Essay on What Is an American?

Submitted By Qnguye1

Words: 322

Pages: 2

Open Document

Quynh Nguyen
G00841688
Exam#4: In your opinion, what is an American? What if anything, are the common characteristics and values of the American people? Support your choice with facts, evidence, reason and logic In my opinion, an American is a mixed race and is not delineated by a particular skin color. An American is English, French, Chinese, Mexican, Vietnamese, Russia, or Greek….An American is also free to believe in no religion. Being an American is a multifaceted endeavor with both individual and group implications. Americans are fragmented people with varying values that share a common flag and consumer culture. America is a nation of immigrants yet immigrants have always faced discrimination, often violently so. No matter how hard some immigrants have tried to earn their stripes as American citizens they have often been rejected by ignorant “citizen” who see an accent as an IQ indicator. In other countries most citizens are not only bilingual, but trilingual and often speak 3-4 languages. The fact remains that unless you are Native Americans, you are an immigrant. Yet immigrants become Americans through the citizenship process and are no less patriotic than those who have been born here. An American is someone how values, appreciates and respects the person next to him/her regardless of class, education, or wealth because there is so much more to learn from him/her. It's the ability to move across these boundaries relatively easily that defines Americans and

What Is An American

ENC 1101 1 December 2013 What is an American? How would you define an American? We do not all look alike, we do not all support the same belief system, what are we? Americans have always been hardworking. American didn't just magically appear one day in the past, people had to work to build Her into something. Early Americans were very hardworking and determined to make American what She is today. The journey of America began in England when a group of Puritans wanted to find a New World…

Words 1416 - Pages 6

What It Means To Be An American

will be because we destroyed ourselves” -Abraham Lincoln. Being an American is so much more than just a stereotypical definition. Being an American means having unalienable Rights, being free, and having the rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. To be an American to me, means that you are blessed enough have freedoms that many other countries do not have access to, an example could be the Amendments.Us as Americans have the right to practice our religion freely, the right to bare arms…

Words 689 - Pages 3

What Is an American Essay

great.” The United States of America was founded upon morals and principles that have led it and its citizens to become the greatest in the world. These virtues, such as perseverance, courage, and sacrifice have made up America: what it means to be an American citizen, and what citizens can do to make America great. The more perseverant someone is the better they will survive and thrive in America, and in return the better America will become. At the age of 5 young Canadian…

Words 800 - Pages 4

What It Means To Be An American

Alyssa Moore Schwery ELA P.2 25 October 2014 What it means to be an American The definition of an American or the American dream varies from person to person. Everyone has a different perspective on what it means to be an American. Not only do different people have different views and definitions of the American dream but people value the American dream differently. The American dream to me is the opportunity and freedom to be what you want and do what you want when you want to do it. Now my definition can be broken down…

Words 385 - Pages 2

What It Means To Be American

AmeriCAN’T Webster defines the word American as “a native or citizen of the United States”. So by dictionary definition: to be American is just to inhabit the United States. I would bet my bottom dollar that not a soul that reads this believes that’s all it means to be American. So what does it mean? I polled my eight o’clock class to think what they thought it was to be American. As I expected the cliché “to be free” was the answer most gave. To be free to do what? The best answer for that is to look…

Words 604 - Pages 3

What It Means To Be An American

I’ve gained a little more appreciation for what it means to be an American. I never really knew America’s history as well as I do now so it gave me a little more appreciation for the country I live in and how it came to be. Previously the only thing I had learned in History is about the past wars and just a brief synopsis about the History of the United States so I never really got the in depth history about what happened and why it happened. As an American Citizen I think everyone should have to know…

Words 316 - Pages 2

American Essay: What It Mean To Be An American

In the current political environment, the question “What does it mean to be an American” is one that really caused me to think and reflect deeply. And while some are vowing to “Make America Great Again”, I think there are already a number of things that already make America great and make me proud to be an American. Early on, our founding fathers suggested through the Constitution that at its core, what it meant to be American was simply “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” That’s a…

Words 983 - Pages 4

What Is an American? Essay

What is an American? Today, the United States of America is commonly viewed as “The Melting Pot.” Many different people of all different kinds come to America every day in order to hopefully turn around their lives in the land of new opportunity. Americans love and take pride in their country. Also, Americans have endless opportunities and resources to succeed in life, while still having the freedom to believe what they want and to lead their own lives. Being “The Melting Pot,” America attracts…

Words 609 - Pages 3

What Does It Take To Be An American

September 2014 What does it take to be an American? The American Dream to me is the traditional social ideals of the U.S. such as equality, democracy, and material prosperity. American Dream is a Dream of America that everyone should have to abide by that is from America. You should have to sign a paper saying that you will acknowledge it and if you sign and don’t follow the instructions, then you will suffer the consequences (if 18 and under, NO DRINKING). To be an American you will have to…

Words 552 - Pages 3

What is the American Dream? Essay

The American Dream What is the “American Dream?” Is it a big lawn, a white picket fence, and 2 kids? Or is it what our ancestors came here for? They came here for a chance at a better life. They came here for a freedom that could not be found anywhere else. They came here for life, love, and the pursuit of happiness. Some 200 years after our country was founded, we are still striving for the “American Dream.” The question is, are our ideals of the American Dream still attainable for everyone in…

Words 669 - Pages 3