"An American is English, French, Italian, Irish, German, Polish, Russian and Greek. They may also be Canadian, Mexican, African, Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Australian, Iranian, Arab, Pakistani, or Afghan. An American may also be a Cherokee, Osage, Blackfoot, Navaho, Apache, or one of the many other tribes known as Native Americans.
An American can be Christian, Jewish, 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 they choose. An American is also free to believe in no religion. For that he will answer only to God, not to the government.
An American is from the most prosperous land in the history of the world. The root of that prosperity can be found in America's Declaration of Independence, which recognizes the God-given right of each man to the pursuit of happiness.
An American is generous. Americans have helped almost every 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, but they also welcome the least. A national symbol of America, The Statue of Liberty, welcomes the tired, the poor, the wretched refuse, the homeless, the 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 earning a better life for their families. I've been told that the World Trade Center victims were from 30 countries, including those that aided and abetted the terrorists.
So you see, you can try to kill Americans if you want, others certainly have. But, in doing you would just be killing yourself. Because Americans are not 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."
