I want to say thank you to all vets who have served before me. Here is something I was sent a few months back that I think is appropriate.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
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.
An American is English, or French, or Italian, Irish, German, Spanish,
Polish, Russian or Greek. An American may also be 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
choose. 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 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.
An American does not have to obey the mad ravings of ignorant, ungodly
cruel, old men. American men will not be fooled into giving up their
lives to kill innocent people, so that these foolish old men may hold on
to power.
American women are free to show their beautiful faces to the world, as
each of them choose.
An American is free to criticize his government's officials when they are
wrong, in his or her own opinion. Then he is free to replace them, by
majority vote.
Americans welcome people from all lands, all cultures, all religions,
because they are not afraid. They are not afraid that their history,
their religion, their beliefs, will be overrun, or forgotten. That is
because they know they are free to hold to their religion, their beliefs,
their history, as each of them choose.
And just as Americans welcome all, they enjoy the best that everyone has
to bring, from all over the world. The best science, the best technology,
the best products, the best books, the best music, the best food, the
best athletes.
Americans welcome the best, but they also welcome the least. The national
symbol of America 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. Many of them were working in the twin
towers on the morning of September 11, earning a better life for their
families.
So you can try to kill an American if you must. Hitler did. So did
General Tojo, and Stalin, and Mao Tse-Tung, 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 of
freedom. Everyone who holds to that spirit, everywhere, is an American.
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!
Emo
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.
An American is English, or French, or Italian, Irish, German, Spanish,
Polish, Russian or Greek. An American may also be 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
choose. 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 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.
An American does not have to obey the mad ravings of ignorant, ungodly
cruel, old men. American men will not be fooled into giving up their
lives to kill innocent people, so that these foolish old men may hold on
to power.
American women are free to show their beautiful faces to the world, as
each of them choose.
An American is free to criticize his government's officials when they are
wrong, in his or her own opinion. Then he is free to replace them, by
majority vote.
Americans welcome people from all lands, all cultures, all religions,
because they are not afraid. They are not afraid that their history,
their religion, their beliefs, will be overrun, or forgotten. That is
because they know they are free to hold to their religion, their beliefs,
their history, as each of them choose.
And just as Americans welcome all, they enjoy the best that everyone has
to bring, from all over the world. The best science, the best technology,
the best products, the best books, the best music, the best food, the
best athletes.
Americans welcome the best, but they also welcome the least. The national
symbol of America 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. Many of them were working in the twin
towers on the morning of September 11, earning a better life for their
families.
So you can try to kill an American if you must. Hitler did. So did
General Tojo, and Stalin, and Mao Tse-Tung, 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 of
freedom. Everyone who holds to that spirit, everywhere, is an American.
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!
Emo
