The DOI only states the rights to be free. It does not guarantee success,
happiness, or liberty. ONLY the opportunity to do so and not be restricted
by laws to not be able to do so.  
Just as the Constitution guarantees us the right to "Freedom OF religion",
not freedom from religion. In addition, NOWHERE IN THE CONSTITUTION does it
separate church and state. I guess we all need to become English majors to
learn to read and understand what we are reading. 

John Philip Adams

-----Original Message-----
From: Discussion of research and writing about Virginia history
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of John Cullom
Sent: Thursday, July 05, 2007 4:17 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: This forum

I was wondering if anyone but me took umbrage with Harriott's last sentence.
Lyle has responding well but I would have responded to the question
something like this: I am an American now and proud to be so.  All that
happened a long time ago and is now history.  I will be eternally grateful
to my ancestors for the sacrifices they made so I would not be born in a
grass hut, or a teepee, or in England.
John Cullom
Catonsville, MD  


On Jul 3, 2007, at 2:54 PM, harriott lomax wrote:
> ....., "Doesn't it make you angry...hate white people...etc...?"   
> My response was "My African ancestors were brought here to work  
> uncompensated for my English ancestors who stole the land from my  
> American ancestors, how am I suppose to feel?"

Lyle wrote: An interesting but not quite complete point. I was reading and  
agreeing until the last bit before the how am I supposed to feel part.

There are a few points----------------------