What it truly takes for someone to be considered an American has been a problematic topic in the past few years. Recently, America endured a great divide in the nation’s unity with the 2016 Presidential Election, riots and fights seemed to break out at least once every two weeks. People who lived in the land of the freedom were suddenly afraid to speak up, in fear of brutality. Suddenly, hate began to spread through America, it became a social normality to murder a man just simply because the color of his skin. Slowly but surely, America was being set back in its evolution of equality. Yet somehow throughout this hate, the world found love. Whether it was uplifting someone on social media or being a positive aspect in someone’s life, people
“The Land of the Free, the Home of the Brave”; these are the words that since 1814 have been used to describe the spirit of the country that we call America. For many, this country symbolizes a history of just that; bravery and freedom. But what does it mean to be an American? Does it simply mean that a person is born in to the country, or does it mean that they empower the character traits used to describe the country itself? When describing America and what it is to be or behave as an American, there are many traits that are often used such as brave, hardworking, strong, having the ability to overcome obstacles, a belief in equality and freedom for all, being a groundbreaker, and having a strong, direct
Michael Walzer’s essay on “What Does It Mean to Be an American?” raises many points about the American citizen. Specifically, he discusses “American” as an adjective (Walzer). “American” is often associated with American citizens; while this is true, the term can also be applied to Canadians and Mexicans (Walzer). American is such an ambiguous adjective that it is applicable to all countries and individuals that are part of the North American continent. Like Mr. Walzer states, American is not a truly defined term and America is not a country (Walzer). Walzer goes on to introduce a Horace Kallen’s opinion on American’s as anonymous and their “unique” pluralism (Walzer). There are exceptions to all things; the positive to being an American is the fact that Americans can be whatever they choose to be. I feel to be an American one must believe in the American ideals, they must believe in life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. American 's in general may be anonymous, however, upon further reflection they have left the definition of “American” open for each American to define the adjective for themselves.
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.
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.
I was born here. But, even now, you’ll never see me hold an American flag, or own a USA bumper sticker. “ (Eddie Huang 146). A melting pot is what America is supposed to be a mixing of culture, heritages, and races a pretty picture in front of the green Lady. Instead, many people have this preconceived notion that it should be given to people who were born here. Making America Great Again. “Last September 16th, I was walking in downtown Seattle when this pick-up truck pulls up in front of me. The guy leans out the window and yells, "Go back to your own country," and I was laughing so hard because it wasn't so much a hate crime as a crime of irony.” (Sherman Alexie 117). It is sad that many people have this point of view that to even to educate yourself it is of the utmost importance that you fit a certain criterion and that we are throwing away America by deviating from this rule. Bringing to mind Sherman Alexie a Native American man, whose ancestors were brutally murdered for land other people deemed theirs and then called them non-American.. He pointed out the Irony of this saying, the injustices done to the Native American people, and how many people have formed negative stereotypes but still want to wear the headdresses for thanksgiving plays and Halloween. So instead he wrote books, educated himself, and poked holes in the one-dimensional stereotype of an Indian.” I write books for teenagers because I vividly remember what it felt
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 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.
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.
What does it mean to be an “American”? To each individual person it means something very different. For the writer Bharati Mukherjee, who wrote the essay, “American Dreamer”, to be a true American someone has to want to be an American, not just prove that they merited citizenship. Her essay “American Dreamer” goes in depth into this idea and her opinion that as an American one should believe in bringing together the cultures in America. “We must think of American culture and nationhood as a constantly reforming, transmogrifying “we” (Mukherjee 438). For the author James Baldwin, who wrote the essay “Stranger in the Village”, an American is a person who is integrated with other cultures, and
What a person, community, or nation can tolerate depends on where one looks in their history. America was founded on the idea of freedom, and major shaping of the American identity can be found when that freedom or the unalienable rights that accompany it are threatened. This was a large portion of the mid-1800’s to mid-1900’s. The American identity in the first half of the 20th century was one of devotion fueled by individual efforts to achieve and preserve a fair society, and was derived from international and domestic developments that pushed the definition of ‘justifiable’.
Americans have not only defined themselves by their religious, ethnic and racial identity, but also by their individual freedom and common values. America has become a nation where its people can fight for what they believe in. Our founding fathers have formed America to be “the land of the free and the home of the brave”. Being apart of the American culture and living on the land founded by our leaders specifies the meaning of the American Identity.
With all the media and politics in today’s world it's hard to grasp the true meaning of an American? No person is the same therefore no person's definition of being a true American can be the same however, there is a fine line of the defining qualities of a true American. An American in my eyes is united by fellow Americans through freedom and liberty. A true American should stand tall in remembrance and respect for the ones who have fallen, served our country and continue to protect us. Also as American citizens everyone should be equal no matter what race, what religion or what nationality. Giving that it's one of America's defining qualities.
What does it mean to be an American? When asked this question, many turn and answer with the stereotypical ideals and portrayals; a nationalistic, flag bearing, white man, living in a white picket fence and drinking Bud Light in the world’s greatest country. This classic image of an “American” has spread throughout the international world and infiltrated societal thoughts over the past century. However, the American identity wasn’t always this narcissistic or materialistic. The core of an American identity is actually is embodied by the American Creed, principals based on individualism, equality, and liberty. While the United States is considered an “immigrant country”, Samuel Huntington
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
American is built on the belief that the individuals character alone is the only thing needed for success, however, American itself is a community and the character in which they are trying to instilled in its citizens are characteristic of a true “American” with sufficient evidence, agreement is lead by one’s own feelings. The truest way to define agreement as authentic is if the agreement goes against what is socially acceptable. “…individuals trying to assert their individuality are strangled by the web of social constraints” (Bonnet, 1982)