MALIBU—On July 4, Gene Simmons, co-founder of the 70s rock band Kiss, gave a patriotic message during his 4th of July concert. The Gene Simmons Band is a solo band that features a group of rotating, skilled musicians. They were performing in Milwaukee, WI. Simmons took a moment to speak a few words of encouragement to fellow immigrants.

In his profanity-laced style of speaking, Simmons called the United States, “The greatest effing country on the planet.”

“I myself am an immigrant, but a legal one. You wait in line, you respect the country, you respect the laws, and you become a citizen of the United States of America.”

…” And if you don’t like America, please go back to where you effing came from. Politicians talk the talk, but veterans put their lives out there. All gave some, some gave all. Don’t forget.” Simmons added.

Hundreds of miles away in Lookout Mountain, Tennessee, Jack Peterson, a train conductor at a historical attraction, lost his job after giving a similar message to passengers as he welcomed them to the railway. Cell phone footage of the conductor’s message was recorded and made into a Tik Tok video. It went viral. There were about 530K views by the time he was fired.

“To the very, very few Americans in here, Happy Independence Day. To the rest of you, welcome to the greatest country on the face of the planet, and if you disagree, you can leave,” Peterson stated.

Passengers took offense to the conductor’s message and told him to “shut up.”
Others posted comments on social media, accusing Peterson of racism and xenophobia.

Incline Railroad then fired Jack Peterson. The video footage went viral on many social media platforms. Someone started a GoFundMe for Mr. Peterson after he lost his job over his patriotic message.

Two very different people, almost identical messages, and getting totally different reactions.

Gene Simmons is an immigrant from Israel. His mother was originally from Hungary. She survived the concentration camps during the Holocaust. She came to the United States with her young son, who now goes by the stage name Gene Simmons. He is far from perfect, but he has a great story to tell. He tells how he and his mother persevered when they immigrated to the U.S., legally.

Simmons tells their story on his webpage. The process could be likened to the rite of the elect or a graduation of sorts. He and his wife, Sharon Tweed, now live in Malibu.

Jack Peterson is a citizen of the United States, too. He lost his job exercising his First Amendment right of Freedom of Speech. His mistake was to exercise that right at work. His employers didn’t take kindly to what also could have been, like in Gene Simmons case, considered a patriotic message.