WHO IS AN "AMERICAN"?

Here is my response to this well-intentioned post (recomended reading) here:

The Folly of Killing an American

http://crusader-rabbit.blogspot.com/2007/08/folly-of-killing-american.html

**

jillosophy replied:

I am touched and grateful for that tribute - it is much needed salve to the heart of an American Patriot.

America did not happen by accident.

America is unique, as are the people who have created her over the past three hundred-plus years.

America was not built on handouts. America was not built because we asked someone else to do it for us.

This is what foreigners don't understand.

When they've actually spent numerous generations fighting, working and dying for what they dreampt was possible and refused to live without, and finally see it achieved, then perhaps the rest of the world will understand what it means to be an American.

But, as an American in these times, I have to proudly proclaim, in the face of 40 years of massive immigration (legal and illegal) that:

AMERICANS ARE INDEED A PARTICULAR PEOPLE FROM A PARTICULAR PLACE.

We are the people who, throughout the past 300 years, made the dream of all humankind a reality with blood, sweat and plenty of tears.

People forget that families like mine have been here for over 300 years building this wonderful country and unique society AND WHO ARE WILLING TO INVITE ALL TO SHARE.

But that same generosity it not reciprocated by those all who we welcome with open arms.

The world is now, in my view, a hovering bunch of vultures, picking away at our fat carcass.

EVERYONE WANTS A PIECE OF US, AND THEY WILL ALL TEAR US APART PIECE BY PIECE...

They may want what we have created, they can take their "fair" share of what we have created, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THEY ARE AMERICANS. You can BE AMERICAN ON PAPER, YOU CAN CLAIM TO WANT LIBERTY AND FREEDOM, YOU CAN TAKE IT WHEN IT'S HANDED TO YOU ON A SILVER PLATTER,

BUT THAT IS NOT WHAT MAKES AN AMERICAN.

To be am American, you have to lay YOUR LIFE ON THE LINE AND FORESAKE YOUR OWN LIBERTY TO GIVE SOMEONE ELSE A CHANCE AT THEIRS.

And never expect a thank you.

- jillosophy

**