The Cellar - What it means to be an American

The Cellar (http://cellar.org/index.php)

- Home Base (http://cellar.org/forumdisplay.php?f=2)

- - What it means to be an American (http://cellar.org/showthread.php?t=10832)

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonesieQ

sometimes obnoxious

Wait a minute, only sometimes obnoxious? I mean, here I am, putting in my best effort day after day, and all I rate is sometimes obnoxious?

I mean, what's next, mostly harmless?:D

Partially passionate. :p

Quote:

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

Partially passionate. :p

Frequently fickle, often obstreperous.

Quote:

Originally Posted by primal muse

i must say the atmosphere around here is much different from other boards im on.
people are clever, but extremely childish on other boards.
i like the fact that there's older people around here. perhaps i can learn a thing or two. ;)

I so know what you mean. ;) Welcome!

Quote:

Originally Posted by richlevy

Frequently fickle, often obstreperous.

Quote:

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

Partially passionate. :p

:lol:

marshalled mediocrity

Quote:
Originally Posted by richlevy
Frequently fickle, often obstreperous.

Quote:
Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce
Partially passionate.

Who's good at "Higgledypiggledy verse?" These have the right rhythm.

(Higgledy Piggledy
Anna Karenina
Went off her feed and just couldn't relax
So Higgledy Piggledy
Anna Karenina
Went to the station, and lay on the tracks.)

Anna Karenina,
Partially passionate...

Quote:

"In the first place we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the man's becoming in very fact an American, and nothing but an American...There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag, and this excludes the red flag, which symbolizes all wars against liberty and civilization, just as much as it excludes any foreign flag of a nation to which we are hostile...We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language...and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people."

Teddy Roosevelt (usually misattributed as part of a presidential speech in 1907, actually quoted from a 1919 letter)

Being an american... even with the above arguments, it means being one of the luckiest people on earth. This is not sappy patriotism, trust me. The difference between America's life-style and that of most of the world is incredible- even our lower classes are not that bad off. Being an American means... being a little more adventurous, more willing to take risks, and taking for granted a prosperity that other peoples would be willing to kill for. It means rarely being satisfied with our lot in life, and never being satisfied with our government. Both are good. And it means tolerance of others, enforced if necessary. The last is more important, I think, than most people ever realize. Being an American should mean not letting our prosperity lure us into complacency regarding the most important things- namely, our rights, our freedoms, the separation of church and state, and the balance in our government. But, nope.

I agree with all you said... but with one added thing, responsibility. Most have forgotten that.
Freedom also means the freedom to be exposed to other's freedom. Speech we don't like, the freedom to change the channel, to NOT listen to certain music or got to a restaurant if they let people smoke on their private property... that we have decided that we are only free if all think like us makes me very sad.
America is dying.

Everyone's gonna be free
But they hafta agree to be free
They hafta agree to be less free than me
'Cause I rule the world, you see...