Friday, December 16, 2005
Letter to Austria
Hello Austria,
Our group was planning to visit Austria. In fact, we were looking forward to visiting your city.
We are no longer coming. You have decided to rebuke Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Our group was 100 plus couples. Of that, 32 couples have withdrawn which makes the trip impossible, financially speaking. They have withdrawn because of your renaming Arnold Schwarzenegger Stadium. You, as a country, will chastise an American political leader because he will not save the life of a brutal and heartless murderer? A murderer who laughed as he stood over the bodies of those he put a shotgun to their head and pulled the trigger.
He murdered them in the most heartless and brutal manner and then calmly went to get something to eat. He thought them as worthless as a sow or a calf. These were human beings who wished to wake up each day and have the laughs, loves, troubles, and tribulations you have each day in your life. He murdered them for no reason.
This murderer, who you support, wrote books. Did his victims get to read another book? This murderer sought to prevent kids from joining a gang. Did his victims ever try to join a gang? He never said "I am sorry". He never admitted that he murdered. He laughed. He was arrogant. This murderer thought he was above the law.
We were going to pay $8,000 (US) per couple to travel and visit your country. Most of us have saved for years to make this trip. It meant a lot to us to see your country, learn your customs and learn from you as individuals. That is why travel is so important to us. To learn.
We have a saying in this country which is "Do what you want", and "Say what you want". You have decided to belittle a man who has had to make an incredibly difficult decision. By trying to hurt Arnold by such a cheap statement you have created your own statement. That statement says how little you are.
We are proud of our Austrian citizen. You have debased and abandoned your own son. We, as a country of immigrants, know quality. We know good decent human beings and we thank you for sending us such a man that we can be proud to call our own. If only you could.
We will not visit your country, because we, as Americans, will not support backstabbers. We associate "backstabbers" with losers. "Backstabbers" are those that throw their daughter, friend or peer out onto the street because of a perceived wrong. "Backstabbers" are those that you trusted, but betray you.
You have betrayed a "favorite son" for cheap political gain. You have hurt a man who has loved our country as well as he has loved Austria.
We, as a group, will take our enthusiasm, love of history and art, and money elsewhere. I am sure we can find countries that do not wish to hurt their sons and daughters. It is too bad your country is not one of them.
I remain a saddened traveler,
United States of America
¶ 8:24 PM
Hello Austria,
Our group was planning to visit Austria. In fact, we were looking forward to visiting your city.
We are no longer coming. You have decided to rebuke Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Our group was 100 plus couples. Of that, 32 couples have withdrawn which makes the trip impossible, financially speaking. They have withdrawn because of your renaming Arnold Schwarzenegger Stadium. You, as a country, will chastise an American political leader because he will not save the life of a brutal and heartless murderer? A murderer who laughed as he stood over the bodies of those he put a shotgun to their head and pulled the trigger.
He murdered them in the most heartless and brutal manner and then calmly went to get something to eat. He thought them as worthless as a sow or a calf. These were human beings who wished to wake up each day and have the laughs, loves, troubles, and tribulations you have each day in your life. He murdered them for no reason.
This murderer, who you support, wrote books. Did his victims get to read another book? This murderer sought to prevent kids from joining a gang. Did his victims ever try to join a gang? He never said "I am sorry". He never admitted that he murdered. He laughed. He was arrogant. This murderer thought he was above the law.
We were going to pay $8,000 (US) per couple to travel and visit your country. Most of us have saved for years to make this trip. It meant a lot to us to see your country, learn your customs and learn from you as individuals. That is why travel is so important to us. To learn.
We have a saying in this country which is "Do what you want", and "Say what you want". You have decided to belittle a man who has had to make an incredibly difficult decision. By trying to hurt Arnold by such a cheap statement you have created your own statement. That statement says how little you are.
We are proud of our Austrian citizen. You have debased and abandoned your own son. We, as a country of immigrants, know quality. We know good decent human beings and we thank you for sending us such a man that we can be proud to call our own. If only you could.
We will not visit your country, because we, as Americans, will not support backstabbers. We associate "backstabbers" with losers. "Backstabbers" are those that throw their daughter, friend or peer out onto the street because of a perceived wrong. "Backstabbers" are those that you trusted, but betray you.
You have betrayed a "favorite son" for cheap political gain. You have hurt a man who has loved our country as well as he has loved Austria.
We, as a group, will take our enthusiasm, love of history and art, and money elsewhere. I am sure we can find countries that do not wish to hurt their sons and daughters. It is too bad your country is not one of them.
I remain a saddened traveler,
United States of America
¶ 8:24 PM
