danielb59 Loc: The South

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.

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 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 nation 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.

HEART Loc: God's Country - COLORADO

I salute you!! Thanks for the encouragement of the "American" in each of us.

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

Amen

K2mbs Loc: Southern Tier of, NY

Then, when you overthrow a ruthless dictator, with the unanimous backing of UN votes that something must be done.
Guilty of holding phony 'elections' to confirm his support.
Responsible for raping and killing his own people by the thousands and burying them in mass graves.....
Some 'American' compassionate, humanitarian, phony baloney liberals will shout every chance they get.....
What a pointless war for oil! (even though no oil or compensation was sought after) America has waged.

There are so many "Patriots" in our great nation that would never have backed our greatest humanitarian ventures if they were alive at the time.
They would be passive on all difficult acts of courage.
They are called liberals...
They are perpetually on the wrong side of history.

sr71 Loc: In Col. Juan Seguin Land

Roger That!!!!!

K2MBS wrote
Quote

Then, when you overthrow a ruthless dictator, with the unanimous backing of UN votes that something must be done.
Guilty of holding phony 'elections' to confirm his support.
Responsible for raping and killing his own people by the thousands and burying them in mass graves.....
Some 'American' compassionate, humanitarian, phony baloney liberals will shout every chance they get.....
What a pointless war for oil! (even though no oil or compensation was sought after) America has waged.

There are so many "Patriots" in our great nation that would never have backed our greatest humanitarian ventures if they were alive at the time.
They would be passive on all difficult acts of courage.
They are called liberals...
They are perpetually on the wrong side of history.
Unquote

It figures you just don't get it.... Look around you Americans are every where
Of all types, that is one thing that makes this country great... There is nothing we can't accomplish when we put our minds to it.....

I want you to go out and get a life.........

lovesphotos Loc: Colorado and Arizona

K2mbs, You know, I can't help but feel a bit sorry for you. It must be hell to live with hatred of others who may happen to think differently than yourself. You couldn't wait to screw up a nice essay without injecting politics in it....Let me ask you, how many of those people you hate do you think, gave their lives for this country so that you can freely express your dislike of them. Let's face it, all of those who made the ultimate sacrifice up to now, could not have been just the conservatives. There had to be rich, poor, liberal, ethnic, gay, straight, female and whatever else you can think of among them. With your words you are cheapening their legacy.

Assay was about the meaning of being an American...So, be an American, even if it's for a short time.

ottopj Loc: Annapolis, MD USA

Outstanding piece!

K2mbs Loc: Southern Tier of, NY

I don't have hatred for others, merely their confused philosophies of liberalism.
I have often stated that I love people more than they love themselves...
I believe that liberals themselves don't even understand the damage liberalism is causing, if they did...they would change. (as evidenced in how many former liberals there are...and nearly NO former conservatives).
Liberalism is a default setting.
I was a registered democrat a long time ago because I automatically thought republican meant something that I couldn't identify with, and they were some stuffed shirts, out of touch, hated all things wonderful and wholesome...Then I grew up, and payed attention.
Liberals have not done that...they drink the kook-aid at WAY too mature an age.

I also don't believe that there were many liberals as we know them today fighting in any past wars.
The feminization of men began around Vietnam time with the the hippies, and has creeped to its present state very slowly
....this is why conservatives fight every "SMALL" piece of seemingly insignificant legislation of liberalism...because we have been getting our frog boiled for 40+ years and see what it has done to our country.
Not many of our present military members would call themselves liberal as evidenced by how few support liberal politicians.
Liberals don't normally enlist to fight for our country because they don't particularly believe the country is such a great place, needs to be fixed, and surely wont die for it.
Our military, even in this time of flip flop wearing males (having a penis doesn't automatically qualify you for being a man IMHO)....are vastly conservatives, but any of our military personnel that fights for our liberty, and freedom that may be/have been liberals I salute you, and thank you for your service greatly!!!

lovesphotos Loc: Colorado and Arizona

You still haven't learned anything from the essay. It was about what it means to be an American. Not what your political beliefs are. And with your unnecessary and long tirade you are still trying to make it a political issue.
Right or wrong, you are free to think however you want. As long as you are thankful to those who died to make a gift of it to you.

K2mbs Loc: Southern Tier of, NY

Everything that has to do with our country is based in what our political beliefs are. Now more so than ever, and this nice post wasn't anyting that I needed to learn from...I live this belief daily, and live my life accordingly.
I maintain that there are liberals who need to not only pretend that they support articles like this when convenient, but live, support and believe it daily....because they don't believe this post daily....outside of a crisis that soon wears off for them, and then they start dismantling the America that believes this kind of thinking in everyday life.

lovesphotos Loc: Colorado and Arizona

Why would anyone want to dismantle something that has been good to them? Would you? Also I would like to know what do you base your thoughts on? Maybe I am missing something here.

gphotography Loc: Colorado

Amen

K2mbs Loc: Southern Tier of, NY

By dismantling I am referring to the constant progressivism that is the standard mindset of liberals.
Liberalism is a mindset of live and let live to the point where anyone who maintains traditional values, morals, and laws established by our founding fathers....is intolerant, and unacceptable...and must be demonized for their traditional beliefs.
We have now morphed into this upside down Nation, where nearly everything we once stood on as truth, and normalcy have become the enemy of a minority of people that seem to get their way on any issue they raise.....even though polls show a majority of people disagree with a court that no longer follows the constitution, but makes laws of their own from the bench.
Conservatives don't believe laws, morals, and rules are ideas that are so easily disregarded, and no matter what 'futuristic' distractions come along....there is right and wrong, and definites.
As a liberal there is inherent wishy washyness to virtually everything...in other words nearly everything is a grey area....this leads to all kinds of behavior that is questionable, yet when it's questioned...you are an intolerant bigot, racist, zealot, whatever.
Liberalism is a slippery slope that destroys everything we formerly considered normal, through "tolerance" of everything formerly known as unacceptable.
Where does it end?
It doesn't.
If any person can decide personally what is acceptable behavior....then why is rape or murder still taboo?
Homosexuality was taboo...even in the hippy era, and only a few years ago.
Murdering innocent children was taboo...now it's a womans right to choose...to kill an innocent baby.
On and on...
America used to use the Constitution to govern it's decisions...now it is actively disregarded daily.
No black and white standards, and rules...societal collapse, and divisiveness.
Can you see this evidence yet?
Do you know it's cause?
I do....

raymondh Loc: Walker, MI

:thumbup:

lovesphotos Loc: Colorado and Arizona

K2mbs, I have no idea where you get your ideas and way of thinking, but there are some holes in it. I am not 100% conservative, more like 90%, and I have about 10% liberal leanings. I do have some liberal friends and after reading what you wrote, I thought about them for a while and I just could not fit them to any of your descriptions. They are every bit as moral and law abiding people as I am. None of them think abortion should be used as a birth control method. However they do think there are special circumstances, where it's use may be necessary.
You are blaming the Supreme Court fot not following the Contitution, which is absurd. Those people there do not make laws just to keep you and I happy. They do it for the whole, and if you are unhappy, that is your problem. Besides They have the conservative majority. You talk about liberals being wishy washy and everything being grey area for them, yet by not giving examples of all that, you are also being one. I don't know where they are being wishy washy. It needs explanation. You say liberalism destroys everything. I honestly like to know what. What have they destroyed that you hold so dear to your heart. Tell me so that I can agree with you. You are against the women's right to choose. Have you ever been in in a position to choose between living and dying? Hell no. But some of them have to make that decision. Have you ever considered that? Again, hell no.
In many cases they have the choice of living or having the baby. Not both. As my last comment to you, you say our Constitution is disregarded daily. Do me a favor and show me an example.
There will always be things in our society that you and I may not like, but unfortunately you and I alone don't make up the society.
I lived with some things I didn't like all my life. They can't be helped. So I suggest you to learn to live with things you don't like.
It is better for your longetivity.