What Being An American Means To Me Essay
According to Merriam-Webster, the definition of an American is a person born, raised, or living in the U.S. but is that what it truly means to be an American? Millions from all around the world come to USA to turn their life around because they weren’t doing so good at their home country. Many people have their own meaning of being an American which most are similar or have a similar idea but I feel like my meaning of an American is meaningful to me because of the state our country is in. Clearly, it means different things to many different people. America was founded by people who wanted to avoid persecution and immigrants seeking a better life. “They came to us speaking many tongues-but a single language, the universal language of human aspiration.” (Roosevelt 10) Every year, hundreds of thousands of immigrants, legal and illegal, from all around the world. come this country. These immigrants
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have many different reasons and motives for wanting to come to America whether it is to escape persecution or to simply start a new life and hoping for a better future here. Many of these people have the idea that the United States is the place to go. America is just a blend of many different cultures from all over the world so there really isn’t a definition of an “American” to me. Nobody is really “from here” unless you are pure Native American. Part of America's identity is it’s reputation is a place where anything is possible, where education and hard work are the key factors to opportunity and prosperity. That is what brought my great-grandmother from the Philippines here but also she had fell in love with my great-grandfather while he was stationed out in the Philippines so he also brought her here. Immigrants are very helpful with our economy but you know, with that always come racism. Now, I’m pretty sure most know about our horrifying past with people of color mainly African Americans.
Some say “leave the past in the past” but as of today, I do not agree with that. If that’s the case, why is racism still present today? Whether it is the treatment by the police or whatever, one’s skin color can determine how one is treated. The hate crimes then and now were all because of one’s skin color. “Besides, they’ll see how beautiful I am and be ashamed- I, too, am America.” (Hughes 13) My interpretation of that quote is that they’ll appreciate what his culture brings into the country. But there is a difference between culture appreciation and appropriation and with those, so you have to be aware, politically, about those things before you just adopt them and call it your own. With the whole Black Lives Matter movement going on right now, it’s very important to be open minded. Many believe that it depends on if a person is born racist or not but it’s not like that. A person cannot be born racist but to grow and be taught to be one or have a mindset of a
racist. In my opinion, America is not the land of the free or should be called that. As Americans, we were taught and brought up to believe we stand for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness but if you really think about it, not everyone stands for it. You cannot “freely” do what you want without the law getting involved if they aren’t too happy about your choice. We have to to be “free” but within what the law will allow. But with the pursuit of happiness, that is a difficult one. We all have our own way or views on how we define our own happiness. This ties back to how people don’t have the freedom to do what they want without having to wonder if the law will approve or not. If they can’t do what they want, then they truly cannot pursue the happiness they desire. Americans are brainwashed to believe this country is “the land of the free”. I did believe we were the land of the free but as I got older, I realized more and more and came to the conclusion that this country is nothing what it is portrayed to be. Now, here is my definition of an American. My definition of an American is someone who doesn’t have to worry about their children being discriminated against or even killed for their skin color, someone who could do whatever they like or please without having the worry of someone looking over their shoulder judging every move they make, and also someone who doesn’t have to worry about immigration problems if they were an immigrant. Someone who doesn’t have to worry about any type of problems like those. An American is also someone who is strong physically and mentally. An American is full perseverance, respect, and integrity.
have many different reasons and motives for wanting to come to America whether it is to escape persecution or to simply start a new life and hoping for a better future here. Many of these people have the idea that the United States is the place to go. America is just a blend of many different cultures from all over the world so there really isn’t a definition of an “American” to me. Nobody is really “from here” unless you are pure Native American. Part of America's identity is it’s reputation is a place where anything is possible, where education and hard work are the key factors to opportunity and prosperity. That is what brought my great-grandmother from the Philippines here but also she had fell in love with my great-grandfather while he was stationed out in the Philippines so he also brought her here. Immigrants are very helpful with our economy but you know, with that always come racism. Now, I’m pretty sure most know about our horrifying past with people of color mainly African Americans.
Some say “leave the past in the past” but as of today, I do not agree with that. If that’s the case, why is racism still present today? Whether it is the treatment by the police or whatever, one’s skin color can determine how one is treated. The hate crimes then and now were all because of one’s skin color. “Besides, they’ll see how beautiful I am and be ashamed- I, too, am America.” (Hughes 13) My interpretation of that quote is that they’ll appreciate what his culture brings into the country. But there is a difference between culture appreciation and appropriation and with those, so you have to be aware, politically, about those things before you just adopt them and call it your own. With the whole Black Lives Matter movement going on right now, it’s very important to be open minded. Many believe that it depends on if a person is born racist or not but it’s not like that. A person cannot be born racist but to grow and be taught to be one or have a mindset of a
racist. In my opinion, America is not the land of the free or should be called that. As Americans, we were taught and brought up to believe we stand for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness but if you really think about it, not everyone stands for it. You cannot “freely” do what you want without the law getting involved if they aren’t too happy about your choice. We have to to be “free” but within what the law will allow. But with the pursuit of happiness, that is a difficult one. We all have our own way or views on how we define our own happiness. This ties back to how people don’t have the freedom to do what they want without having to wonder if the law will approve or not. If they can’t do what they want, then they truly cannot pursue the happiness they desire. Americans are brainwashed to believe this country is “the land of the free”. I did believe we were the land of the free but as I got older, I realized more and more and came to the conclusion that this country is nothing what it is portrayed to be. Now, here is my definition of an American. My definition of an American is someone who doesn’t have to worry about their children being discriminated against or even killed for their skin color, someone who could do whatever they like or please without having the worry of someone looking over their shoulder judging every move they make, and also someone who doesn’t have to worry about immigration problems if they were an immigrant. Someone who doesn’t have to worry about any type of problems like those. An American is also someone who is strong physically and mentally. An American is full perseverance, respect, and integrity.