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bridgit Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-16-05 10:23 PM
Original message
To Destroy 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, Navajo, 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.


B-)
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Mythsaje Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-16-05 10:25 PM
Response to Original message
1. I saw this...
and, like a similar piece written by a Canadian a few years back, it brought tears to my eyes.

THIS is what this cabal of criminals has besmirched, and if I believed in a hell, I'd hope they'd burn in it forever...oh, okay, or at least until they realized what they'd done.
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bridgit Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-16-05 10:29 PM
Response to Reply #1
3. it works for me somehow, and part of my belief is that there will be...
a great & vast learning curve what is to follow, i chuckle at they whom think they may be somehow immune :hi:
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PatrioticLeftie Donating Member (909 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-16-05 10:29 PM
Response to Original message
2. Nicely written
It's difficult to say how thankful I am for something that doesn't lash out against my country.

For too long has our nation been associated with war criminals, brought down against our will and even our knowledge. I for one am sick to death of it.
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bridgit Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-16-05 10:32 PM
Response to Reply #2
5. it's not our leaders, friend, it's us...'we the people', we are America..
The Beautiful :patriot:
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PatrioticLeftie Donating Member (909 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-16-05 10:33 PM
Response to Reply #5
6. Which is good because they cannot take ourselves away from us
Hard as they try.
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not systems Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-16-05 10:31 PM
Response to Original message
4. sentimental nonsense mostly...
Edited on Wed Nov-16-05 10:32 PM by not systems
"welcomes your tired and your poor"

Ummm...

"Everyone who holds to that spirit, everywhere, is an American."

That is a lot of universalist claptrap.

Sure we might like to think that all good things in
the world are emanations of Americanism...

but that is just one of the core ideas of the American's
imperialist ideology.

Tell it to the dead in our hundred years of empire building.

In the Philippians, Vietnam and Korea...and El Salvador and Chile
and Guatemala ... and Iraq.

"most prosperous land in the history of the world"

not really but it is nice to think so.



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bridgit Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-16-05 10:36 PM
Response to Reply #4
7. our more lofty of poetries; were so never so flagrantly usurped by...
they; as were that day...in the face of others yet again...whom have never understood them in sum total, nor to begin with imo
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Mythsaje Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-16-05 10:37 PM
Response to Reply #4
8. Such cynicism
Edited on Wed Nov-16-05 10:39 PM by Mythsaje
is understandable, but ignores one vital point. We gave a lot of people hope throughout the world, and ignited a belief in democracy and social justice that has spread across the globe. Even if we stumbled, and we have, the ideals that America has represented to the rest of the world have not been abandoned.

edited because I messed up the tense.
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Flying Dream Blues Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-16-05 10:41 PM
Response to Reply #8
9. Well said.
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not systems Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-16-05 10:44 PM
Response to Reply #8
12. Maybe that is the problem...
the assumption that "ideals that America has represented"
have ever been more that an effective and efficient propaganda
mechanism.

To the extent that we have lived up to these ideals it has been
in spite of the best efforts of the American government and
its corporate masters.

I don't think we so much have stumbled as we had been down
so long that it looked like up.

Now we are just back down where we were before.


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WCGreen Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-16-05 10:54 PM
Response to Reply #12
22. That's exactly the point...
We are good enough to overcome cynical leadership....

Because our system can...
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WCGreen Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-16-05 10:45 PM
Response to Reply #4
13. I feel sorry for you that you can't see the greatness of America
The spirit of america....

The Ideal America was founded on...

And only trust in the dark side...



No one ever said everything was perfect...

Perhaps you can't understand why 80k like minded people have gathered together here to share their anguish about what has happened to our great and wonderful country...

I feel sorry for you..
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bridgit Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-16-05 10:47 PM
Response to Reply #13
14. yo sup, WC...
:hi: :loveya: :kick:
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WCGreen Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-16-05 10:48 PM
Response to Reply #14
16. One of my favorite movies.....
Nothin'.... Just came over to see what you had spotted....
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bridgit Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-16-05 10:51 PM
Response to Reply #16
18. it's all good friend, you know that...
B-)
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WCGreen Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-16-05 10:55 PM
Response to Reply #18
24. Yep, indeed I do....
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not systems Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-16-05 10:50 PM
Response to Reply #13
17. Sorry if I don't get my flag waving...
and yell hooray to this syrupy bit of nationalistic bullshit.

To each their own... I guess.
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bridgit Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-16-05 10:52 PM
Response to Reply #17
19. bwahaha...
:rofl:
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TexasProgresive Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-16-05 10:42 PM
Response to Original message
10. Saw this years ago-snopes says false
Edited on Wed Nov-16-05 10:44 PM by TexasProgresive
Claim: A piece defining "What is an American?" was penned by an Australian dentist.

Status: False.

Example:

http://www.snopes.com/rumors/america2.htm

Edit to add: the message ain't false just the story of origin.
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bridgit Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-16-05 10:44 PM
Response to Reply #10
11. ah, now that's the GD i'm used to, never say 'fine & dandy'...
unless you thought of it 1st :rofl:
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Lydia Leftcoast Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-16-05 10:56 PM
Response to Reply #10
25. And it was written for the National Review
William F. Buckley's rag, according to Snopes.
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not systems Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-16-05 10:59 PM
Response to Reply #25
27. Sounds about right...
from the blue sky tone.
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Cleita Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-16-05 10:48 PM
Response to Original message
15. Those were the Americans I thought I knew.
I don't want any association with these new ones running our government now.
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bridgit Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-16-05 10:53 PM
Response to Reply #15
21. that sounds right to me...
:hi:
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mahatmakanejeeves Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-16-05 10:53 PM
Response to Original message
20. not this again
Edited on Wed Nov-16-05 11:11 PM by mahatmakanejeeves
http://www.snopes.com/rumors/america2.htm

Claim: A piece defining "What is an American?" was penned by an Australian dentist.
Status: False.

... The "What is an American?" article quoted above was not penned by an Australian (or a dentist), but by Peter Ferrara, an associate professor of law at the George Mason University School of Law in Northern Virginia. Mr. Ferrara's commentary was originally published in the National Review on 25 September 2001.


Peter Ferrara is an ally of Grover Norquist.
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bridgit Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-16-05 10:56 PM
Response to Reply #20
26. omg, you got that right, post# 10 blew you out...
talk about redundant :eyes:
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mmonk Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-16-05 10:54 PM
Response to Original message
23. Nice little myth
for these dark times living in a nation that imprisons without charge, tortures prisoners, launches aggressive war, quells free speech, and lies to its people.
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bridgit Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-16-05 11:04 PM
Response to Reply #23
28. i'm not so sure it's as mythical as you may think it...
i work in the theater; we have a 'new works' program filled with the expression of immigrant minds. it is a joy to see them express such notions as, "the magical store shop called 7-11 we have saved so long to realize" when they explain to an audience of 'americans' what it is to come here and become what certain of us have been born into by way of the issuance of the womb. you would do well to travel.

myth? no. contentious? without doubt.

but america is not a myth imo
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Mythsaje Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-16-05 11:10 PM
Response to Reply #28
29. Absolutely...
It's easy to be cynical in these dark days, and even more so when we think of the times and places where the ideals that crafted this nation have been set aside for expedience...but those ideals linger, and we have more than once shown our willingness to stand up for them against the odds.

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bridgit Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-16-05 11:17 PM
Response to Reply #29
31. true...to my mind true...
:hi:
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not systems Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-16-05 11:15 PM
Response to Reply #28
30. Lucky day not to be ...
being feed with reused feeding tube well
being held -- without charges -- without the
most basic rights of a defendant at the
hands of the peoples representatives in this
great land.

I guess...

You do know that about 50% of immigrants have historical
returned home because they were not so taken by this
version of freedom and happiness.

In fact I know several talented people who have left
because the America in your fable was no where to be seen.

Great place to buy things and own things but not
much else at least if you care about human rights
these days.

The America in your fable is a myth.

Like most myths it means something -- in this case what
we should be -- or what we could be -- but not what we are.

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bridgit Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-16-05 11:19 PM
Response to Reply #30
32. i hope there will be someone there to change your shit bag...
when you need it.
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not systems Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-16-05 11:22 PM
Response to Reply #32
34. Umm... ok whatever...
You posted the fictional crap not me...

Better wash your mouth out with soap...
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bridgit Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-16-05 11:25 PM
Response to Reply #34
36. no, no...whatever YOU say grumpy, that is clearly all that matters...
:eyes:
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not systems Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-16-05 11:27 PM
Response to Reply #36
37. Good then get the soap...
Edited on Wed Nov-16-05 11:27 PM by not systems
and

:beer:

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bridgit Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-16-05 11:28 PM
Response to Reply #37
38. bwahaha...
:rofl:
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mmonk Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-16-05 11:21 PM
Response to Reply #28
33. A myth can have familiar bits and pieces of reality,
but we are far from such an ideal right now.
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bridgit Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-16-05 11:24 PM
Response to Reply #33
35. america, a living breathing concept...
prone to success & failure as are we all
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DavidBowman Donating Member (180 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-16-05 11:41 PM
Response to Original message
39. Hear Hear, even if false
A similar sentiment (from a real source) is this from Gordon Sinclair, Canadian Broadcaster. He wrote it following the US' leaving Vietnam. It was circulated widely after 9/11, but it's good to remember today. Some snippets:

When the franc was in danger of collapsing in 1956, it was the Americans who propped it up and their reward was to be insulted and swindled on the streets of Paris. I was there. I saw it.

When distant cities are hit by earthquakes, it is the United States that hurries into help... Managua Nicaragua is one of the most recent examples. So far this spring, 59 American communities have been flattened by tornadoes. Nobody has helped.

The Marshall Plan .. the Truman Policy .. all pumped billions upon billions of dollars into discouraged countries. Now, newspapers in those countries are writing about the decadent war-mongering Americans.

http://www.phillytalkradioonline.com/comment/usa.html#Americans

It may be jingoistic and simplistic, but it feels good to hear it once in a while.

DB
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newyawker99 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-17-05 09:33 AM
Response to Reply #39
40. Hi David Bowman!!
Welcome to DU!! :toast:
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Buns_of_Fire Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-17-05 10:21 AM
Response to Reply #39
41. Welcome to DU, David!
I was about ready to go searching for that same script (I can never remember Mr. Sinclair's first name), when yours showed up here.

Yes, it's cheesy, jingoistic, and all the rest (especially when they're playing "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" in the background) -- but sometimes even the most cynical of us :hi: like to hear, "Hey, you're not so bad..."

Nations screw up. Sometimes they screw up ROYALLY. Our most recent Royal Screw-Up is currently somewhere in Asia. And on that, I think most of the world is in complete agreement.
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dkofos Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-17-05 12:54 PM
Response to Original message
42. WOW
Written by an aussie.

He seems to have a better understanding of Americans than most
Americans.
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