American

<p>TO KILL AN AMERICAN </p>

<p>Written by an Australian Dentist…</p>

<p>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!!!) </p>

<p>"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. </p>

<p>An American may also be a Comanche, Cherokee, Osage, Blackfoot, Navaho, Apache, Seminole or one of the many other tribes known as native Americans. </p>

<p>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. </p>

<p>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. </p>

<p>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. </p>

<p>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. </p>

<p>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! </p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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 . </p>

<p>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. </p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>Thanks momoftwins.</p>

<p>momoftwins, Thanks for sharing that editorial. I’m proud to be an American!</p>

<p>I thought that sounded familiar - it was originally written by George Mason Professor Peter Ferrara for the National Review after 9/11 and was revised into an “urban legend.” See <a href=“http://www.snopes.com/rumors/america2.htm[/url]”>http://www.snopes.com/rumors/america2.htm&lt;/a&gt;. Snopes is somewhat snarky, but a useful resource for potential legends.</p>

<p>But I still like it and the sentiment, even if not written by an Aussie dentist!</p>

<p>momoftwins…i always liked that when I read it, I did know that the dentist authorship was a legend and I do wonder how that happens! Nonetheless, nice post, thanks for sharing :)</p>

<p>MOT - I think the reason I remembered it was because it made the forwarded emails at the time and still seems to make the rounds periodically. How did you run across it? I am curious as well as how urban legends evolve. With the recent anti-Danish, anti-American sentiments flaming, maybe it is making another round.
It really is nicely done - just not by the DDS! Prof. Ferrara is a law prof. and deserves full credit!</p>

<p>This was the first time I saw the editorial - or my memory is failing me yet again - and posted it as I had received it. Thank you for providing the name of the real author, weski. Although I wasn’t sure of the authorship, I love and believe the message…</p>