[转贴]
谁是美国人
作者:Peter Ferrara 翻译:东子 承原
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你很可能错过了上周的这条新闻，有报道说，在巴基斯坦有人在报纸上悬赏杀死美国人，任何美国人。
因此我想我该写点什么，以便让他们知道美国人是什么，这样他们碰到的时候可以知道：这是个美国人。
“美国人”可能是英国人，法国人，意大利人，爱尔兰人，德国人，西班牙人，波兰人，俄国人或者希腊人。他也可能是非洲人，印度人，中国人，日本人，南韩人，澳大利亚人，伊朗人，或其他亚洲人，还有可能是阿拉伯人，巴基斯坦人或阿富汗人。
“美国人”可能是一位基督徒，犹太教徒，佛教徒，或穆斯林。事实上，在美国的穆斯林比在阿富汗的穆斯林还多，不同的是，在美国他们有选择敬拜谁的自由。
“美国人”还有不信任何宗教的自由。他可以只听神的话，而不是政府，或那些自称既代表政府又代表神的武装暴徒。
“美国人”生活在人类历史上最繁荣的国度，其繁荣源自于“独立宣言”（Declaration of Independence）。该宣言确认：神把追求幸福的权力赐给每一个人。
“美国人”是慷慨的，他帮助过几乎世界上所有其他国家，当他们有需要的时候。20年前苏联军队入侵阿富汗，“美国人”给阿富汗送去武器和供给，使他们赢回了自己的家园。计至“9.11”那天早晨，“美国人”给阿富汗的穷人送去的资助，超过世界上任何其他国家。
“美国人”不需要听从愚昧无知而且残忍无道的老家伙的胡言乱语。美国男人不会被谎言愚弄以至于用自己的生命去杀死无辜的同类，从而让那些愚蠢的老家伙继续掌权。而美国女人，可以根据自己的意愿自由的对世界展示她们的美丽面容。
“美国人”可以自由的批评政府官员，当他从个人角度觉得官员出错的时候。之后他可以选择替换这些官员，通过多数票。
“美国人”欢迎各个地域，各色文化，各种宗教，因为他们没有恐惧。他们不怕自己的历史、自己的宗教、自己的信念会被摧毁，或遗忘。原因在于他们知道，他们可以根据个人意愿自由的坚持自己的宗教、自己的信念，自己的历史。
在“美国人”欢迎大家的同时，他们享受从全世界来的每个人提供的最好的东西：最好的科学，最好的技术，最好的产品，最好的书籍，最好的音乐，最好的食物，最好的运动员。
“美国人”欢迎最美好的，可他们也接纳最不幸的。自由女神像是美国的标志。上面雕刻着：
美国欢迎疲惫的你，
欢迎贫穷的你，
欢迎不幸被丰饶的彼岸拒绝的你，
欢迎无家可归的你，
欢迎受暴风雨驱赶的你。
而事实上，正是这些人创建了美国的奇迹。其中的一些人，在2001年9月11日那天早晨，正怀着对美好生活的憧憬在双子塔里工作着。
如果你觉得非做不可，那么你就试着去杀美国人吧。希特勒试过，东条英机试过，斯大林试过，毛泽东试过，世界上其他嗜血的暴君也都试过。
但是，一旦杀了美国人，你可能也在杀死你自己。因为，美国人不是一群来自某一特定地区或特定种族的人。他们是人类自由精神的化身。任何坚持自由精神的人，无论他们身处何处，都是美国人。
你看看自己周围。你会意外的发现，在你的土地上有那么多的美国人。终有一天他们会行动起来，推翻那些给那么多土地带来麻烦的又老、又无知、又疲倦的独裁者。这样那些地方也会加入自由和繁荣的国家的行列。
美国将欢迎他们。
英文原文：What Is An American?
A primer.
By Peter Ferrara, an associate professor of law at the George Mason University School of Law.
September 25, 2001 9:20 a.m.
http://www.nationalreview.com/comment/comment-ferrara092501.shtmlYou probably missed it in the rush of news last week, but there was actually a report that someone in Pakistan had published in a newspaper there an offer of a reward to anyone who killed an American, any American.
So I just thought I would write to let them know what an American is, so they would know when they found one.
An American is English…or French, or Italian, Irish, German, Spanish, Polish, Russian or Greek. An American may also be African, Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Australian, Iranian, Asian, or Arab, or Pakistani, or Afghan.
An American is Christian, or he could be Jewish, or 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 each of them choose.
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 is from 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 man and woman to the pursuit of happiness.
An American is generous. Americans have helped out just about every other 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.
An American does not have to obey the mad ravings of ignorant, ungodly cruel, old men. American men will not be fooled into giving up their lives to kill innocent people, so that these foolish old men may hold on to power. American women are free to show their beautiful faces to the world, as each of them choose.
An American is free to criticize his government's officials when they are wrong, in his or her own opinion. Then he is free to replace them, by majority vote.
Americans welcome people from all lands, all cultures, all religions, because they are not afraid. They are not afraid that their history, their religion, their beliefs, will be overrun, or forgotten. That is because they know they are free to hold to their religion, their beliefs, their history, as each of them choose.
And just as Americans welcome all, they enjoy the best that everyone has to bring, from all over the world. The best science, the best technology, the best products, the best books, the best music, the best food, the best athletes.
Americans welcome the best, but they also welcome the least. The nation symbol of America 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. Many of them were working in the twin towers on the morning of September 11, earning a better life for their families.
So you can try to kill an American if you must. Hitler did. So did General Tojo and Stalin and Mao Tse-Tung, and every bloodthirsty tyrant in the history of 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.
So look around you. You may find more Americans in your land than you thought were there. One day they will rise up and overthrow the old, ignorant, tired tyrants that trouble too many lands. Then those lands too will join the community of free and prosperous nations.
And America will welcome them.
