This just in...What is an American?

You probably missed it in the rush of news last week, but there was
actually a report that someone in IRAQ had published in a
newspaper an offer of a reward to anyone who killed an American - any
American. So, an Australian dentist wrote the following to let
everyone know what an American is, so they would know when they found
one.

An American is English, or French, or Italian, Irish, German,
Spanish, Polish, Russian or Greek. An American may, also, be
Canadian, Mexican, African, Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Australian,
Iranian, Asian, or Arab, or Pakistani, or Afghan. An American may,
also, be a Cherokee, Osage, Blackfoot, Navaho, Apache, or one of the
many other tribes known as native Americans.

An American is Christian, or he or she could be Jewish, or Buddhist,
or Muslim. In fact, there are more Muslims in America than in
Afghanistan. The only difference is that in America they are free to
worship as each of them chooses. An American is also free to believe
in no religion. For that he will answer only to God, not to the
government, nor to armed thugs claiming to speak for the government
or for God.

An American is from the most prosperous land in the history of the
world. The root of that prosperity can be found in the Declaration of
Independence, which recognizes the God given right of each man and
woman to the pursuit of happiness.

An American is generous. Americans have helped out just about every
other nation in the world in their time of need. When Afghanistan was
overrun by the Soviet army 20 years ago, Americans came with arms and
supplies to enable the people to win back their country. As of the
morning of September 11, Americans had given more than any other
nation to the poor in Afghanistan.

Americans welcome the best - the best products, the best books, the
best music, the best food, the best athletes. But they also welcome
the least. One national symbol of America, The Statue of Liberty,
welcomes... "Give me your tired and your poor, the wretched refuse of
your teeming shores, the homeless, tempest tossed."

These in fact are the people who built America. Some of them were
working in the Twin Towers the morning of September 11, earning a
better life for their families. I've been told that the World Trade
Center victims were from at least 30 other countries and cultures
with first languages other than English * including those
countries of the 9/11terrorists.

So you can try to kill an American if you must... Hitler tried... So
did General Tojo... Stalin... Mao Tse-Tung... Osama BinLadin ....Saddam Houssein and every bloodthirsty tyrant in the history of the world...

But, doing so would be futile because Americans are not a particular
people from a particular place. They are the embodiment of the human
spirit of freedom. Everyone who holds to that spirit... everywhere...
is an American.

Pass this around the World.

__________________
Irish---Better to be dead & cool,then alive & uncool!
(Harley Davidson & the Marlboro Man)

Wow, never knew I was American. Thanks for exposing my unpatriotic ignorance.

__________________
I want to know everything
I want to be everywhere
I want to fuck everyone in the world
I want to do something that matters

while an interesting read that riles the patriotic spirit it's claimed origins are dubious at best...

http://www.snopes.com/rumors/america2.htm

__________________
-Toast-
"It takes a lot of brains to enjoy satire, humor and wit - but none to be offended by them." -- Johnny Hart ("BC", cartoonist, 2000)
"Analyzing humor is like dissecting a frog: Nobody really enjoys it and the frog generally dies as a result." -- E. B. White

Excellent post Irish!

And I am glad to say that i am American. Part Irish, Scotish,Dutch,Native American, and God only knows what else.

Yep...I read it years ago

__________________

The practice of putting women on pedestals began to die out when it was discovered that they could give orders better from there.~ Betty Grable

If I wanted your opinion, I'd remove the duct tape and ask you for it.~ Me
<~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~>
One man's dream is another man's nightmare~~~~> §¤ Lilith ¤§
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==>Gone Shopping<== ~Just a Quickie~ *~A Celebration Vacation~* ~Surprises~ Sleeping With the Window Open
What Did You Do Today? Self Defense Class ~Short Sweet Snippets~ § Summer Spin § Story Challenge Submission Pajamas

Come to think of it,"I" might not be Amercan.People say that the current regime,is cutting veterans benefits.I got a letter from the
Govt.,saying that as of Jan.1,2004,I would be getting a few $ more,in my 10% Disability check,that I get once a month!They gave me a new blood glucose meter & supply me with free
"Cumfort Curve" test strips for it.Lantus insulin & numerous
prescriptions with a small co-pay,etc.They also check the calibration,of the meter,once a year.So maybe,I'm not really an
American! Irish
P.S.Ask & ye shall recieve!The squeaky hinge gets the oil!

__________________
Irish---Better to be dead & cool,then alive & uncool!
(Harley Davidson & the Marlboro Man)

My husband's disability check also went up. It does each year based on cost of living increases. However, they are cutting the benefits by shutting down some of the Vetran's hospitals in much needed areas. My dad lives in NE Oregon and he has to travel about 2 hours to the nearest Vetrans hospital in Washington. But now their going to be closing it soon and he'll have to travel 6-7 hours (on a good day) just to get his regular check ups and things. In fact they've already transferred him there but the hospital is still open for emergencies...for the time being. I just wonder how they figure that stuff out. I'd gladly give them back the extra few dollars a month so they could keep a hospital open for the older Vetrans who rely on that for their annual, and a lot of times semiannual checkups. But hey, I guess that's just politics right?!

__________________
XOXO

Kissy---Suggestion:Contact your local vetern rep!I know that around here,you used to have to go to Manchester NH.Now there
are veterns clinics,with Drs,at many more places.I still get my
prescriptions,sent from Manchester,but I go to VA appts. at Pease AFB.There are also,many clinics,set up around the state!
You can explain it via a toll fre #. Irish
P.S. Just an idea!They say that you can't fight city hall.I have & I
have won.They rely on you not following thru.As far as I'm concerned,they owe it to me.They also owe it to your father!

__________________
Irish---Better to be dead & cool,then alive & uncool!
(Harley Davidson & the Marlboro Man)

Yes Irish I do agree, something has to be done. My dad has always been very healthy and always much healthier than his friends so he drives them to their apointments all the time. Now that they have to travel so far and with gas prices up they try to schedule all of their apointments around each others and then carpool with my dad. I don't think he minds too much but there could come a time when he needs to be driven to that hospital and that's a long ways to have to travel. I'm heading there to visit this summer, and plan on getting some more information from the guys at the VFW, I know they keep up on that kind of thing since it affects them all. But thank you for your idea of contacting a Vet. Representative. That is a very good idea.

Kissy

__________________
XOXO

Kissy---Another idea!If you call your local state VA,they will give
you a # for Primary Care assisstance.I'm,technically,retired & my
wife,will soon retire.We thought "How are we going to survive,
without medical insurance?"I have been discharged since 1965 but they keep all of your records.It was worth the inconvenience,
just to know that things would be paid.I have found them to be quite helpful.They have the usuall Govt. Bullshit,but that's to be
expected!I was only 17,when I enlisted & I knew the first day,
that I hated it,but I thought,I signed up for 4 yrs so I'll do it!
Irish
P.S. To check,I just called,the toll free #,for the Manchester VA.
The recording gives you the extension #,for Primary assisstance!
In NH,it is 1-800-892-8384.You must have one there!

__________________
Irish---Better to be dead & cool,then alive & uncool!
(Harley Davidson & the Marlboro Man)