| "Real" Americans 16 May 2002 Jeff Adams Sometimes I get so disgusted with all the people who run around making accusations without sound facts. One thing that really irritates me is when someone makes the statement "You aren't a real American," or "They aren't real Americans." Lately I've seen an e-mail flying around the internet in which someone has written about what "real" Americans look like. The e-mail promotes the idea that Americans are made up of a number of races and ethnicities. While there is some truth to what is in the writing, it is basically a feel-good, "we are united in our diversity" kind of goop. However, one group that is constantly bashed as being un-American, or not being "real" Americans is those who are from the South and proud of it. It seems the idea behind these attacks is you can't love the South, and honor being American as well. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Who is a "real" American? Well, a "real" American wrote the Declaration of Independence. That was Thomas Jefferson, a Southerner. A "real" American wrote the U.S. Constitution, James Madison. He was a Southerner too. It was "real" Americans, primarily Southerners, who insisted on having the Bill of Rights added to the U.S. Constitution. Most of the battles won in the American Revolution were fought by "real" Americans: Southerners, fighting on Southern soil. A "real" American was the commanding general of the continental army: George Washington, a Southerner. "Real" Americans serve their country during war, which Southerners have consistently done in greater proportion than any other section of the United States. "Real" Americans don't compromise the values, morals or ideals that established the American republic of republics, and instead embrace socialism. No one who is a "real" American would ever turn their back on their culture or heritage, and instead advocate compromising that which makes us "American" in exchange for advocating immigrants not assimilate into our society, and instead hold on to their language, culture and values that might be at odds with "American" society, thus ensuring newcomers remain outsiders and therefore limiting or even denying them the chance to fully partake in the "American Dream." Of the first seven presidents, five were "Real" Americans who fully respected the ideals of the founders concerning limited government, states rights and representative republican government. Their influence helped to shape the groundwork for how the union of American states were supposed to function in relation to one another in a process that would be most harmonious to all involved. They were also all Southerners. As Patric Henry (a Southerner) clearly stated, the form of government established in the American states was established by Christians, primarily for Christians, but was also meant to respect the religious inclinations of others. The South is also known as "The Bible Belt," which simply means that it is a home to a very large number of "real" Americans. There is no doubt that Southerners are "real" Americans. The ones whose "American-ness" is in question are those who doubt proud Southerners are "real" Americans. No "real" American would attack a fellow American simply because of where they are from, No "real" American would make fun of or ridicule a fellow American for their accent. A "real" American wouldn't attempt to deny Southerners (their "fellow Americans") their heritage or any heroes or symbols of their homeland. Only someone who is un-American, or isn't a "real" American would attack a "real" American for being a Christian and flolowing the religious beliefs of the founders. When the South and Southerners are attacked for their ancestor's stand during the War for Southern Independence, it is the "real" Americans who are under attack for siding with the founders view on liberty, self-determination, limited government and state's rights. Only by attacking "real" Americans can disloyal Americans try to hide their shame for betraying the ideals set forth in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. Disloyal Americans blindly, unqustioningly support the American Empire. "Real" Americans honor and defend the ideals of the American republic of republics that was destroyed in 1865. In 1954, President Eisenhower said, "Here in America we are descended in blood and in spirit from revolutionists and rebels-men and women who dare to dissent from accepted doctrine. As their heirs, we may never confuse honest dissent with disloyal subversion." These are the "real" Americans. If you want to see some "real" Americans, come to Dixie. What is left of the "real" America is to be found in the Southland! |