Preview

Belonging to America

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1537 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Belonging to America
Belonging to America
My grandfather always used to explain to me how lucky I was to be able to be an American. He would inform me on how valuable it was and how I should never take it for granted. He expressed that I should feel honored to be able to have all the opportunities I do. I never understood him growing up. I did not understand how growing up somewhere, like America, versus another country could be any different. I understand now. When I was younger, my mother would tell different stories about her childhood. She would go into saying, “Growing up grandpa was in the service. I always missed him and did not understand why he had to go fight people “for our freedom,” as he would say. I always felt free, I always felt like everyone in the world got along, I didn’t understand why he had to go out and fight, why he had to go out and risk his life.” She would inform me on how important it was, as an American, to contribute to our country and to do my part as a citizen. My grandfather served in the army. What could I do?
As I grew up I learned a lot more about how I could contribute to my country: paying taxes, voting and serving in jury duty. My grandmother voted and my grandfather served in the war. My parents vote, pay taxes and go to jury duty. As an American I take pride in the idea that I can help my country. I vote, pay taxes, serve in jury duty and say the pledge of allegiance with pride for my country. Even though I know some American citizens don't contribute to our country in this way, based on my beliefs I believe an American is someone who contributes all they can to our nation, embracing your rights and taking pride in your country.
In relation to what I believe the definition of an American is, the government legislation somewhat agrees but in addition has other requirements immigrants must portray in order to be an American citizen. According to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the current legislation regarding immigration laws

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Do you know what it means to be an American? There is several ways to show what it is to be an American. For example, the police protect our streets everyday. Also the people that have careers that makes our country a better place. An American is showing patriotism, having freedom, and showing love and devotion for your country.…

    • 488 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    While being an American offers many benefits, it also brings with it some important responsibilities. It is your duty to demonstrate your commitment to your country by supporting and defending your constitution, serving and protecting the country when required,…

    • 791 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    What it means to be an American is that you can be who you want to be. According to an article written by Marcie Sillman , “Shmidt hopes [his family] [gets] the opportunity to come to this country. He spreads his arms wide as he describes his own experiences”. Shmidt’s personal experiences is an example to his family and others, that he is and wants to be an American. He can finally be and do what he wants to do. As an American, you can make yourself whoever you want to and do the things you have always dreamed of doing. According…

    • 509 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    To begin with, even the most similar people have their own points of views and differences that lead them to different beliefs. In the story “Everyday Use,” by Alice Walker, protagonist Maggie and her sister Dee both have different views on their own heritage. Also, in the story “Two Ways to Belong in America,” by Bharati Mukherjee, sisters Mira and Bharati have the same relationship. Both sisters from each story have to embrace their backgrounds, while the other one assimilates to a new culture.…

    • 367 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    To be an American, means to have freedom over one’s own life. In this country of ours we are blessed to be able to express ourselves through freedom of speech without punishment. Because of our constitution, not only do we have the right to express our own individual beliefs with freedom of speech, but we are also able to practice our own religions, bear arms, and enforce the press, letting us receive news about the government itself. This is truly what it means to be an American. To be individual, and live your own life the way you choose…

    • 113 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    When asked the question “what is an american?”, almost every single person would provide a different answer. This question is very open ended, and there are infinite possibilities for a response. Being an american is not something that can be decided by a few physical criterion, it is something more. To be an american is, according to Patricia Fernandez, “a state of mind,” based on a person’s beliefs rather than their tangible features. Therefore, I believe that an American is someone who considers America to be their home, believes in freedom and equality for all people regardless of race, social status, gender, or ethnicity, and is loyal and supportive to the United States.…

    • 627 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Constitution Cafe

    • 618 Words
    • 3 Pages

    What defines an American citizen? Loosely, it is an individual of a state or nation, whom is obligated to its government and then is offered protection. As an American citizen, the assumed outlined duties to uphold would include: voting, paying taxes, and being involved with the community. Due to the fact that American citizens contribute to paying taxes, they expect for the government to manage their money securely. Also, citizens expect for the government to protect them, as well as their constitutional given rights. .…

    • 618 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Stranger in America

    • 1258 Words
    • 6 Pages

    What does it mean to be an “American”? To each individual person it means something very different. For the writer Bharati Mukherjee, who wrote the essay, “American Dreamer”, to be a true American someone has to want to be an American, not just prove that they merited citizenship. Her essay “American Dreamer” goes in depth into this idea and her opinion that as an American one should believe in bringing together the cultures in America. “We must think of American culture and nationhood as a constantly reforming, transmogrifying “we” (Mukherjee 438). For the author James Baldwin, who wrote the essay “Stranger in the Village”, an American is a person who is integrated with other cultures, and will never be a strictly “white” culture. “This world is white no longer, and it will never be white again.” (Baldwin 449) There are vast differences in the cultures of the world and to be integrated into a new culture can often be troublesome. These two essays have agreeing opinions on both of the authors’ predictions for the future of America and the refusal of the American culture to accept cultures other than their own, however they contrast with the authors’ own personal experiences in a culture other than their own.…

    • 1258 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    My responsibility to America is to be a model citizen. To me this means you take care of your family. It also means to lead by example. It can also mean to participate in the democratic process. A model citizen is a person who abides by laws, votes, serves their country in some way shape or form, pay taxes, and defends their rights and privileges.…

    • 173 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    What does it mean to be an American for you? We use “American” word so freely but do we know what it exactly means to be an American? Only living in America does not mean that you are an American. Millions of people migrate into the United States of American in order to achieve their dream and earn the name of an American. For hundreds of years the United States has been attracting immigrants from a variety of different countries, races, and religions to come live in a land full of freedom and opportunity. This freedom, opportunities and responsibilities for each other make us a true American. Being an American is about being free and loyal. It's about having freedom of religion, rights, and justice. It's also about being about yourself.…

    • 949 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Coming to America

    • 526 Words
    • 3 Pages

    I hope this letter reaches you well and in time. It’s Robert writing to like I promised when I reached the great lands of the United States of America. Patrick I’ll tell you one thing and that would be how difficult the ride was to the great land. There was a lady that got sick on the boat and in order to keep us all safe from her the captain had to let her off in the middle of the sea! It was very unexpected but I stayed tough with my lucky Irish blood and made it here. I do miss Ireland very much and wish I could be back there but I know if I want to get rich I have to push myself.…

    • 526 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    America became a country on July 4th, 1776; over 240 years ago. That’s greater than 240 years of generations of people trying to define what it means to be an American, but few still stand true today from that long ago. Being accepting of others, not only other ethnic groups but fellow Americans as well, is one way in which things have not changed from the first American generation to the latest. One of the longest standing traits of the “poster child” American is being courageous, whether it be to earn our freedom or to fight for our rights as a civilization. Taking pride in our country is one of the oldest, and strongest, qualities of an American that was so important in the forming of our country and of equal importance, if not more so, today. Our generation defines what it means to be an American with the simple, and somewhat original, manner of being accepting of others, being courageous, and taking pride in our country.…

    • 597 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Welcome to the ball game where the batters hit, the pitchers stretch and the crowd is full of hotdogs and pretzels, then someone comes out sings the “Star Spangled Banner,” every one stands and puts everything down and their hand goes over their hearts, and then the everyone recites the Pledge of Allegiance. The importance of the Pledge of Allegiance has always been unnoticed by the younger generations of children who do not recite it everyday. When we were in grade school we recited it every day of the week and I take pride in the pledge that shows true patriotism and Americanism. Americanism, what is it? Someone on the street might say, “Well it might be being caring and nice to others, or helping someone in need.” Whenever I think of Americanism I think about the Pledge of Allegiance.…

    • 233 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Being American is about more than just your racial background or heritage. It is about how hard are you willing to work, to fight for your goals and dreams. Americans nowadays have become self-assured and lazy, unwilling to work hard while just assuming that their goals and dreams will come true. Immigrants on the other hand realize that they will not be given anything, and have to fight to establish a livelihood in America, but once they do they can easily become complacent as well. “Illegal immigrants” however can never become complacent, because they are not even citizens, and…

    • 718 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Being an American

    • 460 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Well, it says anywhere that all Americans are from a different foreign land. People came from foreign lands because they thought it was the land of opportunity, which it was. Which brings me to my next point, since America was the land of opportunity to…

    • 460 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays