I AM A NEW YORKER

I do not live in the five boroughs or on the Island
or Upstate.
I may live hundreds or thousands of miles away,
Or I may live just over the GW Bridge.
But I am a New Yorker.

I am a New Yorker

Whatever took me out of New York:
Business, family or hating the cold,
did not take New York out of me.
My accent may have faded and my pace may have slowed,
But I am a New Yorker.

I am a New Yorker

I was raised on Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade,
Nathan's hotdogs, and
Rockefeller Plaza, the Yankees or the Mets, Giants
or
Dodgers, Broadway shows, Jones Beach or Rye Beach,
Orchard Beach & of course, Coney Island.
I know that "THE END" means Montauk.
Because I am a New Yorker.

I am a New Yorker

When I go on vacation, I never look up.
Skyscrapers are something I take for granted.
The Empire State Building and the Statue of Liberty
are part of me.
Taxis and noise and subways and "get outa heah"
don't
rattle me.
Because I am a New Yorker.

I am a New Yorker

I was raised on cultural diversity before it was
politically correct.
I eat Greek food and Italian food, Jewish and Middle
Eastern food and Chinese food
Because they are all American food to me.
I don't get mad when people speak other languages in
my presence
Because my relatives got to this country via Ellis
Island and chose to stay and raise their family to
be
proud Americans.
They were New Yorkers.

I am a New Yorker

People who have never been to New York have
misunderstood me.
My friends and family work in the industries,
professions and businesses that benefit all Americans!
My firefighters & police officers died trying to save
New Yorkers and non-New Yorkers.
They died trying to save Americans and
non-Americans.
Because they were New Yorkers.

I am a New Yorker

I feel the pain of my fellow New Yorkers.
I mourn the loss of my beautiful city.
I feel and dread that New York will never be the
same.

But then I remember:

I am a New Yorker

And New Yorkers have:

Tenacity, strength and courage way above the norm
Compassion and caring for our fellow citizens
Love and pride in our city, in our state, in our country
Intelligence, experience and education par excellence
Ability, dedication and energy above and beyond
Faith--no matter what religion we practice

Terrorists hit America in its heart
But America's heart still beats strong.
Demolished the steel in our buildings, but it doesn't
touch the steel in our souls.
Hit us in the pocketbook; but we'll parlay what we
have left into a fortune
End innocent lives leaving widows and orphans, but
we'll take care of them
Because they are New Yorkers.

Wherever we live, whatever we do, whoever we are,
There are New Yorkers in every state and every city
of this nation.
We will not abandon our city.
We will not abandon our brothers and sisters.
We will not abandon the beauty, creativity and
diversity that New York represents.
Because we are New Yorkers.

And we are proud to be New Yorkers.

"REMEMBER THE WTC"

- author unknown

(click for a Special message to the world)