Regarding what it is to be American:
To Whom It May Concern,
Despite what those Chevy and Marlboro commercials may be telling you we are not a nation of cowboys. Not only does no one herd domesticated animals across the now non-existent open plains of this continent, but this country was not founded upon the back or the ideals of the cowboy.
Like everything else in this country, farming has become industrialized. Cows are force fed in closed areas, occationaly allowed to walk around small, overcrowded, fenced in areas on the "farm". Men in ten gallon hats are not ushering these feeding creatures across the fertile crescent within the midwest of our country. No 'awe shucks' corn-fed individual who's high on work ethic but low in education is ensuring that you get the protein you need. This is a characterture that never existed. It has been developed to sell you pick-up trucks.
Secondly, this country is not based upon the character of the cowboy. That outcast criminal who killed Indians so that he could fence off large amounts of land for his own wealth is not a representation of the rest of us. This country is founded on the ideals of well intentioned, well educated idealists, and has been built on the backs of every immigrant group to grace it's shores.
Idealists who decided that they didn't want to be ruled by a distant crown, idealist who decided that owning slaves was unjust, idealists who believed women had equal rights, idealists who wanted to create something for their children better than what they themselves had known are the inspiration within this country. This is America, not people who stick scalding hot irons onto cows hides, and not people who throw loops of rope around calf's necks.
The infrastructure within this country was built with the labor of the immigrants who came here to work for something better. The railroads, bridges, buildings, and streets were all brought to fruitian through the labor and toil of every culture that now is a part of OUR country. This is why it is OUR country and why we should all be proud of our respective cultures. We are Irish-American, African-Americans, Latino-Americans, Italian-Americans, Portuguese-Americans, and the list goes on and on and on. Our ancestors' blood is in every part of this country as is our blood. It belongs to all of us, not just the rich, not just the WASP's who belong to secret brotherhoods.
America is everyone and no one in particular. It is not represented by some Walmart shopping, Stetson wearing, cowboy. Stop insulting us with these ridiculous advertisements and charactertures.
Signed,
-1punkmonk
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