Would like to respond to an email I rec'd, but not sure if it's appropriate.

[ceile]

The original is this:
"For my cousin * who is currently serving in Iraq. In our talk last week she told me "You get used to being shot at every day, you just learn to ignore it". I can't even imagine."

This is what followed:

Subject: Quote for Easter

A great statement by England 's Prime Minister Tony Blair:

In case we find ourselves starting to believe all the
anti-American sentiment and negativity, we should remember England's
Prime Minister Tony Blair's words during a recent interview. When
asked by one of his Parliament members why he believes so much in
America , he said: "A simple way to take measure of a country is to
look at how many want in... how many want out. Only two defining
forces have ever offered to die for you:

1. Jesus Christ

2. The American G. I.


One died for your soul;

The other for your freedom."

The last part is bunk according to snopes http://www.snopes.com/politics/quotes/blair.asp

My coworker is very anti-W, but I feel that if I send this she may think I'm being inconsiderate to her cousin which is not my intention. But she also doesn't like looking foolish and I think using this "quote" like this in an email without knowing where it came from makes her appear so.

Thoughts?

[rasputin1952]

1. If you think it might be inconsiderate...

then it probably is. I'd let this one slide.

Besides, this is standard RW Boilerplate stuff. I think they have elves somewhere typing these things up...:D

[ceile]

2. You're probably right.

I just hate letting shit like this go. But in all fairness to her, this was originally from her rw family.

[rasputin1952]

4. Yeah...I'd back down on that one...

pretty touchy stuff there, especially when family gets involved...

[Orrex]

3. Don't email her--tell her in person

If you take the time to discuss it with her, it's less apt to sound like you're aiming for a GOTCHA! moment and more likely to seem as though you're sincerely helping to avoid her looking foolish. You could mention that the Blair quote is powerful and that it echoes the sentiments of several other speakers/writers; that way you speak well of the quote while also correcting a misunderstanding.

If she asks about the GI Jesus angle, you could state gently that, as far as you know, that part isn't original to the Blair quote. If you personally are of a spiritual bent, you could observe that it's a poignant statement. But if you are, like me, made a little uncomfortable by wrongly attributed religious analogies, you could offer that the quote was most likely tacked on by a previous emailer.

Be courteous in any case, as it sound like you hope to do. It doesn't sound as though she's being pushy or preachy with this message, so it would be discourteous to be too assertive in correcting her misunderstanding.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

5. I'd be inclined to let it slide since she's anti-W...

and has a family member in Iraq. But if you would like to respond, perhaps saying something like, "oh, I've heard something similar to that, but only the want in/want out part. Wonder if Snopes has any info." Let her find out on her own if she's interested. And of course, offer well wishes to her cousin.

[LeftishBrit]

6. Under the circumstances, I'd let it go

She must be very worried about her cousin.

Unless she herself brings it up, I'd leave it.

But as someone who has had to endure the embarrassment of Blair for ten years, I would like to point out here that even he would never say anything as idiotic as that quote about Jesus Christ and the American G.I.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

7. I Would Respond Back Simply As Follows:

"Thank your cousin for me for his courage and sacrifice. I pray he returns home safely. Just as an aside, I wanted you to know that Tony Blair really didn't say the latter part of the quote; it was really an internet invention; but he didn't need to say it in order for me to appreciate your cousin's sacrifice. Happy Easter to you all."