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An American's Creed - By Dean Alfange (a MUST read, send to friends and family and a liberal or two)

Dictionary of Quotations ^ | Reprinted in The Readers Digest, October 1952 | Dean Alfange

Posted on by Former Military Chick

I do not choose to be a common man

It is my right to be uncommon...

If I can. I seek opportunity... Not security. I do not wish to be a kept citizen,

Humbled and dulled by having the state to dream and build, to

Fail and succeed. I refuse to barter incentive for a dole.

I prefer the challenges of life to the

Guaranteed existence; the thrill of

Fulfillment to the stale calm of utopia. I will not trade freedom for beneficence

Nor my dignity for a hand out. I will

Never cower before any master nor bend

to any threat. It is my heritage to stand erect,

proud, and unafraid; to think and act for

myself; enjoy the benefits of my

creations; and to face the world boldly

and say, "This I have done with my own hand,

I am a man. I am an American.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

*Originally published in This Week Magazine. Later reprinted in The Readers Digest, October 1952, p. 10, and January 1954, p. 122, lacking these words: I will never cower before any master nor bend to any threat and to stand erect, proud and unafraid.

* The Honorable Dean Alfange was an American statesman born December 2, 1899, in Constantinople (now Istanbul). He was raised in upstate New York.

He served in the U.S. Army during World War 1 and attended Hamilton College, graduating in the class of ?22. He attended Colombia University where he received his law degree and opened a practice in Manhattan. In 1942 Alfange was the American Labor Party candidate for governor of New York and a founder of the Liberal Party of New York.

Dean Alfange was also Professor Emeritus at UMass Amherst and a leading figure in various pro-Zionist organizations (between other actions, in November 1943, he appeared before the House of Representatives and addressed them on the rescue of the Jewish people of Europe). He died in Manhattan at the age of 91 on October 27, 1989.



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american

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deanalfange

Beloved [No Longer Free State] suggested that this is a stand alone piece. I suppose I should have posted it separately but with his prodding I posting it under News/Activism. Events in the news make this a timely essay. I do this, because these words are amazing. They may have been written at a different time, but the words are timeless. It can be applied to so many events but I see in these those affected by Hurricane Katrina. Some might consider these words as "buzz words", kept citizen, hand out, think, act, they are NOT buzz words but instead words of action. For many, and it is not just hurricane, but those with loved one's in Iraq, this should be read daily, an American Creed to live by. I hope many read this. I hope many click their address book and hit send all. This creed has been around a long time but I have to tell you it should be better known. Let's help this author get his American Creed out to all. I found this amongst my late father's paper's. It blew me away and googled until I learned all I could about this author.



To: Former Military Chick

Sorry, I don't know any fiends although I do know a couple of democrats. That's close isn't it?



by 2 posted onby Arkie2 (Mega super duper moose, whine, cheese, series, zot, viking kitties, barf alert!)

To: No Longer Free State; papertyger; Socratic; sneakers; bitt; gunnyg; Pukin Dog; astounded; ...

As I remarked in the first comment, beloved suggested I post this as a stand alone. I am so curious why I had not heard of this prior to yesterday.



It is an amazing, well thought out observation. These words should greet everyone as they open up their email. Perhaps we can give his words new life.



by 3 posted onby Former Military Chick (I salute all our Vets, those who walked before me and all those who walk after me.)

To: Former Military Chick

...send to fiends and family Okay...but they may protest getting double-copied. ;o)



To: Former Military Chick

Marking for posterity(and later reference)



by 5 posted onby infidel29 ("By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail." --Benjamin Franklin)

To: Arkie2

It was a bit of humor and somewhat serious, this I would take time to send to a few liberals. It is black and white and really reminds us of who we are as American's.



by 6 posted onby Former Military Chick (I salute all our Vets, those who walked before me and all those who walk after me.)

To: Former Military Chick

You can ask the admin moderator to change the title from fiends to friends if you want. ;^)



by 7 posted onby Arkie2 (Mega super duper moose, whine, cheese, series, zot, viking kitties, barf alert!)

To: Tax-chick; Bahbah; Tuscaloosa Goldfinch; nmh; tiredoflaundry; don-o; poobear; Jet Jaguar; MEG33; ...

Hey fellow Freeper's beloved suggested this as a stand alone thread. He is right. We need to breath new life into Dean Alfange's words.



by 8 posted onby Former Military Chick (I salute all our Vets, those who walked before me and all those who walk after me.)

To: Former Military Chick

Thanks for the ping. Glad you found out more about Alfange, too.



To: Arkie2

Just did it, I did not notice that, it went through spell check. Great catch, thanks for pointing it out.



by 10 posted onby Former Military Chick (I salute all our Vets, those who walked before me and all those who walk after me.)

To: Former Military Chick

Thanks



by 11 posted onby SmithL (There are a lot of people that hate Bush more than they hate terrorists)

To: Prime Choice

OK, I am getting the humor in that one. Frankly double copy or not, folks should read this. It just reminds me of what type of American I should be. Should this end up in the hands of those who survived Katrina, maybe this will give them inspiration. There are so many good quotes out there, amazing essays etc. I realize I have not read them all, but the "An American's Creed" seems to have slipped me by. Well no more and I hope folks find timely as I have. As always thanks for the comment.



by 12 posted onby Former Military Chick (I salute all our Vets, those who walked before me and all those who walk after me.)

To: Wolverine

PING



by 13 posted onby Former Military Chick (I salute all our Vets, those who walked before me and all those who walk after me.)

To: Former Military Chick

Bump to that and thanks for the ping.



To: Former Military Chick

Thanks for the ping! Copied and pasted and already sent out to my address list!



To: Former Military Chick

I am an American, I don't depend on spell check. ;-}



by 16 posted onby La Enchiladita (What's this old world coming to? Things ...ain't the same, ev'ry time the hunter gets captured by..)

To: Arkie2

I just bought the american creed at an auction friday after reading it. It touched me i payed 100 bucks for it and started researching it is there any thing else out there about this once free and now slavery world we live in



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