Seeing the last picture on this post really reminded me of some thoughts that I wanted to ask for your perspective on. Let me start of by saying that I remember and always will remember 9/11 like it was yesterday. At the time I was in high school and when the towers went down we could see from New Jersey the smoke and dust from them. I also had fellow students (my class had about 300 students) who’s parents worked in the towers and were victims of the attacks so the whole experience of that day really touched each and every one of us here on a personal note as I’m sure it did across the country.

Towards the end of the campaigning for President in 2008 some of the rhetoric coming from Republican side really bothered me. Specifically, the comments being made by some about “Real American” and “Real Americans” vs those who are “Anti American” and from “Anti American” parts of the country. It’s no secret that those who were saying those things were referring to areas such as the northeast regions, specifically New York City and the northern metropolitan areas of New Jersey (where I am from) where on paper and statistically it seems that we’re more left leaning and Democratic. I personally found it offensive that my fellow citizens, especially leaders, would call out other citizens as being Anti or Un-American because from how I was raised we as Americans are a people of differing personal opinions, views, and beliefs, which is what makes us unique as a people. I’ve always felt being from an area of great diversity of cultures, faiths, and ethnicities that being American is not defined by the color of one’s skin or ethnicity, but rather being American is a unique state of mind that cannot be found in another other nation on the planet. That state of of mind encompasses the notion that we as individuals are free to believe and think what we want and yet we are united by the values of working hard for the greater good of yourself, your family, your home, your community, your state, and ultimately our nation.

I myself was born in the USA in New Jersey, however my parents came to this country form Taiwan in the 80s and got their college and graduate degrees here in the USA and ultimately became citizens themselves.

I just wanted to see what your thoughts were on what I’m saying since on paper it would seem that we’re two very different people, yet we’re both citizens of this great country.

Thanks and if nothing else I’ve been and still am a great fan of yours and appreciate everything you’ve done in MMA.