Essay On The Value Of America

America is a wonderful place to live, because we are free. Freedom is important, and many people in other countries do not have much freedom. I am glad I have a place like this to grow up in; where I know that I can be equal with other races and other genders. Also, I am glad I have a place like this that will respect me and I know it will be a great place to have my children grow up in.

The “American dream,” a promise of the ability to turn your life from rags to riches if you try hard in the United States of America, has been the definition of what it means to be an American. But over time it the American dream has changed and its pledge perhaps more viable than ever. This is due to the simple fact that America as a nation has evolved over time and the core values which its people encompass are a reflection of the times. So as an American how do we define ourselves and our nation outside of the American dream? America has been known over time as a “big brother”- protector of mankind. Yet many of our citizens did not have equal rights until the 1960’s and it took the fourteenth amendment to guarantee equal protection

Fireworks cracking and lighting up the sky, hot dogs cooking on the grill, and a cold drink in a red, white, and blue paper cup. It is the forth of July, Independence day, the day Americans put all of their worries to the side to celebrate the freedom of the country that they live in, America. Those who live in the USA may experience more freedom and comfort then those who live in other parts of the world. America is highly praised for their education, diverse crowds, and socially accepting everyone despite their race, religion, or special needs.

A question most fascinating to me is where in history does the first hint of American ideals and identities originate from? If we were to look at where the fiery passions of an American identity first arise we have to look to where the colonists first fought for their right to be a recognized citizen of America. American colonists formed their identity through the ideas of liberty, resistance to unfair British jurisdiction, and cultural diversity. Their identities formed between the Seven Years War and the American Revolutionary War as these two events deeply brought out what the colonist’s ideals were and what they fought for so passionately. Between these years 1763 and 1775 we see the first American ideals being born in the colonies. An example of such ideals is the want and need for Liberty. A reason for wanting liberty was that British control suppressed the lives of the people living in America and over time grew harder for colonists to live with. Americans are revered to have a passionate patriotic view of their country and this is true as it is seen throughout history but in my research I will try to explain where these ideals first arose.

Back in the 19th century, there was a common belief that God had destined The United States to expand entirely across the North American continent, and eventually across the entire Western Hemisphere. They believed that what they were doing was justifiable, because they believed that God was telling them to do this. It had a huge impact on who America is today as a country and if the expansion had not occurred, it is easy to believe that America would not be the thriving and successful country that it is now. There were many positive sides to Manifest Destiny such as; America was successful in expanding its land from the east to the west coast, which is a positive, because it allowed many people to come to America who otherwise would not have had the chance because there would have been no room for any more people. Another positive side is that it gave America a lot more culture than it had before. But if there is a positive side, that means there has to be a negative side. One of the negative sides to Manifest Destiny and territorial expansion was that they did whatever they could possibly do to get that land and they did not care who it hurt, killed, or negatively affected in the process. This is the reason why so many people debate whether or not manifest destiny was a good or a bad thing, because there are valid reasons for both sides.

Since the birth of America, our nation has been debated as one of the best countries in the world. From our freedoms to our military strength to our boundless opportunities, America has almost always been a great place to be. Our history shows a few rough patches, but we have gotten through them and become a stronger nation because of it. However, how is a person defined as being an American? How do you know when you are an American? When it comes to being American, there are many ways that a person can define it. How a person knows they are American is totally up to them. Thoughts and feelings as well as legal processes can contribute to the identity of an American, although a few things really define a person as an American. I think that to be an American, one should understand the American tradition, have a sense of patriotism because of our history, and understand that other people and nations do not have the opportunities or abilities that we as Americans have.

What does being an American even mean? Well, it could mean a lot of things. Does my skin have to be white to be considered an American? Do I have to behave a certain way? Do I need to be in a certain religion? No, being an American does not mean someone has to look a certain way, be in a particular religion, or act like they’re proper. It is all one big extraordinary melting pot. There are so many great examples of Americans that there is too many to pick from. To be able to help out someone in need, having the ability to speak out, having freedom to choose, and to remember and never forget what it took them to get there is what it means to be an American.

What does America mean to you? I recently returned from my 8th grade field trip to Washington DC. Here I would see and experience memories of a lifetime with my classmates. I would learn what America really meant to me as an American. The three most important words that would come to me throughout the entire trip would be Liberty, Diversity and the American Dream. I would be reminded of the important freedoms our government fought over to be free, and the diversity it allowed people living in our country to have. What is Liberty, it is the freedom you have to do without question or permission. What is Diversity, is to be from any country, culture, skin color, religion or political belief. To accept and respect anyone who is different than you.

After mid-1990s (Swerdlow, 5), people from all around the world, including legal and illegal, searched for American dream and landed in the same location – United States. According to Changing America, “more than 60 percent of immigrants have come from Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, the Middle East, and Latin America” (Swerdlow, 5), showing America’s high schools - such as J. E. B. Stuart (Swerdlow, 5) - are made up by difference races and ethnics. By looking at the picture on page eight, it demonstrates America’s distinctiveness of population.

The America I Believe in, is one that stands proud in the fire. One that stands strong and brave in the rain. I believe in an America that comes together in the darkest of times, one that stays unbroken and strong in the hardest of days. A place where you are safe, and can chase your dreams, speak your mind, and live life to the fullest. A place that our troops protect so dearly.

Walking down the street, there is an eerie silence. No one walks out of line or at a different pace than permitted. Even if a person would want to change the strictly enforced laws, he or she could not. The citizens have no control over their own lives. How drastically different is that than the life of the average American? All people in the United States, citizen or not, have a multitude of freedoms, such as free speech, assembly, and religion. That is a blessing even if not everyone realizes it. To be an American is to be able to have freedoms even if that person did nothing to deserve them.

America is our home, a place where we have freedoms. Our gift of freedom must be protected by valiant people who wish to sustain the lasting affects of it. This gift does not come easily, it has a price. In order to continue our way of life we must fight for independence from Britain. We came to this country for a new life and opportunities. Leading up to now, we face a problem. The red coats are unlawfully forcing us from our rights. It's a false hope that Britain will back off. If we do not stand up and courageously fight for our independence we will go back to our old life, the one we escaped by coming to America. It is important that we stand up to the British empire. This is our home and it must be protected.

America today is no longer a place in which we embrace the uniqueness of every individual, instead, today’s society heavily influences its citizens through the thoughts of other people, media, and by instilling fear of being different; they do so by giving the people the ability to “choose” who they want to be, in other words false choice. Throughout history there have been times in which all individuals in a certain area such as America, have made a drastic change to the way that they live in; the first one being The Great Awakening, followed by the Red Scare, which later is proceeded by World War 2(WW2). With the ability to spread one’s ideas to a large crowd over papers, online, and radio made it easier for their beliefs to spread and influence them. The only thing that prevents us from sticking to our beliefs, from what we desire to do, is the fear to be different.

Since America was founded we have had a problem with immigration. There has been a plethora of ideas and groups to try keeping out illegal aliens. The problem is we do not need to keep all of them out we need to keep the ones who will contribute to make America great. The way to do this is through Building America. Building America is a fencing organization designed for immigrants who wish to become legal citizens.

In the movie Starship Troopers, there are two classes of people, Civilians and Citizens. What are the differences? Citizens are the men and women, rich or poor that serve in the Federal Service; service guarantees citizenship. This is a short period in which a person serves in the military. A universal service that requires young (Americans) citizen, men and females: healthy and the disable, to obligatory serve an allotment of time. Basically, you have to earn the right to be called a citizen; this sounds like a good idea. Civilians do not have same rights as a Citizen; they choose not to serve in the Federal Service. If a person does not serve, he or she are not allowed the same benefits like, to vote or have children; if you don’t serve