Americans

Someone sent me this. I'm still a little teary. I could have sworn the world hates Americans, thanks to Bush. Apparently there are some who actually see us clearly...

Written by an Australian Dentist....

To Kill 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, 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, 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.

WOW! Powerful
Thanks!

AMEN to that!!!

yeah wow! that gave me chills

Powerful! I'm just a tad choked up. Thank You

I would be choked up too if I was an american! That's really good...

I enjoyed this read. However, why United States of American citizens are identified as the "Americans" confuses me. There are a number of other countries in these two American continents.

(please, no need to explain it or debate it . . . just my unoriginal and irritated two cents)

Not so sure about the afghanistan thing or the fact that the US offers help and asks nothing in return. We have soldiers dying in Iraq because of US aid?! Im British though.

wow, chills

does this come under political, or religion, whatever that religion may be?

As a member and American, I appreciate the content of this post, and as someone who recognizes that the rest of the world has some valid reasons to be resentful, I would normally appreciate hearing other POVs. But, as a PsychCentral (mental health support forum) moderator, I'm concerned that this will turn into a political discussion.

Please keep the tone of this thread to support, since that is the reason for PsychCentral. Not for political debate.

Thanks,
LMo

wow, that is amazing and every bit of it is true. Makes me appreciate my country more.

That's pretty powerful. I also know the mental-health systems here in the States, while not perfect, are decent. And there's the freedom here to seek, or not seek, treatment...sorry if I offended anyone.

I better just leave this one alone...lol....Love the story though.