Everyday American Essay

America is commonly characterized as the greatest country in the world, the glorious “land of the free and the home of the brave”, “indivisible, with liberty and justice for all”. This idealization of the American identity conveniently focuses on what people want to hear and blurs out most everything else. In reality, Americans do not live up to the dreamscape created by our views, and we never really have. America is no longer characterized by its freedom and democracy, nearly every first world country can afford that luxury. Nor are we set apart by the great opportunities given to our people, for those are far from universal. We aren’t equal, we aren’t unified, we aren’t kinder or smarter or richer than any other country across the board. It’s easy to find the shortcomings of American culture, all the things we aren’t, but the things we are have proven to be more elusive. First, let’s examine the nots.

An American can be defined by a variety of things. A natural born citizen is just as American as an immigrant searching for a new life, just like in “America and I” by Aniza Yezierska. An American can be a rich businessman or it could be a dedicated soldier like in “Veteran’s Day: Never Forget Their Duty” by John McCain. An individual’s definition of being an American is shaped by their life experiences. A person’s view on being an American is different because of experiences, such as being a veteran, being an immigrant, or living in poverty, all of which affect one’s perspective.

The American people strive to make themselves the best version of a model citizen they can be. Each person in America has an abundance of patriotism that keeps them from slacking from the progress they have made in becoming honest, diligent, innovative people. All Americans work toward those characteristics because they are what makes a person an ideal American citizen. Honesty is one of the key qualities to being a good citizen. When a person is honest they are easy to trust and can be counted on in times of need. An honest person is desired in every community because they are simply good people. An American should also be diligent. In today’s society without trying hard to accomplish what a person desires to do, it is nearly impossible.

America — a land known for its ideals of freedom and new opportunities, a nation built under the idea that every man and women is created equal. However, the definition of what makes a person an American is entirely different from what it is that makes up America, itself. J.Hector St. John Crevecoeur, author of Letters from an American Farmer (1782), exposes what he believes makes an American. However, when compared to the standards of what makes an American in today’s world, it seems that becoming an American then was much simpler then, than it is today. The definition of an American is always evolving due to the influences of our changing nation. During a simpler time, Crevecoeur defined an American as someone of European

Defining what really is to be an American does not sound as easy as it seem. It will always be complex process. As immigration continues to fuel the growth of the population of our nation, racial and ethnic gap increase and evolve along with it. Racial and ethnic identities become more and more convoluted and difficult to understand. Race and ethnicity continue to intermingle and push a cultural shift in the US– a shift that plays a significant role in redefining America in a day-to-day basis.

America is an improbable idea, a mongrel nation built of ever-changing disparate parts, itis held together by a notion, the notion that all men are created equal, though everyone knows that most men consider themselves better than someone. "Of all the nations in the world, the United States was built in nobody's image," the historian Daniel Boorst in wrote. That's because it was built of bits and pieces that seem discordant, like the crazy quilts that have been one of its great folk-art forms, velvet and calico and checks and brocades. Out of many, one. That is the ideal.The reality is often quite different, a great national striving consisting frequently of failure. Many of the oft-told stories of the most pluralistic nation on earth are stories

The United States is looked at by the rest of the world as a country of chances, a place where it doesn’t matter who you are or where you came from. In reality, however, it’s quite different. Many say that America the Great will always be divided. Despite being an improbable idea, it is possible for the U.S to succeed by seeing the problems with division and clash, and allowing the benefits of unity to outweigh its own prejudices.

From this paper, the reader will learn a lot about America, and the things that are often glossed over when trying to present the country a patriotic and free. It is important to take steps like these towards gaining a broader picture of our nation and perhaps also the human mind. Doing these things almost always have positive effects on people and their worldviews.

From the moment I was born, as any high-middle class white American, I was told America is the melting pot of the world. Being American means you can do anything. One can start from nothing and turn it into a whole different life. In America there are numerous possibilities and it is capable for anyone to better themselves, because America is about inclusion and opportunity. English class this year has totally reversed my perspective on the “issue” of what it means to be American. Through literature such as The Great Gatsby, The Catcher in the Rye, The Declaration of Independence and Tortilla Curtain I have come to contrasting conclusions on what it means to be American than the typical person. It is a more cynical outlook then I thought I would ever have thought I would have about my country, but nonetheless true. Although Americans put on a veneer of inclusion and total capability, reality portrays the America

Being an American means more than just a section filled out on a person’s birth certificate. Being an American is an honor and is something to be proud of. Here, everyone has a choice in what religion to believe in, what to eat, and what to do. People even have the right to choose who should be this great nation 's leader. Here, people are given opportunities in every corner, and this freedom was achieved because thousands of men and women were willing to give their lives, in one way or another, in order for us to live the way we do today. An American takes the democratic government presented as an opportunity to help the United States strive for an even greater future; an American also gives back to the nation, serves in any way they possibly can, and an American acknowledges the history behind the success of this nation.

The United States of America has seen great change throughout its history. While a considerable amount of time has matured the nation, the core spirit of the American people remains unaffected. In spite of all the wars fought and problems that arose, the

Typical American by Gish Jen explores the reconciliation of loyalty to tradition and the acclimation to a foreign culture of the Chang family. During the late 1940s, among political and military strife in China, Theresa Chang is encouraged to join her brother Ralph in America. Theresa immigrates to America with her friend Helen and moves in with her brother, Ralph, into his city apartment. They form a family, united in their common experiences and background. Although hopeful for their future, the family is nostalgic for the home they have left behind.

At the heart of nearly every world conflict, the United States of America is either at the epicenter, or in some way, majorly involved; this has caused disdain among many nations of the world—and their disdain for the United States and her means has been demonstrated in various attacks, kidnappings, and other acts of terror. And while there are plenty of Americans going off into the world making effective, meaningful change that doesn’t spur the resentment of other nations, it is easily seen that there are many Americans—a majority—that continue to give other nations the impression that Americans are pompous, ugly people.

An ideal American is not just someone who was merely born in America, but rather it is someone who exhibits certain exemplary character traits in his everyday life. First, an ideal American needs to be honest because a country cannot be truly united if its people are not honest with each other. Next, he has to have integrity due to the line between savagery and altruism in a society hanging on its people's understanding of right and wrong.Also, he has to be knowledgeable about politics, so that he can vote effectively. A person’s vote can only better America if he is truly aware of what or who he is voting for and why. In addition, he needs to be courageous because the great freedoms that America enjoys are not products of Americans cowering

Worldwide, there is a typical idea or standard set for what an American is; working a nine to five schedule all while consuming copious amounts of fast foods. Far from correct, the American standard is always shifting, evolving, adapting to the “social norms”. Travelling back to 1776 when America was first declared as a nation different than any other, our founding fathers dreamt of a country free from overpowering monarchies and unfair representation. Presently, the idea of being a strong willed patriot still stands, only divided between separate political parties sharing similar ideas and beliefs. George Washington, the first chosen President of the United States, even warned of the threat of political parties severing the very delicate system