I AM A NEW YORKER (by Vincent Pasquale)

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 Jets, Broadway shows, Jones Beach or Rye Beach, Orchard Beach, and 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; Ended 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.

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States I've been to. Hmmm, now I can see I need to visit the Northwest and Southeast. Also haven't been to Hawaii or Alaska.

create your own visited states map