Posted on 01/26/2006 8:09:22 PM PST by GeekDejure
To Kill 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 an editorial the following day to let everyone know what an American is . So they would know when they found one. (Good one, mate!!!!)
"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, Korean, Australian, Iranian, Asian, or Arab, or Pakistani or Afghan. "
An American may also be a Comanche, Cherokee, Osage, Blackfoot, Navaho, Apache, Seminole 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 God, not to the government, or to armed thugs claiming to speak for the government and for God.
An American lives in 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 person 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, never asking a thing in return.
When Afghanistan was over-run 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 of everything...the best products, the best books, the best music, the best food, the best services. 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, 2001 earning a better life for their families. It's been told that the World Trade Center victims were from at least 30 different 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 Tse-Tung, and other blood-thirsty tyrants in 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 of freedom. Everyone who holds to that spirit, everywhere, is an American.
"But, in doing so you would just be killing yourself."
Hey, I like that, let's extrapolate it: if you want to kill an American, any American, just kill yourself instead!
many thanks for the post.
Most Texans are worth W or better!
Double up Dubya!!! Aces High!!!
Unfortunately, it's false. Urban Legend.
http://www.snopes.com/rumors/america2.htm
It was actually written by an American professor in 2001, not by an Australian dentist last week.
BUMP!
That's a good one to end the evening on. Good night Geek and thanks for posting.
Bump
"So look around you. You may find more Americans in your land than you thought were there. One day they will rise up and overthrow the old, ignorant, tired tyrants that trouble too many lands. Then those lands, too, will join the community of free and prosperous nations.
And America will welcome them"
"Unfortunately, it's false. Urban Legend.
http://www.snopes.com/rumors/america2.htm
It was actually written by an American professor in 2001, not by an Australian dentist last week."
Disregard the question in post no. 8.
Thanks to by A.A. Cunningham for providing this link:
http://www.nationalreview.com/comment/comment-ferrara092501.shtml
Guest comment on NRO
"What Is An American?
A primer."
By Peter Ferrara, an associate professor of law at the George Mason University School of Law.
September 25, 2001 9:20 a.m.
COMMENTARY SNIPPET: "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 there an offer of a reward to anyone who killed an American, any American.
So I just thought I would write to let them know what an American is, so they would know when they found one."
Wow!
Which reminds me: I'm offering a bounty on the head of Osama binLaden. A bottle of Bourbon and $2000 to the soldier or troops that nail this pig-humping son of a prostitute.
Wow that is a great essay. Our strength comes from our diversity. I know there is an old joke europeans like to tell about how we are just the castoffs of european society originally- all the artistocracy and "better" blood of europe stayed there and their "losers" came to start over in America. As snooty and insulting as that image is- I love it- here we are, all on equal footing- all having the same opportunity to make of yourself whatever you want without the government telling you what to do or watching you and without the restrictions of class like in those old european countries. We're all just rolling up our sleeves together and getting to work- to make our lives better for ourselves and our families, and sharing the wealth of our knowledge and prosperity with the rest of the world. Including those elitist Eurosnobs.
That's probably true. We do have our share of "plus size" Texans. Understand, I didn't say "fat" now. I wouldn't want to hurt anyone's "feelin's"
I can smell a hoax a mile away. I had a hunch this was a hoax when I read it. It was just too perfect, like that Robin Williams hoax from a while back....
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