Explain What It Means To Be An American?

What does it mean to be an American today? This is a very difficult question to answer, but I believe that it is not just an academic question. As our society becomes more diverse, America will develop a broader and richer culture. At the same time, nations depend upon some sort of core values, beliefs, and identity to cling to. That requires some sort of definition of what it means to be an American, so I believe that the questions should be: “How Would You Define an American Today?” An “American” cannot be defined by race. By the year 2043, racial minorities will become the majority. An “American” is not necessarily a person who speaks the English language; in Texas alone there are over 230 languages spoken. Nor can an “American” be defined based off of social issues because younger adults disagree with their parents on issues such as gun control, abortion, immigration, and a slew of other issues. So what truly defines an “American”? I think that one of our greatest Founding Fathers, Thomas Jefferson, said it best: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.” An “American” should believe that everyone is created equal,
Being an “American” should be about us celebrating the diversity which has given birth to our creative spirit and ingenuity, which calls all of us to live with integrity, responsibility, and hospitality to the people who will shape the tomorrow of our great, great nation. As Harry S. Truman said, “America was not built on fear, it was built on courage, on imagination and an unbeatable determination to do the job at hand.” Americans should be defined by imagination, determination, and bravery, that has shaped our great