What Is An American

English 11

Period 1         

October 21, 2014

What it means to be an American

In my opinion, an American doesn’t have one set definition; an American can be seen and described from so many different perspectives.  For me, to define an American by one set definition is impossible.  I don’t have one single way on viewing an American, but other people have their own perspectives and views.

From an immigrant’s standpoint, to truly be an American means to be free.  We are all treated equally no matter what color skin we might have, and it doesn't matter what culture we come from.  America itself is seen as one giant melting pot.  There are people from everywhere around the world, with different cultures, different customs, but when they come to America, we all become one, one nation.  America is seen as the land of opportunity, a new life style.  People all over the world wished they had a small sum of what we Americans are given, especially birth given rights such as human rights.

For a Patriotic American, the true definition of being an American is to be prideful.  An American is willing to stand, defend and fight for our country, with their blood, sweat and tears even if our country is in the wrong.  To be a true American means you are willing to give your own life for this country without hesitation or second thoughts.  An American is a hero, a savior, a brave man or woman who is willing to stand up for what is believed to be right.

From an outsider’s perspective, someone who detests Americans, being an American means being a monster.  There are people in this world who wish death on us simply because we are American; not for certain views we have on topics and not even because of the color of our skin or religion, but simply because we are American.  These people see us as a threat because our dear country has done something to upset them whether it was killing one of their family members, destroying their homes, or accusing them of wrongful deeds they did not commit.  In their eyes an American is a horrible monster set out to destroy and hurt anything in its path. To these outsiders, they see Americans as heartless, selfish, inhumane people who cause chaos and destruction wherever we go.

For an American who is well aware of the corruption in our government, being an American is nothing to be proud of especially when our own country uses the innocent act of patriotism from our citizens to carry out their own dirty work.  For example, our troops; the patriotic men and women defending and risking their lives for a country they hold in such high esteem that does nothing but abuses and manipulates them.  They truthfully do not know the real reasons as to why they are sent to battle, they are told one thing they believe to be the truth while the real truth can be far from it.  The harsh reality is that sometimes our government twists the truth, just to get what they want.  We Americans are set up to believe that America is always in the right and that we are heroes, but what about other countries and their perspectives?  We're seen as mass murderers willing to stop at nothing until we get what we want.  We Americans do not have a single clue about what is really going on in our own government.  To be an American simply means stepping over people, doing what needs to be done, lying, cheating and omitting truths so long as it benefits us or the government and it does not matter who we hurt in the process. 

To a simple outsider who as heard several stereotypes about us Americans; an American is uneducated and lazy.  We are seen as arrogant, selfish people stomping over everyone else. We are also seen as materialistic, violent and self-centered people.  Americans have no limits that we take what we want and sometimes we take the things we are given for granted.  To an outsider, Americans do not know how to appreciate the liberties we are given because other countries would do anything to have the liberties we have.  There are so many stereotypes about us Americans however at the same time one stereotype does not define us all.  The same can be said of other countries as well, it all depends on who is saying it and what made them say that; like most stereotypes, they are made and brought to attention based on assumption.  The thing to take away from an outsider’s standpoint is to not believe everything you hear. 

We as people are all different.  We should not be categorized as something we are not because of where we come from.  We define ourselves; our country of origin has nothing to do with it.  We are who we are because we chose to be a certain way.  If you choose to judge, judge the country and its system, do not judge the people who just so happened to be born into and come into life there.  We do not choose the life we want, but we can make the best of the life that we are given.