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What words mean

The Americans

Hi there Mr Über-liberal/Foreign Editorialist. I'm an American. I know you've heard (and said) a lot about me, but let me introduce myself anyway:

Hi, I'm Tom. How are you? ... Good. ... About me? Well, I was born in, and am living in the United States of America, and contrary to what you might have heard (or said):

I thought the war was a bad idea.
I did not vote for Bush.
I'm not a Republican.
I'm not a right-wing Christian.
I know there weren't stockpiles of WMDs.
I know what's wrong with American foreign policy.
I did not call them "Freedom Fries".

I don't listen to Britney Spears.
I don't like Budweiser.
I don't eat "fast food".
I don't like most of what comes out of Hollywood.
I don't watch primetime TV.
I don't watch reality TV.
I don't care about celebrities.
I don't care about runaway brides, missing college students, sharks, or whatever "the media" is obsessing over lately.

I'm not a "redneck".
I don't own an arsenal (though I am ambivalent on gun control).
I'm not a creationist.
I'm not racist.
I'm not homophobic.
I'm for gay marriage.
I'm not anti-abortion.
I'm for euthanasia.
I'm against the death penalty (but not for the usual reason).
I'm for drug legalization.
I'm for legalized prostitution.
I'm for stem cell research.

I watch the news.
I know "the US media" is biased.
I read foreign news (which is also biased).
I don't watch FoxNews.
I don't get my opinion from Bill O'Reilly, Rush Limbaugh, or Joe Scarborough.

I don't drive an SUV.
I purchased my car based on its fuel economy.
I understand science.
I know about global warming, ozone, and pollution.
I know world history.
I know world geography.
I know that "soccer" is really "football" (but I don't watch either).

And lastly, I'm not so daft as to use terms like "the Americans" to describe the cultural, religious, political, and educational status of everyone in a country of 300 million. And yes, you are doing that when you say things about "the Americans", so stop it.



Side note: Just because I'm in alignment with some of the usual "liberal" causes above, it doesn't mean I'm in agreement with all of the usual liberal causes, or for the same reasons.



2005-9-21

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