CatMan
03-28-2003, 10:49 AM
I found this over on the kingsnake boa forum and liked it so much I had to cross post it here..
What is an American? You probably missed it in the rush of news last week, but there was actually
a report that someone in Pakistan 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 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 G O D, not to the government, or to armed thugs claiming
to speak for the government and for G O D.
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 G O D-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 the Soviet army overran
Afghanistan twenty years ago, Americans came with arms and supplies to
enable the people to win back their country. As of the morning of September
11, 2001, 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.
The national symbol of America, The Statue of Liberty, welcomes 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 thirty other countries, cultures,
and first languages -- including those that aided and abetted the terrorists.
So, you can try to kill an American if you must. Hitler did. So did General
Tojo, and Stalin, and Mao, and every bloodthirsty tyrant in the history of
the world. But, in doing so, you would just be killing yourself, because
Americans are not a particular people from a particular place. They are the
embodiment of the human spirit and freedom. Everyone who holds to that
spirit everywhere is an American.
May G O D bless Americans where ever they may be.
Pass THIS around the World
What is an American? You probably missed it in the rush of news last week, but there was actually
a report that someone in Pakistan 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 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 G O D, not to the government, or to armed thugs claiming
to speak for the government and for G O D.
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 G O D-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 the Soviet army overran
Afghanistan twenty years ago, Americans came with arms and supplies to
enable the people to win back their country. As of the morning of September
11, 2001, 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.
The national symbol of America, The Statue of Liberty, welcomes 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 thirty other countries, cultures,
and first languages -- including those that aided and abetted the terrorists.
So, you can try to kill an American if you must. Hitler did. So did General
Tojo, and Stalin, and Mao, and every bloodthirsty tyrant in the history of
the world. But, in doing so, you would just be killing yourself, because
Americans are not a particular people from a particular place. They are the
embodiment of the human spirit and freedom. Everyone who holds to that
spirit everywhere is an American.
May G O D bless Americans where ever they may be.
Pass THIS around the World