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What can they do to change their attitude and make the most of their American citizenship? Reader RESPONSES below |
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We're compiling stories, poems and essays from everyday people to answer the question: WHAT AMERICA MEANS? Join us in this discovery process. Please include your name, address, telephone and email address with your entry that you may email to us, today! |
Here's one opinion. What's yours?
What is an American? See below. . . |
HERE'S A BOOK WRITTEN ON THIS SUBJECT.
Write an essay on one or more of these subjects and send to us by email, today! |
What does America mean to you?
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What do Americans have to offer the
world?
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What does America mean to the rest of the world?
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Go to this page and tell us what you think. We need essays for a book we will write. Icons at the top link to the two songs. -- JC |
HERE'S A BOOK WRITTEN ON THIS SUBJECT.
Send entries to divajc47@yahoo.com
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Write an essay on one or more of
these subjects and send to us by email,
today!
7/3/07
Hi Joan, Will Colman 7/2/07 Daniele, Yes, the site is from me. You can send all entries to me at divajc47@yahoo.com and copy it to cuejazz@gmail.com. One question: Why did you return to America, if you love Haiti so much? That can be an essay, in itself. Just let me know when you have time to come by my house. I look forward to it. Joan #2 - Joan, I think this is a fabulous idea. I am guessing it comes from you! Anyhow, I will think about a couple of themes from that list that I would like to write an essay on and send it to you. Or is it to be sent directly to the site? I'll look it up later. What are you up to for July 4th? Too bad it is the middle of the week. I am still going to be busy doing something. Anything for a 'Celebration'..... You know that in our ancestral religion, everyday is a celebration! We celebrate life, our ancestors, our families, our friends, our country, the world, the universe. I am blessed to have been born "Haitian". Though my people in many ways are still in bondage, many are free in their minds and their souls. So, to me, there is nothing more beautiful than the black rural communities of Haiti. This is where I found myself while working i n the provinces of Haiti, more than 30 years ago. Sometime when we meet again, I'll bring over some photos of some of these provinces for you to see just how beautiful! We'll talk later. Have a blessed day. Ayibobo, Daniele Vanyan Neges #1 - I think it is a great idea to involve people into pouring out their heart on paper. There is nothing like expr essing yourself through the written word. Spoken words, fly, written words last for always. Direct translation from a famous French philosopher (don't ask me who?) Anyway, the reason why I think that this is wonderful is that when we think and we write our feelings and our thoughts: something happens! We can move mountains. We can attract negativity, we can do some soul searching while we are thinking before we write (so as not to end up with our feet in our mouth). One of the biggest problems with the African Diaspora in America and everywhere else in the world: is that often they still have a colonized mind - therefore, a colonized heart. Not all of us have reached enlightenment! I call enlightenment reaching freedom from the domination of the master's ways and his philosophy of "divide & conquer". Can you tell me whether or not this targets a particular group or is it everyone? I suppose, if we talk about Americans: we mean all Americans! Right? What are the essays going to be used for? Is there a "Think tank" that is going to analyze the essays and have a paper or e-mails or this site to convey certain observations, suggestions, "modus vivendi" to the community at large? An answer to these questions, for me, would have to be answered before I would entertain, writing an essay of this depth of thought and conviction. I hope this helps. Let me know. Ayibobo, Daniele Mangones Vanyan Neges 7/1/07 Ever read Confessions of an Economic Hitman by John Perkins? Check it out! -- Dee Wright
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| Written by an Australian Dentist
To Kill an American You probably missed this in the rush of news, 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 inAmerica 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 o ut 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 inAfghanistan 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. |
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