Definition of an American

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
Pakistanhad 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 Americathan 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 Afghanistanwas 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 TwinTowersthe
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.

Cider and....one heck of a good time....

One man celebrated news of Andrew Jackson's victory at New Orleans and the end of the War of 1812 in an interesting way.
Said he: "I am alive and glad of it, but I liked to have killed myself last night eating bread and cider. Lt. B. Luttles and myself purchased a quart of cider and a loaf of bread and with the addition of sugar and water it made a most sumptuous dish, I assure you."
Interesting mix? Wonder how it all went together?
I found this in a book, the title of which I cannot recall exactly. I think it was "New Englanders Who Made Ohio" or the "New England Influcence on Ohio."
Lots of good stories in that book. I will get the correct title and author to give credit where it is definitely due.

US President James Monroe, WOW!

I just recently learned that the 5th American president, James Monroe, made a 15-week tour of the country, at least the northern part, right after he became president. I also learned that as he toured the northern part of the US he was wildly welcomed by citizens in all the American towns and cities he visited. Why? He was welcomed because the country had just come through the War of 1812, largely viewed as the continuation of the American Revolution, and won. That victory meant the end of the constant threat of British military action, through Britain's Indian allies, all along the American Canadian/American border. That, in turn, meant American towns and states along that border could grow and prosper in peace without fear of attack by the British and its Indian allies.
Other interesting notes about President Monroe:
--He was with Gen. George Washington when the general took his small army across the Delaware River on Christmas Day to attack the Hessians, mercenary soldiers hired by the British. The night was bitterly cold, yet the army made the crossing, marched 20 miles, attacked and defeated the Hessian force. Washington's army then marched 20 miles back, crossed the river again and returned to safety. Monroe was badly wounded in that incredible feat.
--President Monroe was one of two Americans who secured the Louisiana Purchase from France for the United States. That led the purchase of much of what became the American west from Napoleon's France.
--President Monroe also saved Gen. LaFayette's wife from be beheaded during the French Revloution, and then as president invited Gen. LaFayette to tour the United States in 1825 at the expense of the US. It is said his tour was a great success by all who saw the French general, but it was especially so at Gallipolis, Ohio. Gallipolis? It was founded by French idealists in 1790 who came over expecting to live in Eden and who actually came to great hardship and death. The so-called French 500 who came to the Ohio River that year mostly gave up their quest within a few years because the heart break was so great. Yet, when LaFayette came to the town in 1825, the town celebrated his visit that one day with such fervor that they celebrated his being there on that same day in every year to come for many years. Oh, what a wondeful experience for the people of Gallipolsi.
--His presidency was called the "Era of Good Feeling." That in itself would have been worthwhile to have lived through!
--He is best known for the Monroe Doctrine of course, that document that announced to the rest of the world that the Western Hemisphere was no longer open to colonization.
I knew about the Monroe Doctrine, but not about the rest. Great story again.

Lewis and Clark and the ‘Little People’

The Lewis and Clark journals recall how the two famous American explorers investigated tales of the “little people” who supposedly lived not far from where they wintered at the Mandan villages in 1804-05.
The “little people,” they were told stood 18 inches tall and were to be avoided because they were fierce and deadly with bow and arrow. They also were told to stay away from a certain mound or hill they inhabited because they were so dangerous.
The explorers went to find the “little people” at the mound or hill described to them. The explorers reported, however, seeing no “little people” or any signs that they existed. They noted there were some holes in the hill, but that was all. No one fired arrows at them either.
A few years ago I found a site on the World Wide Web about the “little people.” Isn’t the web wonderful?
Anyway, I emailed the head ranger of a state park that is there now and asked him about the “little people?”
He replied:
“There have been archaeological studies done on the site. There has never been any artifacts found that represent the presence of the little people. There are many native Americans around that have lots of oral history concerning the little people.”
And after signing is name, the ranger added:
“Many people still believe in the little people.”

Teresa and Teri, One woman, Two women

A friend of mine first introduced herself as Teresa. Then quick as a wink, she corrected herself, "Teri."
That was probably a year ago.
I thought nothing of it until last week, when I suggested she call herself Teresa. I thought people might take a better view of her.
"No," she told me. "Teresa is uptight, tense and moody. I like Teri. She smiles, loves life takes life as it comes. So, no, call me Teri. I like going by Teri."
I spoke to her one or two days this week during a particularly difficult time for her, and guess what? She told me she was Teresa in the way she handled her difficulties, tense, unsure, worried.
Finally, she straightened out and told me with a big smile, "I'm Teri again. I'm glad she's back."
Then she confided, "Sometimes I wish Teresa would go away and not come back."
True story. Good story.
Love it.