

As far as supplemental insurance for the elderly, my mom and dad are

both retired and to get that supplemental insurance for both of them

it will cost $400 a month - that's more than I pay for my whole

family which consists of myself, a husband and two kids. Who has

that kind of money when you're retired? Our government doesn't have

money for social security, but they have money to give themselves

raises and bonuses.

Last week the government cut many funds that benefit education and

the poor and the general public gets duped into thinking - well they

don't really need it because they can work - these people are

working. Not all poor people are lazing around, getting pregnant and

running the streets.

Our country wants you to hate illegal immigrants and poor people

because while you're doing that, you don't have time to look and see

how they're lining their pockets. They want the different races to

hate each other and not get along because then you cannot get

organized enough to speak out against their actions.

Illegal immigration? We got far bigger problems.

Michele Madison Robles

, sos79@e... wrote:

> By the way it took me over 9 months to find someone to come

in and

> help me with mother as she became more ill. I looked first to find

American

> help but was unsuccessfull. I was told that they had to make

$100.00 plus

> per 8 hour shift and did not cook nor do housework. This was told

to me by

> both white and black people alike. Many people even though they had

an

> opportunity to work, did not really want to work becuase it would

either cut

> into their unemployment or their government checks. I had tried

both men and

> women because my mother was about 200 pounds and had been 6 feet

tall.

> Finally, I called up a friend who placed Hispanic ladies for

cleaning and

> live-ins. I told her my problem and she found me a wonderful lady

from

> Mexico who charged $55.00 per day and did housework and some

cooking. This

> immigrant needed the money to help support her family and was

willing to

> work while many of our own people think that health care work is

beneath

> them or they want too much money for what they are doing. I am

sharing this

> story because of the earlier story about immigrants taking away

American

> jobs because I tried for many months to find someone at a

reasonable, fair

> and equitible price to work for us who was American but could not

because of

> the attitudes that have been ingrained into our culture. So

remember to look

> at both sides of the coin before one judges this issue.

July 6, 2005

I just couldn't help myself this morning -- have to add my 2C worth. I live near

a resort area and most of the grounds keepers and maids are non English speaking

-- don't know if they are illegal, just know they are non English speaking. One

of the big hotel corporations, actually brings them in from their " head

quarters " (which is in another country) for the season and then they leave at

the end of the season. While they are here their kids go to school -- which

requires special classes because the children also do not speak English and then

there is the issue of taxes. But like other have said, they will work, work hard

and work for wages that other will not work for.

But I have a bigger issue -- out sourcing -- this has effected us personally and

is very troubling to me. My SO, after 20+ yrs with a major computer company was

laid off -- his job is now " off shore " . Mean while the " big guys " get bonuses

for saving the company money. Interestingly shortly after his lay off he came

across a number of other he knew in the company, all about the same age -- late

50's who had also been laid off -- save the company lots of $ to get rid of

people who might be drawing pensions soon. But that has been taken care of now,

because company's can say they don't have the money for the pensions promised

and turn it all over to the govt. Yes, I'm on my soap box ( good smelling soap

too!!)

OK that my take on the world today.