What It Takes To Be An American Essay

Don't be afraid to change because change only leads to a new beginning. Is there really such thing as freedom, how would you react if you could go somewhere without being judged and you can be who you really are? America is meant to be a place of freedom. A true American knows when they leave their home countries they are leaving their loved ones and family traditions behind. A true American is someone that can adapt to the new American traditions quickly. A true American isn’t someone that was just born there, they have to follow all the traditions in America. However, this may not apply to some people that consider themselves American, but they might not have taken the time to think about if they really are a true American. Have you ever taken the time to think about if you were a true American?

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.

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.

The American dream is large in the minds of the American public, and indeed, of people around the world. It has taken on somewhat of a life of its own, and its clear, powerful call has brought people from around the world to the shores of the United States for more than a century, each of them hoping to capture a little bit of the American dream for themselves. While some have (there are famous immigrants in history who have come to America with nothing and created ridiculously successful financial empires that even continue today), most have found that the proverbial American dream is far more myth than reality (Bambara

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.

“Everyone always says that anything is possible, but some things in life just can’t be reached. Sometimes your dreams just can’t be achieved.” (Carl Johnson) All humans living in America have dreams. These could all easily be described as the American Dream. The American Dream can frequently change from time to time due to the time period. It can also change due to the age of the person at hand. Children grow up having these dreams, but who knows how long these dreams will last. Some elderly people develop new dreams or are still chasing to fulfill the dreams they’ve had since they were much younger. These dreams are all things that people want and desire to have. Some of these dreams are unrealistic and could never happen.

Everyone has a dream. Whether it is to have a family, or even to become a psychiatrist, a dream is present in everyone. Those dreams are mainly referred to as “American Dreams.” Hard work is needed to be able to get anywhere in life. The American Dream is attainable if one is willing to put in the work to achieve it.

When you think about what it means to be an American many things may cross your mind. You might think of your freedom to believe, say, and think anything you would like, or you may think of the many rights you have, or maybe our duties as Americans, you may even think of the idea of the “American Dream”. One thing that is for sure is that since the start of our nation to now, the idea of what it means to be an American has been sculpted into what it is today. Over the decades and eras there have been many different ideas of what it means to be an American, and that’s completely understandable because different times call for different ideas. When our nation was forming, the idea of what an American was was to be free.

Using the Gibb categories give three examples of defensive and or supportive behaviors that Ben and Katie used in the film.

Growing up, I always questioned my parents’ ideals and customs because I viewed myself as only an American. My first language was English and the only memories I had were of New York City. This idea of being “American” followed me throughout my adolescent years as I started to resent my Korean background. Why do I have to add honorifics when I’m talking to someone barely older than me? Why am I bowing to this person?

According to data from the most recent United States Census, the population of the United States of America in 2010 was 308.7 million people, which, if combined with statistics from the Population Reference Bureau, was about 4% of the total world population. Yet despite this significant percentage, when asked to define an American, few are able to supply an accurate, thoughtful answer. Several varied adjectives can be used to describe Americans. However, the three most unifying qualities of Americans are how they are privileged, patriotic, and free.

The dreams of American's are diverse. Separately, they differ and seem to have no relation to each other. Together Americans' dream is a goal not just a dream. There are many interpretations of the phrase "American Dream". The interpretations the American dream depends on the time period. When America was developing the dream was to be independent from England. The dream after World War 2 was a perfect all American family. A family with a stay at home mom who made incredible apple pies, her husband would be successful with a good income, their son would be the star of the baseball team, and their house was lined with a white picket fence. Not every dream was recognized as an "American Dream". The dream wasn't considered a dream because

The traits of the typical American have changed drastically throughout the years. Americans have become different in many ways from when they officially became independent in 1776 to the present time in 2001. America is strong, powerful, and influential. Americans exemplify positive values, selflessness, hospitality, and the American way of life. Our values often differ from values of other countries due to cultural contrasts such as with religious, racial, and education issues. We give much more freedom than many other countries do to those of different races and religions. Also, we hold education in a much higher regard than other countries. It is these differences that sometimes make our country seem more

The American Dream is that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement. It is a difficult dream for the European upper classes to interpret adequately, and too many of us ourselves have grown weary and mistrustful of it. It is not a dream of

America, a great nation united by many people who call themselves Americans, but who will eventually trace family ties to countries that are deemed foreign rather than domestic. America was founded by Europeans who became the first Americans after they were able to successfully settle and survive. While these were the first perceived Americans in the minds of most, all of the future generations since then have carried the label of Americans. What does it truly take to be considered an American though? Surely we do not share enough similarities with our ancestors that we could be mistaken for them, yet we carry the same label. While there are many qualities that could be used to define a person or characterize them as an American, there are three that stick out as the defining aspects. The three most predominant characteristics a person has to possess to be considered an American is a strong back, a curious mind, and passion.