To Kill an American

[DrewKaree]

One of the more enjoyable e-mails I've ever received:

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, 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 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.

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 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.

[tommy]

Good article, somehow i think he wanted a white man killed.

[danny_galaga]

just take away his donuts, thatll do him in (",)

[AlanS17]

Hey, don't joke about donuts.

[Clonedsheep]

That's a bad ass post.

[Chris]

Sorry to break it to you...

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.

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

--Chris

[Havok]

I think DrewKaree has the "Checkov" syndrome: where everything ever created was from Russia, or in his case, Australia...

 

[missioncontrol]

mmmmmmmmmm donuts.............


who cares you wrote it..... It was still a good read........

good post Drew 

[mr.Curmudgeon]

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.

...and she's FRENCH!   


mrC

[Dartful Dodger]

Sorry to break it to you...

The "What is an American?" article quoted above was not penned by an Australian

To many big words to be written by an Australian.

Can an American cash in on that reward?

Um... no real reason... just curious.

[DrewKaree]

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.

...and she's FRENCH!   

That's right!  They DID surrender her!  When they did the restoration, thankfully they didn't replace her torch with a white flag

[DrewKaree]

Sorry to break it to you...

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.

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

Don't be sorry, it's fine to let me know.  If the dentist, australian, or whatever other things weren't there, it'd still be a good read to me.

The Australian dentist bit makes not a whit of difference.  To demonstrate this, I'll remove that bit of info.  It'll still read the same. 

 

[danny_galaga]

To many big words to be written by an Australian.

and TO many letters for an american 

[DrewKaree]

To many big words to be written by an Australian.

and TO many letters for an american 

Witch TWO wood ewe half added?   

[Crazy Cooter]

Not to be negative... but does anyone else see things wrong with the post?
1) The author isn't familiar with history.
2) They presume that their "God" will pass a final judgement on everyone.

Yet another example of someone trying to "pimp" 9/11 to get a reaction.

[ChadTower]

How exactly did one pimp 9/11 two weeks after it happened?

Tell us how it is historically inaccurate, I see no inaccuracies.  All I see are some references and tenses that aren't dumbed down to a third grade level.

[Stingray]

2) They presume that their "God" will pass a final judgement on everyone.

Typical of religious people everywhere regardless of religion or geographic location.

-S

[Crazy Cooter]

How exactly did one pimp 9/11 two weeks after it happened?

Tell us how it is historically inaccurate, I see no inaccuracies.  All I see are some references and tenses that aren't dumbed down to a third grade level.

The references and tenses are exactly what I'm refering to.  An easy example is the author trying to draw parallelism between 9/11 and Hitler.  9/11 was a surprise attack on the US while Germany was invaded by the US.  Yes the Germans tried to kill Americans in WWII, but it was for completely different reasons than why 9/11 happened.  Offense vs. defense... not to mention the underlying causes of each.

[ChadTower]

So since this guy's analogies (they are not examples) are insufficient to you, show us from US history, a truly analagous situation to the 9/11 attacks and responses.

I'll help you a bit.  There isn't one, so those are the best analogies that can be made.  It's only an inspirational essay, it's not a scientific document.

[Chris]

So since this guy's analogies (they are not examples) are insufficient to you, show us from US history, a truly analagous situation to the 9/11 attacks and responses.

I'll help you a bit.

[ChadTower]

I think it works well, given that he defines "American" more broadly than "people from the US".  By his definition, there are Americans all over the world.

[Crazy Cooter]

show us from US history, a truly analagous situation to the 9/11 attacks and responses...

It's only an inspirational essay, it's not a scientific document.

I think McVeigh would be the best example.  Using the authors examples only promotes hatred for an entire people (Muslim) instead of a group of people (Al-Qaeda).  There are hundreds of other examples of terrorism outside of the US.

IMO, even inspirational "stuff" should be accurate and not a knee-jerk NIMBY thing.


Now consider what has happened since this was written:
- Gitmo
- Iraq
- "Patriot" Act
Is this piece even accurate anymore?  That's the big question.  Two weeks after 9/11 we were proudly talking about how terrorism couldn't take anything away from us, yet that's exactly what happened since.  How many times have you heard about someone from the middle east being harrassed?  Are they free to worship?  Are they free of being rounded up just like what happened during WWII and the Red Scare?

My problem with pieces like this is that it equated America and freedom as being the same thing.  There are people that are free that don't live in America and there are people in American who do not live freely.

[DrewKaree]

My problem with pieces like this is that it equated America and freedom as being the same thing.  There are people that are free that don't live in America and there are people in American who do not live freely.

Untrue.

It didn't equate America and freedom as being the same thing.  It pointed out some of the freedoms that we have in America.  Then, it spoke to the spirit of freedom.  It spoke nowhere of the ACT of living freely.

Regardless, it works well for qute a few.  If you're looking for something to niggle about, it certainly seems to be there for you.  I guess I look at it as a far lighter read than you.  Perhaps next you can start on the Declaration of Independence.

As it was before, still.  Enjoy

[danny_galaga]

                                               

sorry, but really that little essay reminds me of the time the editor of the New York Times replied to some little kids question of 'Does Santa Claus exist'- it's a good little piece for the kiddies but not very helpful.

if i was a terrorist, what would i look for? someone who sounds american. so visually i would be scanning for negroes and caucasians with an accent, or any group that 'seems' american. once kidnapped i would then be looking for passports etc to show they are american. if they were canadian i would apologise profusely and give them $20 for the cab fair home  . if they were irish i would curse myself for not listening more carefully. if i'm blowing something up then i would be aiming for somewhere frequented by americans and if others get hurt- well, to use an american euphemism, they are collateral damage!

don't forget this :

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.

how do you think Osama came into power?

P.S: i knew an australian wouldnt have written this (",)

[Crazy Cooter]

If you're looking for something to niggle about...

Aren't I always?

[DrewKaree]

sorry, but really that little essay reminds me of the time the editor of the New York Times replied to some little kids question of 'Does Santa Claus exist'- it's a good little piece for the kiddies but not very helpful.

Haven't read that, but I'll assume, like this, it wasn't meant to be very "helpful".

Is there ANY place in your lives for reading something that's simply an enjoyable read, something that might bring a smile to your face....such as this message board?  And why not go back and dissect everything from Scrappleface or Borowitz report....or do you guys just "get" those things?  I'm starting to wonder if this had been written about a British soldier if it would be taken so literally by you guys, or if you just insert the stick up there when you get a whiff of something "war-like or relating to war".

For my next feat, I'm going to post some "Far Side" panels and see how long before you to find all the errors, misrepresentations, and innuendo in it.  After that, we can take turns posting National Enquirer stories and determining why and what exactly is wrong with them.   

[Dartful Dodger]

Is there ANY place in your lives for reading something that's simply an enjoyable read, something that might bring a smile to your face

I enjoy reading posts by DrewKaree and danny_galaga.
Although I rarely find them helpful.
 

[DrewKaree]

I enjoy reading posts by DrewKaree and danny_galaga.
Although I rarely find them helpful.
 

Mission accomplished.  Head for home boys!

[Crazy Cooter]

Actually, while I was watching CSPAN2 today (yeah yeah), a democrat from N. Carolina had a visual aid he used to reflect the loss of manufacturing jobs in each state.

Only his version of the United States showed upper Michigan as part of Wisconsin... lower Michigan was a different color.

Too many "What's wrong with this picture" exercises as a kid I guess. 

[danny_galaga]

I enjoy reading posts by DrewKaree and danny_galaga.
Although I rarely find them helpful.
 

Mission accomplished.

[danny_galaga]

Haven't read that, but I'll assume, like this, it wasn't meant to be very "helpful".

it was from about a century ago (no wait, make that 100 years)

[DrewKaree]

I enjoy reading posts by DrewKaree and danny_galaga.
Although I rarely find them helpful.
 

Mission accomplished.  Head for home boys!

just think of us as abott & costello. not sure which one i am though...

Hey Abbott, what about we see what happens if we pull dis lever, right here?!

[danny_galaga]

i can't remember, but i'm guessing Costello was the more rotund one? 

[DrewKaree]

i can't remember, but i'm guessing Costello was the more rotund one? 

I prefer to think of it more along the lines of - Abbott was the hairier one

[fredster]

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.

Looks like that was a mistake huh?

[ChadTower]

When is it NOT ultimately a mistake to send our military over into someone else's business without a clear and present danger to ourselves?

[Dartful Dodger]

We now have a new plan.  Instead of arming other countries we encourage the governments of those countries to disarm their civilians.  So when we make 'peace' with their officials, the people of that country can't say or do <auto-censored>.  While the American people are armed to the teeth, telling the American government what to do.

It's so obvious and simple, that the people of those other countries think I'm kidding.
They actually believe they are safer if they can't defend themselves.

It's brilliant.

[ChadTower]

We can't defend ourselves either.  The days of the right to bear arms being useful went away with automatic weapons, battle gear, tanks, planes, and modern equipment of war.

Anyone who thinks the American people could rise up and take the gov't is an idiot.

[Dartful Dodger]

Anyone who thinks the American people could rise up and take the gov't is an idiot.

You're right, with all the technological advances, no determined individuals would ever be able to rise up against the American government, and if the government decided to knock down your door to put your kind into a concentration camp, a modern gun would be useless against body armor.  Just ask the wife of any federal agent how she feels about her husbands safety when he's at work.

You can go back to work and feeling safe about the strength of your government, and don't forget to hand in any and all firearms to your local police department, you don't want any of your loved ones to accidentally get shot.

[ChadTower]

Hey, if it ever becomes an issue, I'll just move back to Canada.  It's still possible there to overthrow the military if necessary, just wait until he gets off at 5pm and get him in the parking lot.