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Is VFW Post Phone Message Offensive?
WNEP -- Newswatch 16 ^ | Aug 6, 2008 | Norm Jones

Posted on 08/14/2008 11:32:33 AM PDT by Turret Gunner A20

Is VFW Post Phone MessageA VFW in Susquehanna County is drawing some attention because of its answering machine message. Some in Montrose wonder if it the right message.

The VFW near Montrose is a busy place along Route 706, a place where many in the area come to socialize. But some folks are questioning the post's answering machine message, saying it's not very social at all.

"Hello, this is Montrose VFW. We are an English speaking, American establishment. If you do not speak English or believe in America, please hang up," the message says.

"Racist. I mean, that's like, this is a free country, isn't it? That's what my understanding is," said Teresa Arthofer of Montrose. She wasn't happy hearing about the message, calling it unconstitutional.

"Does it say English speech? It just says freedom of speech. No where in there does it say freedom of English speech. It just says, freedom of speech," Arthofer added. [Boy!! now there's a whiz kid for ya!!]

"What do I think? I agree. If you're going to be in America, speak English," said Helen Warner of Springville. She added her grandparents had to learn English, why not everyone else.

"I mean, I have a hard time understanding some people and I think that if you live in a country, you should be able to speak the language and acclimate yourself to the country you're living in but I also think we need to have some patience and respect and understanding," said Laurie Farley of Montrose.

Newswatch 16 talk with VFW Post Commander John Miner about the message. "We are living in America, we should be able to speak English," he said. Miner added the message is meant for telemarketers who he said call all the time, often in broken English.

When asked if there was any chances they would change the message Miner said, "I don't believe so. I don't believe so. We're veterans of America."

The VFW post commander said the message has been on the machine for several months and so far, they have received no complaints.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: aliens; englishonly; language; veterans; vfw
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To: Rodentking

“People are free to speak whatever they want. Just like we are free to listen or NOT.”

My take as well - You have no right to be heard, and especially have no right to make ME provide someone who understands your language.


21 posted on 08/14/2008 12:04:46 PM PDT by MrB (You can't reason people out of a position that they didn't use reason to get into in the first place)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
Those are men and women who fought overseas (hence the name of the group) to protect our nation, constitution & society. They, above all, should have the 1st Amendment right to say anything they damn well please!

*************************

Amen!

22 posted on 08/14/2008 12:07:20 PM PDT by trisham (Zen is not easy. It takes effort to attain nothingness. And then what do you have? Bupkis.)
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To: Turret Gunner A20

I take it Ms. Arthofer doesn’t frequent her local VFW?
And I’d bet she called “Newswatch 16” to inform them of this huge story.
That and to flaunt her ignorance...


23 posted on 08/14/2008 12:09:46 PM PDT by astyanax (All play. No work.)
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To: Turret Gunner A20

Susquehannah county - where is that ?

Are they a bunch of antipathetic, bitter Pennsylvanians?


24 posted on 08/14/2008 12:09:52 PM PDT by palomonte
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To: Rick.Donaldson

That message would also discriminate against Scandinavians and Germans who are the racial ancestors of many of us “white” people.


25 posted on 08/14/2008 12:18:52 PM PDT by Dagny&Hank
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To: Borges; jagusafr
Is the VFW goverment funded? If it isn’t then the Bill of Rights doesn’t apply does it.
The military is gov't funded.
And you check your Rights at the door...
Am I missing something?
26 posted on 08/14/2008 12:21:08 PM PDT by astyanax (All play. No work.)
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To: Turret Gunner A20
"Racist. I mean, that's like, this is a free country, isn't it? That's what my understanding is," said Teresa Arthofer of Montrose. She wasn't happy hearing about the message, calling it unconstitutional.... "Does it say English speech? It just says freedom of speech. No where in there does it say freedom of English speech. It just says, freedom of speech," Arthofer added. [Boy!! now there's a whiz kid for ya!!]

Sounds like the town of Montrose still hasn't lost their idiot.

27 posted on 08/14/2008 12:28:32 PM PDT by SJackson (Sell San Francisco to China to finance Obama health care, Bill O'Reilly)
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To: astyanax

The VFW is not a Government subsidized agency. It is self funded - so the 1st Amendment DOES apply.


28 posted on 08/14/2008 12:34:02 PM PDT by Core_Conservative (Proud to be "The self-righteous, gun-totin, military lovin, abortion-hatin, gay-loathin'...")
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To: Core_Conservative; Borges
Is the VFW goverment funded? If it isn’t then the Bill of Rights doesn’t apply does it.
I was actually wondering if Borges really meant that something had to be Gov't funded to have Rights?
29 posted on 08/14/2008 12:39:53 PM PDT by astyanax (All play. No work.)
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To: astyanax

They get their money from dues, bingo, donations, etc. I do not believe they get any government money. Was trying to look it up, best I can tell, they get nothing.


30 posted on 08/14/2008 12:40:44 PM PDT by ozarkgirl (If McCain can vote on the basis of principle and conscience over party, so can I.)
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To: astyanax

I was a little confused about the question myself. Hard to figure out the double negatives.


31 posted on 08/14/2008 12:42:41 PM PDT by ozarkgirl (If McCain can vote on the basis of principle and conscience over party, so can I.)
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To: ozarkgirl; Core_Conservative

You misunderstand me.
They are a private organization.
They can say whatever they like on their answering machine.
Just because some clown thinks it’s “racist” doesn’t make a bit of difference.


32 posted on 08/14/2008 12:45:06 PM PDT by astyanax (All play. No work.)
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To: Turret Gunner A20
"Racist. I mean, that's like, this is a free country, isn't it? That's what my understanding is," said Teresa Arthofer of Montrose. She wasn't happy hearing about the message, calling it unconstitutional.

Just another comment from Liberal Bizzaro World.

33 posted on 08/14/2008 12:46:35 PM PDT by Doctor Raoul (Fire the CIA and hire the Free Clinic, someone who knows how to stop leaks.)
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To: jagusafr

Unfortunately, “unconstitutional” has become a euphemism for “,I don’t like it and think it should be illegal,” by people who have never read the document and don’t have any idea what it actually says. I’ve heard people claim that all sorts of silly things are unconstitutional, not only things that the Constitution is silent on but (like this idiot woman) but things that the Constitution clearly says are permitted.


34 posted on 08/14/2008 12:52:58 PM PDT by Question_Assumptions
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To: noname07718
I call these sad folks “Offense Whores”, and when I find one, I go out of my way to give them great pleasure and happiness. I try to offend them in every way I can think of.

I like your style.

35 posted on 08/14/2008 1:04:58 PM PDT by Retired COB (Still mad about Campaign Finance Reform)
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To: Turret Gunner A20

The phone message is stupid because it’s counter-productive. Those who oppose illegal immigration need to get a clue and realize that the correct way to do things is to discredit people who support illegal immigration. Just leaving comments here isn’t going to do much good. You have to either get out there and ask politicians real questions (not rants), or you need to go to other sites and leave comments discrediting those on the other side.

For a tangible example, see my comments (”NoMoreBlatherDotCom”) here:

time-blog.com/swampland/2008/08/re_scholarship.html

If you want to have an impact, do things like that. If you just want to preach to the choir, do things like the VFW did.


36 posted on 08/14/2008 1:07:46 PM PDT by lonewacko_dot_com (http://lonewacko.com/blog)
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To: Turret Gunner A20

Nope - why should we have to learn seventeen different languages and 252 dialects just to have someone communicate with us??????????

This is America - not England ........


37 posted on 08/14/2008 1:14:48 PM PDT by SkyDancer ("What Our Enemies Couldn't Do To Us Our Liberal Democrat Politicians Will")
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To: astyanax

Well, yeah - you don’t check your rights at the door when you enter the military. Military members retain the vast majority of rights that civilians have, and those we “give up” involve readiness and good order and discipline. The VFW isn’t a branch of government, it’s a private entity that’s given special tax treatment as a military fraternal order. There’s simply nothing legally wrong with their voicemail message.

Colonel, USAFR


38 posted on 08/14/2008 1:18:18 PM PDT by jagusafr ("Bugs, Mr. Rico! Zillions of 'em!" - Robert Heinlein)
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To: Turret Gunner A20

No— illegals, the churches that help them, the politicians who help them, the scumbags who hire them are ALL offensive.


39 posted on 08/14/2008 1:18:26 PM PDT by RJS1950 (The democrats are the "enemies foreign and domestic" cited in the federal oath)
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To: jagusafr

I agree completely.
It was just a bit of a generalization regarding swapping the Bill of Rights for the U.C.M.J.
And obviously nothing is illegal, I assume the writer is just trying to ignite a “public outcry” of fellow like-minded morons.


40 posted on 08/14/2008 1:38:54 PM PDT by astyanax (All play. No work.)
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