“A man 's country is not a certain area of land, of mountains, rivers, and woods, but it is a principle; and patriotism is loyalty to that principle,” George William. According to a 1998 definition an American is anyone who loves life enough to want the best that it has to offer, anyone who understands that to achieve the best in life requires action, exertion, and effort, anyone who understands the need to use one’s mind and wits to meet life’s challenges, anyone who understands that achieving the best in life requires risks (Hudgins, page 1). A more current definition of an American is a person born, raised, or living in North America or South America (merriam-webster, page 1 of 1). My definition varies a little from theirs though, in my …show more content…
If we don’t know people 's backgrounds,what they 've gone through, what they 've had to endure why judge them? It proves the point of we shouldn 't judge and yell “you aren 't an American” just because someone is for example, Scottish or Irish. “Everyone is a mixture of English, Scotch, Irish, Dutch, German, and Swedes, us “Americans” have risen from this promiscuous breed” (Crevecoeur, page 2). Our “breed” just didn 't pop up one day and go hey we 're going to call ourselves Americans. What Crevecoeur is trying to prove is that we are all descendants of a didn 't race, that we all came from a different “breed”. “His country is now that which gives him, land, bread, protection, and consequence”(Crevecoeur, page 3). Crevecoeur makes the point of a Catholic, a German Lutheran, a seceder, and a Low Dutchman all living by each other, Crevecoeur is trying to make the point that “each of these people instruct their children as well as they can but these instructions are freeable compared to those which are given to the youth of the poorest class in Europe” (Crevecoeur,page 4). Us Americans are free while kids are being ripped from their homes in other countries, people are being controlled under rulers, and people are being scrutinized because of their race, gender and hair color. “Many people often see the same subject in different lights” (Henry page 230). Patrick Henry is one with many words
Since this great country was first established many intuitive minds have tried to answer the question; "What is an American". This country is full of individuals of many backgrounds, and diversities and each person has a different opinion on this question. In my opinion, an American is someone who values freedom and equality and pursues the "American dream." Every American exercises these rights and these are great adjectives to describe our country. Each of the seven readings, and the one image I compiled help mold this broader definition into a more precise description of an American.
When asking a random person what it means to be an American, it is surprising the multitude of different answer you get it. For some people it means being a citizen of the United States of America. Others might say it means being free. Many would not argue that it means relating to America. The different responses are innumerable. According to Merriam Webster dictionary, the word American is a noun and adjective. In each definition, references to the geographical Americas is made. Is there a right or wrong answer to this question? Any person's opinion of America, good or bad, is the answer to what American really means.
Simply living in America doesn't define you as an American. Being able to proudly own that you're an american, giving up things to better the country, working overtime, helping those who are homeless, picking up the litter, loving your country for what it is. If you don't contribute, if you can't own it, and if you can't stand up for it, you're not an american. Being American is being free, having the right to believe in what you want, being able to not only have a dream, but make that dream come true.
Crevecoeur establishes his point through strong language to persuade his audience that Europeans are true American citizens. For example he says, “Can a wretch who wanders about, who works and starves, whose life is a continued scene of sore affliction or pinching penury, can that man call England or any other kingdom in his country?” This was effective because Crevecoeur asked questions. This leaves the reader wondering: Well what would Europeans who live in America do? It’s valuable to ask thought provoking questions. Crevecoeur is saying that a man is showing how strong he is without having to call for help. Another quote from the passage says, “When then is the American, this new man?” This thought provoking question connects with his display of how strong these farmers are. He’s continuing to use questions to persuade people that these European farmers are true Americans, who continue to work so hard.
To begin with, Patrick Henry starts with draw attention to the patriotic towards Britain, but he has a different view on how to solve the conflict. He attempts to shows different viewpoints but does not immediately discredit the view of the audience. “But different men often see the same subject in different light” meaning everyone have their own way of thinking or have different opinion and people should respect each other’s, the word light represent truth, hope and spiritual illumination. Henry uses a brilliant strategy at the beginning of the speech. It is important that he convince the people who currently disagree with him and by acknowledging their patriotism
What does it mean to be an American? This question has often been purposed throughout American Literature. This answer depends on one singular important factor, time. Timing is everything, it determines what is happening in the present, what has occurred in the past, and it gives us a glimpse of the possibilities yet to come. Benjamin Franklin and John Winthrop, both knew a very different America, because of this they both have a very different sense American identity and a sense of community that was present in America during those time periods. Winthrop lived in early America when the country was just starting to take shape with the first colonies being
An American is someone who doesn't rely on others for their individual happiness. Someone with the freedom to independently make decisions towards becoming a better person without conforming to society's standards/sentiments. Americans have equal rights no matter where they come from. “Of every hue and caste I am, of every rank and religion... I resist anything better than my own diversity,” (Whitman) Walt Whitman is saying that no matter the color of your skin, your rank/wealth in society, or your religion, you are just as equal as everybody else. We are all so different and diverse yet so equal. Although we are equal, we cannot rely on one another for our own happiness. “To believe your own thought, to believe that what is true for you in
Conversely, many believe that being an American comes only from an emotional standpoint and that no other classification is needed. As declared by Jose Antonio Vargas of the Huffington Post, “What it means to be an American is less about who you are than what you are about— how you live your life, how you contribute to this country, how you pledge allegiance to a flag hoping and praying it will make room for you.” Albeit this emotion may contribute to Americanism, it cannot operate by itself. Without citizenship, one cannot be considered American. Going back to the original definition, to be an American is to be, “a native inhabitant of the U.S.: a U.S. citizen.” Anything past this denotation is simply an opinion and cannot be used when coming up with an unambiguous definition of the
In the beginning of his speech, Patrick Henry establishes himself as superior to previous speakers. Immediately after doing so, he stated, “But different men often see the same subject in different lights; and,
Prior to Patrick Henry’s speech, the Virginia House of Burgess delivered a speech warning colonists to avoid sedition and find compromise with oppressors. Henry must persuade his audience, mostly in favor of maintaining loyalty, to rebel against Britain; however, first Patrick must gain support by appealing to ethos. Henry constructs credibility when he states, “Know the whole truth; to know the worst, and to provide for it.” This quote enhances Henry’s image by suggesting that he is courageous and is willing to not only discover the truth, but also to tolerate and provide for it. Using a metaphor to imply his knowledge, Henry reinforces ethos and instills hope. By saying he is the “lamp of experience”, Henry clarifies his role as the bearer of light, knowledge, and hope for a disillusioned people. Light is a powerful symbol representing purity, goodness, truth, and hope. Henry reinforces his intelligence by asking rhetorical questions and reciprocating them with a
Patrick Henry begins by establishing that he is patriotic to his country as he affirms that no one but him "thinks more highly" of patriotism. Henry eventually builds ethos by his religious passion as he elaborates on the significance of light throughout this address. Henry
Patrick Henry uses a good amount of literary devices to explain his position. For example, Henry claims “different men often see the same subject in different light (Henry 226).” What he is trying to elucidate is the way he is using the word
In PH speech he states, “I am willing to know the whole truth; to know the worst, and to provide for it.”Henry is metaphorically comparing how the British are saying things to the colonists. Another example of metaphor is “Are we disposed to be of the number of those who, having eyes, see not, and, having ears, hear not, the things which so nearly concern their temporal salvation?” Patrick
In his speech, Patrick Henry first states “No man thinks more highly than I do of the patriotism, as well as abilities, of the very worthy gentlemen who have just addressed the House. But different men often see the same subject in