Synthesis Essay On Being An American

The soil of the middle-east stained with the blood of our American soldiers just so we can not take advantage of our right to vote. Though sometimes questionable, America's overall image portrayed to other countries is an honorable one. America is known for its democracy and as well as being a land of opportunities and many freedoms. America's assortment of ethnicities and cultures is proof that our country is a desirable one. Wars are being fought at this very moment to defend these freedoms.

What does it mean to be an American? In my eyes to be an American means to have privileges, rights, and freedom. America isn't perfect, but it is one of the only countries that have rights given to people of different diversities and gender. America does not have tremendous poverty. Instead we have choices given to us by the people who fought and died for the American people. Without George Washington and the other patriots who planted the first seed in the ground and help plant the American nation we live in now who knows what America would be like now.

What it means to be American? Everybody you ask this question to will have a completely different response. Some responses might have similarities but none will be exactly the same. In the beginning of the year my response was “To be an American means having a rich history, having opportunities to better ourselves, and having freedoms.” Unfortunately not everyone has had the same opportunities or freedoms. Native Americans, who are indigenous, dealt with having their freedoms taken away, less opportunities even though they had rich history in this land before it was taken away from them. Look at what Zitkala-Sa endured. Not only that, but African Americans have fought long and hard for freedom and equality as well. W.E.B. Du Bois stood for

Many mornings i would wake up to the mouth watering smell of Sancocho, a traditional latin hot stew with chicken, carrots, plantains, corn and potatoes.Loud Bachata would be playing in the kitchen as my mother cooked. The warm,rolled and cascading sounds of the guitar filled the house . “Llora guitarra llora!!” my silly father would say scream off the top of his lungs, enjoying the music as he read the morning paper and family would all laugh at the comment.

Many people dream about being an American. They dream because they envision America as the land of peace and prosperity. But is it? At times it has been, and at times its not. It is hard for the United States to be correct all the time because they have been unwilling designated as the “World Police”. Throughout history there have been examples politically, economically, and socially, where being an American is rewarding and times where it is embarrassing. To be an American means progress. We evolved from a world ruled by white men to a world of equal opportunity.

What is an American? This question cannot be answered by one word. There are so many different characteristics, qualities, and features that can be used to describe an American. Besides features, someone is only a real American if they take advantage of all of the many privileges that are given to them. Any person that is not grateful for the privileges that are given to them to me are not real Americans but this is only my opinion. Real Americans use their privileges to benefit themselves and everyone around them. In today's society there are certain things that are expected from American citizens, for instance being a responsible citizen.

“America is another name for opportunity. Our whole history appears like a last effort of divine providence on behalf of the human race.” This statement made by Ralph Waldo Emmerson signifies many peoples’ views of what it has meant to be an “American” for the past few hundred years. Still, the world continues to evolve around us, and times continue to change. With these changing times, how one defines what it means to be an American has also evolved. It is no secret that today especially, in our country, times are in turmoil and our country is divided. With this division come differences in how we view each other and ourselves as Americans and what things should look like in our country. Aside from our own views, comes the views of the outside world and their ever-changing views of America, and the citizens living in the country. These things combined work together to help answer the question, “what does it mean to be an American?”

American is a word that has a highly debated definition. It is a topic that has been talked about since the beginning of America and it has been argued by both presidents and citizens alike. Americans are people who, no matter their background, goes through life in an almost fearless fashion, conquering challenges as they come to them. An American shows who they are by having certain mental aspects like having an innovative mind, living by the ideals of the country, and being passionate about what they do.

Being an American means to have opportunities that are available to us that others don’t get in other parts of the world. The United States of America is a country that is based on being a free country for citizens to have more freedom than anywhere else. It is one of the only countries that give rights to people of different diversities and genders. To be an American means to have opportunities, rights, and freedom.

American identity has been created by many events throughout the course of history. This country was founded on the clashing and mixing of many different cultures and lifestyles. One of the most important periods of time for this country was during the period of conflict between Americans and Native Americans over land rights. Americans had an idea of manifest destiny and that this land was theirs for the taking. The Americans were going to walk through anyone who opposed them in this quest for land. The treatment of the Indians during this time period was harsh, cruel, and violent to say the least. It is in this treatment that Americans came to view the Indians as a ?racialized other? and

To be an American is to be loyal to your country. No matter the color nor race, if you were born in a different country and become documented then you are in American. People want to discriminating different people but yet they are as Americans as everyone else. Americans are people live in the United States of America. Americans have the American dream to become better in their life. To be American is a free and respectful to everyone in our country. To respect all the different cultures because in many different kinds in America. Americans also pledge to our country's

As my family and I were driving in the car, I saw a sign that said something about being an American. I thought to myself, isn’t everyone an American that lives in America?

What is an American to you? To me, an American is someone who believes in freedom and follows the way of life that the Constitution laid out for us. An American is someone who thinks freely and doesn’t let anyone tell them who they have to be. Americans believe everyone has the opportunity to do the things they love. Americans are different from than everyone else. We have different outlooks on life. We value everyone no matter their ethnicity, race, religion, or political views.

During colonial times, America was home to multiple cultures despite the considerable differences between one another. Native Americans and European colonists coexisted incongruously because neither wanted to adapt to the other’s customs. As a result, the two groups had different views of what American culture was to reflect. The natives believed that land belonged to everyone for the use of agricultural, while the English colonists viewed America as a land of personal opportunity and economic profit through native exploitation.

To be an American is much more than having the papers that grant a person citizenship. Instead, it is an ideal and a way of life. A life consisting of freedom, diversity, and opportunity. In America, beliefs are not restricted, they are encouraged. From the day America was born, it has been founded upon the fundamental principles of Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. People come to America to freely express their diverse traditions and become true Americans. Americanism is less about who a person is, and more about their contribution, ideas, and what their principles are.