What Does it Mean to "Be an American"?
A. Look back at all the sources we examined in class ("Child of the Americas, "America: A New Man" other poems, videos, songs & speeches)
B. Create your own final definition of a modern American. This opinion piece can be written in poem or prose form.
C. Make sure your definition is at least 4-5 sentences. Be specific, be thoughtful, and though you don't need to be totally original, try to share your unique writing voice.
An American can be from all around the world. It can be someone born and raised in America but it can only be someone who came from somewhere else but decided to settle down in America. America does not have a specific nationality and can be anyone from anywhere. So basically, you can define your own meaning on being an American, but for me being American is just simply living here no matter who you are or where you come from.
ReplyDeleteI agree on your definition of what is an American and you made a good point that you don't have to be born or raised from America.
DeleteI agree with your statement "America does not have a specific nationality" because people here are from all around the world.
DeleteI agree with your definition of what is to be an American since an American doesn’t have to be born here . I like how you said that an American can be just living here regardless of who they are .
DeleteI agree with you on “ you can define your own meaning on being an American” because I feel like it depends on the person’s experience living in America and how they are interacting with people.
DeleteWhat it means to be an American is being yourself and having a life in America with different ethnicities. You can be raised in America to be American or be someone from another area and become an American. To make it simple, an American is someone yourself no matter if you came from another country or if you were born here.
ReplyDeleteI do agree with you on your definition of what it is to be an american.It is a nice definition because it shows so much about how an American has a big background.
DeleteI agree with Aithan, being in America allows you to be whoever you want to be. No matter where you came from or if you were born in America, you're still welcome here and to be yourself.
Deletei agree when you said that being an american is basically being yourself because you're totally right that as long as we can be ourselves we are american.
DeleteI agree because America is a place where you could be yourself. Everyone here is from a different cultural background. No matter where we're from, we are all accepted here.
DeleteAn American can be anyone. America can be diverse and be filled with different types of races or religions. You are able to define on what it is to be an American. You can be from somewhere else and be living in America or just originally born in America to be defined as American. Overall, being American is just someone who lives here. Doesn't matter if you were born here or not.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Cameron since I’m someone who lives in America and I’m Chinese! We can have a different skin color, culture and beliefs but we are American because we live in America.
DeleteI agree with Cameron because I too believe that an American can be anyone. America is full of diversity - different cultures and different backgrounds. We are not all from one place.
DeleteBeing an American is someone who can be any color, race, or ethnicity, they don't need to be born and raised in America to be an American. They can be someone born from another country who immigrated to America. An American is caring and supports others around them, you can come from whatever background as well. So in my opinion, anyone can be an American and it does not matter where you came from, its just living in America to be an American.
ReplyDeleteI agree that being an American can be anybody, and that they do not have to be born and raised here. I like your definition because it shows that being an American is not in one category.
DeleteI agree with you, I think being an American has nothing to do with their race or ethnicity. Anyone that are living this country could be an American. I like how you brought up an American should be caring and support others.
DeleteTo be an American is to identify with America and the ideas that encompass "America". Now, what are the ideas that encompass "America"? Well, although they are quite difficult to pinpoint, a good place to start (to, at least, give us an idea of what it means to be an "American") is to look at the founding fathers and their ideas, i.e., the ideas that founded this country and are encompassed within the constitution and the declaration of independence.
ReplyDeleteRooted within the American declaration of independence is the mantra that the state shall protect and ensure people's "life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness". An idea whose origins lie, unequivocally, in Enlightenment philosophy and the ideology of Liberalism; an ideology that encompasses many of the enlightenment values that you and I have learned and heard many, many times: liberty to do as you please without harming the lives and "natural rights" of other people and their property, and to be seen equally and treated fairly under the eyes and power of the state (i.e., to have life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness). Here is where I would lay the foundation of what it means to be an American: to have faith in, and believe in, these Liberal values. Now, the totality of what it means to be an American is to hold faith in not only these values, but also hold faith in the idea that America is a country that suffices (or even excels) at achieving these values: i.e., that America is a "land of opportunity" wherein all peoples (regardless or race, gender, sex, background, origin, ethnicity, identity, etc., etc., etc.) have the ability and the opportunity to achieve success (a.k.a, the American Dream--that one can "start from the bottom" and "work their way up to the top", or that "hard work" can guarantee success).
This is what I perceive to be what an American is--or, at the very least, the essence of what it means to be an American.
-- Torrance's post!
This is truly an amazing response Torrance and I could not have said it any better. The whole idea of being an American is based upon an individual's acceptance and belief in the ideals that America stands for. The natural rights of life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness are given to Americans in USA and through hard work people can succeed regardless of race, ethnicity, origin, gender etc. All the people come together as one under the constitution and the teachings of the founding fathers.
DeleteAn American is someone who is willing to accept and welcome others who come from different parts of the world. It is someone is willing to accept different cultures and learn about them. An American should be kind to others no matter what their background is and no matter who they love. I agree with Abby, America does not have a specific nationality. An American can be someone who came from a different country. As long as people can respect each other and their beliefs - that is an American.
ReplyDeleteI like the fact that you say being an American is to accept people who comes from all parts of the world. I agree with you because in America they are a lot of different cultures and idea and we need to respect those culture because an American does not have a culture of its own.
DeleteI agree because American is someone who is willingly to accept any culture from all over the world. And American is someone who is willingly to accept and learn. People have their own culture and should respect it and learn more it.
DeleteI agree with you because an American is someone who is equal and doesn't judge by looks. It is someone who is willing to accept and all people to join in on the community.
DeleteYou can find an American anywhere around the world. An American is not just someone that is born in the United States, it can be someone from a different country who moved here and grew their family and lives like an American, having the same rights and freedom. It does not matter what you believe in, what's your skin color, what country you're from, ethnicity, race etc. An American is someone who accept other people for who they are and aren't racist. there is a lot of diversity in the America which makes America very unique.
ReplyDeleteI loved the way you worded this. Being Americans, we should all have the same rights despite what we look like.
DeleteI agree with you definition of what an American is because an American is someone that helps build up America and help the country . Being an American is part of being who you are and having rights and freedom .
DeleteAmerican is someone that is any race, culture, or any nationality they are from. And they will accept different culture to learn. They can be any one from the world who are looking for a new life or new opportunity that they didn't have in their country. The word American means diverse there is no nationality separation. As long as people accept other culture and belief they can be an American. American doesn't have to be a single race, single culture, etc. That what it means to be an American.
ReplyDeleteI agree, you can basically be from another country or born in America. Doesn't matter of the race, culture or nationality. America represents the the diversity in our world!
DeleteI agree with this detailed response. Especially when you pointed out that the word American means to be diverse and there is no nationality separation.I really liked that statement you made, I found it captivating. We are all Americans no matter how we look,act,speak, or are from.
DeleteI agree with you. You were being really specific about how Americans should not be limmited by race, cultrue, etc. America will no longer be America without diversity, and it is great that you mentioned an American should accept other's culture and belief.
DeleteI agree with you because your response to this question was self guiding. You were correct about race, culture, and nationality not mattering. Diversity is the key to keeping this world in place.
DeleteI agree with you. America is the home of diversity. No matter where you are from, America is home to everyone. There should be no limit and no one should be treated differently. We should never leave someone out because they are from a different country.
DeleteAn American is someone from many different cultural backgrounds, who lives in the Unites States. Even though Americans can be hateful, ignorant, and racist; A true American should accepts other peoples differences no matter what religion, ideology, culture or country that person may be from. In addition, a true American helps improve America, to make it a safer places for everyone.
ReplyDeleteI agree because in American we have many places where is it diverse and contains people from all over the world. They all identify as American while being from completely different places from others and having different cultures and backgrounds. What makes an American, like you said, is to improve and contribute to America for the better.
DeleteI agree because America is a melting pot of many cultures, and the only way for this to succeed is by people cooperating and doing their best to understand other people backgrounds. By doing this we are helping to improve America to be a more just and diverse society.
DeleteI agree with this because being an American means having different backgrounds. We should always accept each other no matter what. At the end of the day, we are all human and our backgrounds don't define who we are as people.
DeleteAn American is someone from any race and culture background. Someone embraces their history and other people's unique identity. Someone who respects and shares the same rights with every other human being. An American is someone who came here for better opportunities and future, and distribute their power into the society to make it a better country. They could be from anywhere in the world with a heart of love and passion.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your definition of what is an American because every American who was not born or came here is looking for many opportunities and a bright future.
DeleteI agree because it someone who can accept other culture because that their unique identity. And people from all around the world come here to get more opportunity and a better future.
DeleteI agree with “an American is someone who came here for better opportunities and future”, I feel like most Americans came here so that they could have a better life compared to their lives back home. Even pilgrims moved here for a better life.
DeleteI agree with you on this. As long as you respect the culture and their identity for what it is, anyone can be considered an American. You just have to respect others.
DeleteI agree with you.Because An American is someone who came here for better opportunities and future, and distribute their power into the society to make it a better country. We accept different cultures.
DeleteAn American is a person that comes from any race and culture. It's a person who embraces who they truly are as a person. An American is a person actively involved with voting. They also don't change who they are just to be apart of something.
ReplyDeleteI agree because being an American has to do with what you do and not where you come from. Doing American things like voting and celebrating fourth of July and stuff is what makes you an American and not what you look like or what skin color you are.
DeleteAn american is totally from any race and culture! I agree with the statement "It's a person who embraces who they truly are as a person.
DeleteAny person living on American soil, contributing to society, and trying to live the American dream is an American. Whether they were born here or came here later in their life to live a better life or seek refuge in the land of the free. An American contributes to society by working or learning as a student. An American is patriotic, he/she loves their country and they would speak out when something they do not agree with is carried out. Being an American is not based on race, color, or religion but rather as someone who is faithful to the constitution. Americans are people who all come together, united under one flag, to work collectively to maintain their individual freedom and what America stands for as well as to improve the country for future generations. People who stand united and strong, always ready to defend their rights. They are dreamers, individuals striving for a better America. The United States of America is their home, it is a land built by people for the people!
ReplyDeleteThis is a very good definition of what it means to be an American . I do agree with you because of how well you made it out to be.
DeleteVery well written. I agree with you because there are many definitions of what it is to be an American. Later on, you connected all the definitions into one idea that we are all people trying to create a better world for future generations.
DeleteAn American is an individual that may be from any race,culture, or background. An individual that may contribute to their society and law abiding. An individual that lives or was born in America. To be an American means to be yourself and of a bigger background than just stereotypes of a typical American . We are the land of diversity and our people are just as diverse. - LANA
ReplyDeleteI agree with your definition when saying to be an American you be just be yourself. I believe that is what makes up an American their individual selves help contribute to the diverse land we all live on today.
DeleteI agree with you lana and your defintion of an american. American could be from anywhere thats why they call america the melting pot because its a bunch of different people coming together
DeleteAn American can be anybody no matter of race, gender, religion, and etc. It’s a person who has adopted the land as their own regardless of their citizenship status or the country they originally identified with. You are able to help contribute to the land keep up with it’s diversity and taking in different cultures as well. Though there is no specific definition of being a true American every person who identifies as one has the trait of being open to new things and opinions
ReplyDeleteI 100% agree with the contribution to the US is also an American. Working hard is also an aspect of being an American no matter where you come from.
DeleteAn American could be anyone，no matter what race ，culture you come from.Americans respect each other，every American have the right to vote. Americans don't need to born and raise in America，you can be a person who come from different places speak different language looking for opportunities in America.An American don't need to care about others judge，just be youself.
ReplyDeleteI love how you said Just be yourself! People have to start doing that more often and stop trying to impress others.
DeleteTo be an american is someone who is smiling through the hard work. someone who is from the other end of the country. Some who was born in the american soil but was raised by all over the world. Being an american is constantly trying to fit in, someone who understands more than one language. someone who loves to sing their heart out in the streets like they don't care. Anyone can be an american, as long as you are you.
ReplyDeleteThis definition was really good because it emphasized that an American is not one person. That they are unique but that’s what everyone has in common they are different. I also liked when you said it’s someone raised by all over the world because it’s a very accurate representation
DeleteI agree with you about constantly fit in because a lot of people were not comfortable with different culture when they at a different places so you have to be one of them but don't forget be yourself too
DeleteAn american is someone who lives in america and makes an honest living you don't have to be born in america to be in american that just a streotype. It doesn't matter your race or religion because America is called a melting pot for a reason for everyone to come together despite all your differences
ReplyDeleteI agree with your definition of what it means to be an american, especially when you speak of the typical American stereotype a lot of people tend to have. America is a big melting pot of different cultures, people,etc. I agree. - LANA SANTIAGO
DeleteTo be an american is a person that accept others for who they are as long they also accept others and doesn't want to create harm. You don't have to be born in america to identify as an American as long you share the culture and want to increase your standard of living or create social change for the better.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Bema on the idea of Americans are people who are accepting of each other. All Americans are immigrants who came from places across the globe in hopes of living a better quality of life. There is no specified demographic of an American which is why we accept others as Americans, no matter what their origin or race is, as they are just individuals trying to live the American dream like every other American.
DeleteI agree that Americans should accept everyones cultures and viseversa.
DeleteBeing an American means that you are, regardless of ethnicity or race, someone who participates in the american culture, someone who works hard, someone who looks for opportunities, and someone who abides to the laws and rules. Being an American doesn't have to do with your background or where you come from. Being an American means living in America and working hard to achieve your goals and participating in the american culture.
ReplyDeleteAn American is someone that is both American and wherever they come from not just one, they are also someone who is resilient and part of a diverse world. An American has the opportunity to create their own future, but there can also be hardships in being an American.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, an American has the opportunity to create their own future.
DeleteI agree with you. Your definition accurately defines what an American is ~ Justin Hudson
DeleteTo be an American, you can speak any languages you prefer, from any part of the world and no matter you’re come with any types of culture or religion. You will not be shame as a female or a male, and your voice matters. You can have a great education and health care support by the government. You will get a lot of opportunities within this country and as an American. It doesn’t matter what type of skin color you had or what rules that you follow with your religion practices. As an American, we work hard to build our future.
ReplyDeleteThis response, too, also captures the ideals of America. That of taking hold of opportunities and building yourself up with the opportunities presented in America. I also agree with the expansion on the idea of "it doesn't matter who you are, you will still be accepted", as it is absolutely true that--in theory--America is a land of opportunity for all: regardless of what religion is being practised, what gender, sex, skin colour, race, ethnicity, language, culture, etc., the person is--they ought to be treated equally and are treated equally under the eyes of America.
DeleteAn American is an individual that can come from any background. You do not have to be born in America to identify as an American. A American accepts other peoples differences no matter what religion, culture or country that person may be from. Also some one who contributes to America
ReplyDeleteI agree with your definition of an american because as americans we come from many different backgrounds but that what makes us american.
DeleteAn American can be from many different cultures and they can be from any part of the world. An American is someone who is accepting and supports others around them. It doesn't matter what your religion or what your skin color is all that matters is that you're open minded and you contribute to your community.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your definition of what is an American. Very well said.
DeleteI agree with you as well, your defintion accurately defines what an american is
DeleteI agree with your statement, Americans come from all backgrounds and mix into one community.
DeleteTo be an American is to be someone who is proud of their roots. Doesn’t matter what part of the world you come from. Acknowledging and making it known you are from somewhere outside the US and that it runs through your veins, is so incredibly admirable. Also hard work makes you an American. Taking care of your family, putting food on their plate, giving them a roof over their heads, etc. Even if you came here from another country, that makes you an American. No matter race, religion, or orientation. Just be honored and be grateful of where you come from.
ReplyDelete"To be an American is to be someone who is proud of their roots" Is very important when it comes to being an American! Very good job.
DeleteI agree with your definition of an American. Regardless of where you came from if you acknowledge your own story and are proud of where you come from, you can identify as an American as long as you're comfortable.
DeleteTo be an American is to be proud of where you come from. Being able to accept who you are and being able to be active in your society. An American works for a better future for themselves and for others. To be an American we work together and live in harmony accepting everyone no matter where they come from. You don't have to be born in America to count as one since the moment you step in America and try to build America up , you have become an American. As an American you're full of dreams and you learn to take advantage of any opportunity that comes your way to achieve your goal.
ReplyDeleteI agree with this wholeheartedly, and I believe you have really captured the essence of what it means to be an American of contributing to American society and taking ahold of opportunities whenever you can.
DeleteThe sentence that stands out to me the most is " To be an American we work together and live in harmony accepting everyone no matter where they come from." b/c it's like the saying it takes a village to raise a child and to be an American you will need some guidance from others at times.
DeleteTo be an American is to be who you truly are. This means to represent the place that you are from. You should be proud of being different than others. Also, it is about respecting other people as well. This means accepting people for who they are and not judging them based on where they are from. In addition, we should not judge people based off of their personal decisions that they made. This includes their sexuality and religion. We should be there for each other and support each other.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you b/c to be an American you don't specifically have to be from America, being an American is what makes you you in whatever way possible.
DeleteTo be an American you can be any gender, race, ethnicity is to be yourself to the fullest even if you are made up of different parts and to accept everyone for who they are. Being an American allows you to make your own decisions about where you want to live, what you want to be, where you work and who you marry. Being an American allows you to be brave and being proud of where you come from and what makes you you.
ReplyDeletei agree because being american is being proud of where you come from and who you are and brave.
DeleteBeing an American means that you can make your own decisions about where you want to live, where you would like to work, who you'd like to marry . It means being brave, being proud of this Country, and being confident that we will succeed. Being an American is an honor not a privilege. being an american is not one race but a variety such as black,white, latino, Asian. not one religion but a land of many and of many languages. To be American is to be free.
ReplyDelete