Freedom Is For The Braves

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.

The American Flag means a lot to many different people. It could mean the liberty of living freely without the government interfering, the chance of opportunities not given in other countries, even the ability to practice their traditions and religions freely. But, what the American Flag means to me is the opportunity at having a bright future, hard work, and freedom. In America every person has the resources available to them, using them wisely gives everyone a chance at a bright future. America is a nation that was built on hard work and continues to thrive off of it to continue and progress and improve. Through the hard work and dreams of a bright future people continue to use their freedoms to achieve success. The American Flag clearly

Throughout the world, the United States is infamous for its guaranteed freedom to its citizens. People travel from all around many different parts of the world to get a taste of the lifestyle and opportunity the United States citizen’s are offered everyday. This nation thrives on preserving our personal freedoms, property, and liberty; moreover, it is the nation’s promise to its citizens. These rights are binded in our coveted Bill of Rights and the Constitution, a document for the people by the people. Many people can find their own personal definition of what they believe to be the American Promise; however, growing up I have always believed and had been taught that the American Promise was the opportunity to live

America still believes in freedom and in being the land of opportunities even though time has changed some of America’s original ideals. Nowadays, becoming an American is not as simple as entering America and obtaining land. For example, there is the process of applying for citizenship, something that has now become a big part of defining an American. Hundreds of thousands of people per year apply for citizenship, yet not many people are granted the opportunity to become one. Anonymous shared their story online and said, “I never once thought immigration would affect me, until I realized that laws change and if you are just a resident here...you have no protection” (Defining American). Immigrants feel citizens have more rights than people who are just residents. An immigrant wanting to become a citizen must go through a variety of questions about the United States and what its founders had set as its ideals. Though, with patience, an immigrant can become an American within a

I believe that what it means to be an American is to struggle,not be accepted for you are,and to feel and be treated as someone less then other people. To be an American is to struggle with being undocumented and not being able to have a an actual document stating you went to school and have and education. “The federal dream act, which would have provided a path for undocumented children and would penalize states that failed to provide in-state tuition for undocumented students, failed to make it through congress in 2011. (I’m American too’:Undocumented students wait for Obama)” This is a key factor as to why being an American isn’t always

America is a country full of ideas that create opportunities and memorable moments people enjoy with the company of others. Within the United States of America, diversity is a huge aspect that allows numerous races, ethnicities, and genders, etc. to roam our flourishing nation. Our nation is exceptional by having a beautiful range of natural wonders, collection of first-rate cities, and a wide variety of art and pop culture.The values and beliefs that unite Americans and define our nation’s purpose are the ideas of our nation steps forward to perform actions for the betterment of society, the lack of and enforcement of equality, and the citizenships that people fought to achieve.

What does it mean to be an American? It matters that I am free. Conversely, when I grow up I can pick the job I want, what shift to work, and to have a good education. It signify that I can say “The Pledge of Allegiance” and that I can vote for the President, my county clerk, and the Mayor. Accordingly, means most of all to be free and to be proud that I live in the United States of America. I also think it means to go beyond your place of birth or the documents you have, back to when throngs of Irish, Italian and Eastern Europeans crossed the Atlantic Ocean in search of a better life, no papers asked. Nevertheless, who you are than you are about, how you live your life, how you contribute to this country, notwithstanding, you pledge

But, being an American is not only based on the rights, freedom and privileges the American people get, being American is based on the hard work and sacrifices the people of american do in order to get what they want and what they want to be. Being an American is easy to understand for some people, they think the rights and the freedom is what makes an American. It is really obvious that the reason for being American is the freedom it’s country gave to its people. Americans was given more rights than any other group of people in the world. For example, the rights that given to everyone in the United States, the freedom of speech,press, assembly and etc.

Being a die-hard proud American means many different things to contrasting types of people. To some individuals it may mean demeaning other countries and surmise that America is the best of the best. In turn some individuals are firm believers that wearing red, white, and blue on national holidays or anytime in general exhibits a committed proud American. Or having the biggest firework display during holidays like the fourth of July, New Years Eve, Memorial Day, or Labor Day. To some being a proud American is defined by having the American flag flying proudly outside their house at all times. To me being a proud America means an array of things. First it means being proud of our country even when it is going through a rough time. Knowing the

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness”. This infamous quote from the declaration of Independence not only personifies the hope and desperation for opportunity so many immigrants long for before coming to America, it also exemplifies the true “American Identity” that is embraced by native born Americans. This promise for a better life that America is dangled in our faces of other countries that bonds the people together stronger than anything that would divide them. The American identity has taken several decades to develop from the influences of old European ties, the meshing of

As an international student, a foreigner to this country, I have thought been asked so many times about the question of what the real spirit of America. There can be hundreds of thousands of answers out there and everyone can have a different one, but liberty is definitely one of the most widely accepted ones. American people’s ancestors came to this continent for many reasons, People came for many different reasons, usually put into two categories: religious freedom or search for wealth. But they did bring a common heritage of common law and many of them brought the idea of covenant or social contract and they have always remained the heart and core of the Americanism. After the British were defeated in the War of Independence, the

The America I Believe in has a past. That the past is full of heroes, and enemies and to live changing events. From the founding fathers to hobos; from cowboys to astronauts. Our history is full of great deeds. They come from communities large and small. They cared for God, country, and their family.

As Americans, we believe in this notion of American Greatness and the moral values that include equality, individualism, and freedom for all.These values are stated in the pledge of allegiance, however, our action speaks louder than our words. As Americans we expect to follow those moral values that are integrated in our society, but instead we of following these values we abuse it by oppressing and promoting violence. Americans strongly believe in the moral value that is the foundation of American Greatness but we as a society contradict those values with the action we take causing complexity in this notion.

How can one truly appreciate the liberties and opportunities of America? Commonly, everyone has different goals and aspirations. Most people strive for the betterment of their status rather than the settlement of a deprived opportunity. For instance, a mother is forced to make a decision; wherein, she either leaves her country without her son or leaves to America with her daughter. This was a choice between comfort and uncertainty hindrance and opportunity. Not everyone is willing to decide; fortunately, not everyone is forced to decide. In this way, all Americans are blessed--blessed to have been part of a nation called America. Without the country's provision of opportunities, immigrants would not have chosen to leave their homes in exchange to start their lives in uncertainty. In order to appreciate this country, Americans should acknowledge an immigrant's view of what he thinks of America, what it is like for him to be in America, and what changes brought about by his being in America.

“I know my country has not perfected itself. At times, we’ve struggled to keep the promise of liberty and equality for all of our people. We’ve made our share of mistakes, and there are times when our actions around the world have not lived up to our best intentions.” On July 24, 2008 during his Berlin Speech, President Barack Obama spoke every single word of that passage to give people a true insight about America and her ideals. America provides its citizens with equality yet it doesn’t apply to everyone; there are many opportunities in America yet some opportunities seem like a deceptive illusion; America created inalienable rights for its citizens yet some are still not guaranteed