I saw this over at KB's place. A particularly good reminder, yes?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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 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. When the Soviet army over ran Afghanistan 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!
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. I've been told that the World Trade Center victims were from at least 30 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 Tse-Tung, and every blood thirsty 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.
~~~~~~~~~~Author Unknown
Comments
Hey Moogie! I got my flag up just before them park commitee folks came by *phew* ... and chewy well I just threw him my dog's leftover kibble, he'll sleep it off but, I think I checked my locks at least twice before I settled in for the night... oh and BTW thanks for letting me borrow yer plunger I think that got lost in the move I'll be sure and right clean it before I return it.
later!
Posted by: kb at August 20, 2005 09:13 PM
This is so good.
I'll send it to "my li'l marine" in Iraq. He's a special kid; proud and working very hard.
And probably would prefer not to be called "my li'l marine" but it's a term of affection I forced upon him. He's only 20, and away from his family for the first time, putting his life on the line for Americans...all of us.
Posted by: julie at August 20, 2005 11:16 PM
Beautifully written post!!!
Posted by: tj at August 21, 2005 04:20 AM
Wonderful post, and so true. It reminds us all of what truly matters, and why. It also reminds us all of how such deep-seated hatred blots out the ability to appreciate the things that make life more than mere survival. I wish the zealots among us could be made to understand that.
Julie: I pray for your son. Sounds like you did an amazing job with him.
Posted by: Carmi at August 21, 2005 09:58 AM
Moogie, exactly right, spot on. Oh and the "work" comment was me being Sarcastic (as per normal:P)
Posted by: Gopher at August 21, 2005 10:16 AM
Nice Moogie, very nice... What else can be said?
Posted by: RedNeck at August 21, 2005 11:35 AM
Fantastic - I love it :-)
Posted by: Ruth at August 22, 2005 02:13 AM
I absolutely loved that! I will pass that on to others!
oh...and i've made a post on my blog.
Posted by: Suzanne at August 22, 2005 04:08 PM