I just heard a quick reference to Samaria and wondered if that was where "good samaritan" came from??? If yes...then why do we use Samaritan for all good acts by citizens when we could say "good Americam" or "good Canadian", etc???

The parable is found in the Gospel of Luke, chapter 10 verses 25-37.

On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" "What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?" He answered: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" "You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live." But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"

In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn in Jericho and took care of him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.'

"Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?"

The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."

Now remember that Samaritans were known to hate Jews because they were from Palestine at the time of this happening.

The term is an analogy from Jesus and is still around nowadays.

A Samaritan is, or was, a native of Samaria.
Why 'good Samaritan'? Because of the parable of the good Samaritan in the Gospel according to Saint Luke, chapter 10 verses 25 to 37.

This is yet another Biblical story not understood by the modern reader due to the lack of historical context. Today it would be analogous to a member of Hamas stopping and aiding an Orthodox Jew.

Thanks guys!!