What do you think it means to be an American?
Created: 07/10/24
Replies: 8
Join Date: 10/16/10
Posts: 1160
Join Date: 10/14/21
Posts: 122
I think being an American means you have spent a significant part, if not most, of your life in the U.S. You support and believe in the U.S. Constitution and its amendments, and accept the laws of this nation. You are a natural (born) or naturalized citizen.
Join Date: 02/14/19
Posts: 10
Join Date: 12/27/18
Posts: 86
Join Date: 05/26/11
Posts: 91
Since I have been fortunate enough to travel to several other countries, I have to say that I remain happy to be an American. We have so many things, both material and non-material that others lack. But, to be an American truly means that you are willing to do what it takes to keep this country free, viable and moving toward the future. It means you recognize the need to pay taxes, to study politics and social movements, to vote, to serve on a jury when called, to honor war veterans but not to sully this honor by teaching your children that they should not join the military, to obey the laws but to be open to and to act to change them when they are not fair or when outdated, to accept and respect fellow Americans regardless of sex, race or opinions and to recognize just how privileged you are.
Join Date: 10/14/21
Posts: 122
Join Date: 02/13/20
Posts: 4
Rita, I do agree with you on most points. In a spiritual sense though, I like to think that being American is similar to the Golden Rule: due onto others....Unfortunately, it's the opposite here, the Gold rules.
I appreciate my material things but what about medicare for all, free education and health insurance for all the babies that our born whether the mother is in agreement or not.
I'm almost 70, and at times I am embarrassed to be American. People are angry, defensive, and divisive. Reading something like 1619 Project would be a great starting point for these Americans.
Join Date: 12/14/22
Posts: 112
This is incredibly hard to answer given the current political climate and the conflicting discussions by each political party because one party has conveniently reframed aspects of what it means to be an American so that it fits their agenda, i.e. what it means to support the Constitution.
Political ideology aside, I think it means many of the things Ritah mentioned in her reply to including obeying the laws (or working with elected officials to change laws through established channels), voting, serving on a jury, paying taxes,and supporting the military to keep our country free. I don’t think a person has to have spent a significant part of their life in the U.S. because time spent does not make someone a better citizen or a better American, especially when I think about those who immigrate to our country, who then become citizens 5 or so years after arriving here. One point to add to the posts above, is that we know our American History and what’s happened over the course of the last 400+ years. The American Citizenship and Naturalization Test touches on 95 key topics that every adult should know.
Join Date: 01/13/18
Posts: 244
I used to think it meant living in the most democratic country in the world. I knew our history was spotty on this issue, but felt that from the 1970s on that we had made real progress. I no longer have optimism that it will remain that way and pray for the country that my grandchildren will inherit.
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