...American Icons Americans have many icons they look to during times of despair. Icons are things that obtain a meaning to represent a symbol. When thinking in particular, icons such as the American flag or the Statue of Liberty come to mind. The question that derives from people is whether or not these icons still stand for their meanings in America. The American flag will always represent the United States as the land of the free and the home of the brave. People use the flag to show their gratitude to their country. On the other hand, the Statue of Liberty stands for the countries never failing democracy and freedom. These icons did rise from past wars which only reinforced their meanings. To begin, the American flag is considered sacred...
Words: 767 - Pages: 4
...What does it mean to be an American? That depends on who you ask, many people often think of Americans as fat and lazy slobs who mettle to much in other people affairs, living off the backs of lesser countries to sustain there egocentric existence. Others including most Americans think of the classic typical patriot, who has multiple weapons, is constantly looking over their shoulder and drives in an over sized truck with an American flag at the back. Being an American is being a Patriot, loving your country men, and your country but not afraid to challenge either in the pursuit of life liberty and happiness for all. America has sense its creation been a diverse multicultural country making blanket statements about feelings and behaviors of its inhabitants impossible. However I think everyone is in some way a Patriot which I equate to being the one defining trait of an American. The simple definition of patriotism is an emotional attachment to ones country. I think this definition has more to it than meets the eye, when you consider the principles this country was built on. This country was built on hard work and determination; the hardships endured only serve to...
Words: 705 - Pages: 3
...Some immigrants, or people that don’t live in America, don’t know what it means to be an American citizen. Americans may be different, but there are ways to identify the typical American. Some think the stereotypical way, this is not true. An American knows what is happening around the country, knows the language, and some might be soldiers. First of all, an American citizen might know what is happening around America. For instance, the latest, news, trends, and weather. Not all of us would know these, that is fine. But a majority of the Americans do. If you traveled to a new country, you wouldn’t know what is happening. But if you lived there for awhile, you should. Given these points, if someone asked you, “what is the weather?” or, “did you hear about this happening?” would you know? In addition, just like how some people ask you this, you need to know how to communicate with other Americans too....
Words: 453 - Pages: 2
...Definition Essay What do you think American means? Do you think that it’s just a person that lives in America? American isn’t just someone who stands up for the Pledge of Allegiance, an American is someone who does what they are suppose to do for this country. For example, the people in the military. These people are giving up their lives to serve their country, these people are the ones that let you live in America free and out of slavery. The real Americans are the ones out on the battlefield risking their lives and not knowing if they are going to come back to their family, friends, and loved ones. I don’t think that you are an American until you have been out on the battlefield. I think that if you are not going to be out on the battlefield,...
Words: 304 - Pages: 2
...We are interested in how second-generation Asian American students at the University of Illinois feel about being Asian American, particularly those who are not of Chinese, Korean, Filipino or Japanese descent. In other words, we are focusing on students whose background ethnicity represents Southeast Asian (Thai, Vietnamese, Laotian, Indonesian) and South Asian (Indian, Bengali, Pakistani) and so forth. We want to explore how various Asian ethnic groups identify socially and culturally with the term Asian American. We asked for written responses from Asian American students, who have these background ethnicities, to describe in their own words what being Asian American means to them. In addition, we walked around campus and interviewed several second-generation Asian Americans. In their explanations, we encouraged the students to explain if it was a struggle growing up in America, whether they have ever been a victim to stereotypes or discrimination and how they have dealt with it. We took these statements and compared them to the stereotypes placed immigrants of the 1900s. In addition to the interviews, we analyzed our finding with an article published by Jerry Park of Baylor University titled, “Second-Generation Asian American Pan-Ethnic Identify: Pluralized Meaning of a Racial Label” who did a similar study in four public universities, along with other readings from class. The term, Asian American, was formed as a significant symbolic move in constructing an ethnic identity...
Words: 1577 - Pages: 7
...Communist Manifesto, written by Karl Marx, explains what it means to be a communist nation. According to Marx, a communist nation will allow everyone to own the land, everyone is responsible to work, and the state will control communications and transports. Marx said a communist nation will do and be much more but those list above are a few main points. The opposite of communism is capitalism, which is where private owners, rather than the state, control a country's trade and industry for profit. The United States of America is not communist but capitalist because America does not share land between citizens, does not force the disabled to work, and Americans can communicate how they please and ship their goods wherever. The United States of America allows citizens to own private property, unlike communist nations that Marx describes in his essay. In a communist nation, the nation will have an “abolition of property in land and application of all rents of land to public purposes,” according to Marx. This means that there will be no private property but just public land which the people work. America does allow citizens to own land, and then use it for private purposes. There are private property rights in the Constitution, the fourth Amendment, regarding that individuals may hold and exercise their property, even if it is against the government itself. In a capitalist nation, the people are allowed free enterprise which Americans can do and communists cannot. Therefore, since the...
Words: 534 - Pages: 3
...Critique: “The American Dream: Dead, Alive, or on Hold?” Although the idea of the “American Dream” may be outdated to some,Brandon King’s The American Dream: Dead, Alive, or on Hold effectively represents and explains the truth behind the american dream, and why people feel that way. Many liberals believe that the dream is dead because the income gap known as “income inequality” but despite the fact that liberals have that belief, income inequality actually helps people acquire the “American Dream”. Income inequality acts as a motivation for the less fortunate, or even a wake up call. So this gap is what help humans gain this area of success in life known as “The American Dream”. The “American Dream” is more than just making money or having a job, it...
Words: 1294 - Pages: 6
...what it means to be American What defines an American? An American is someone who is free to go on their own path and strive for what they want, knowing that they can accomplish their goal. One of the great things about America is the freedom to choose your own path and live your life to your standards. To be free of the restriction and oppression of the former land. Many immigrants from this land were people with dreams and hopes of a future to be free of what they had left behind. in the poem “The New Colossus” when the author says “give me your tired your poor your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.”she saw the statue of liberty she saw freedom and opportunity to start living the life she wants. An example of of this would Goerge from Of Mice and Men. The author quotes that george's dream is to “Have a little house and a couple of acres and a cow and some pigs.” He believes in his dream...
Words: 1249 - Pages: 5
...What It Means To Be an American……. Lets just think about it there are over 1 million people in the world and if you were to ask every person what does it mean to be an american you're going to get over 100 different answers. There is no true answer to what being american really means but if you ask me what's my perspective on what it means to be an american it would have to be,being able to have dreams and turn those dreams into reality. Being an American can also mean much more like, freedom of speech, freedom of color and freedom of judgment. In the essay What is Freedom? It say in paragraph 7,” Freedom means I want to do, not what the government wants me to do.”Too me that means not giving up your dreams....
Words: 801 - Pages: 4
...Everyone has a different American dream just like everyone has different opinions on politics and religion. This is shown throughout the book The Glass Castle, written by Jeannette Walls. The American Dream was something that people thought was unachievable by most but in reality, it was achievable it just took a lot of hard work and effort, and a lot of people struggled with this part. A lot of hard work and effort were the main parts of the American dream, which caused a lot of people the inability to achieve it. “It’s the Joshua tree’s struggle that gives it beauty” (Walls 38). The tree represents the hard work or “struggle” that Jeanette and her family go through when trying to achieve “their” American Dream. I believe the real meaning...
Words: 577 - Pages: 3
...What does it mean to be an American? It doesn't mean much to be honest. If you're talking to be living an American life than i will tell you about it. To be and American and to live as one. I'm like everyone else, my parents were immagrants from southeast asia. My parents than grew up here and got married here. I was born as an American citizen, it really don't mean much to be an American. living the American life i grew up poverty. Grew up living in apartments, My parents sacrificed a a lot for us as kids. They always wanted us to do good in school. To be American does have its good parts. Freedom and etc, free education. Being American you get a lot of advantages in life. You have more rights and freedom as a person and it can take you to a very success full life. America is where you follow your dreams, they can come true. If you work hard enough for it not every gets what they want....
Words: 441 - Pages: 2
...Expression and Devotion to Our Country What Makes a Person an American? What does it truly mean to be an American? There are so many possibilities when it comes to answering this question. Is it your patriotism, equality, or your freedom? Many would say that all three of these things are large factors of being an American. It is seen as a rather obligatory job for Americans to take their citizenship seriously. If you are an American, you are encouraged to talk positively about your country, and also to fulfill your duties as a citizen. Using your freedom as an advantage, by voting, and participating in the enrichment of your country. To be an American is to be patriotic, express your equality, and embrace the freedoms presented by our founding fathers without overstepping boundaries. Patriotism is a very important aspect of most Americans' lives. To be patriotic is to have or express devotion and vigorous support for one's country. Everyday Americans show patriotism not only in simple actions, but also by taking extreme measures and risks in...
Words: 742 - Pages: 3
...What does the American dream mean to you? My American dream is to own my own house with a small family out in the country well maintain. The American dream mean to me that your living how you want to. In the book, Raisin in the Sun the American dream in the play was to own something like a house or business. In the book, The Great Gatsby, the American dream was to be the wealthiest person around and have the nicest things around. The American dream could mean something different to every person. The American dream to you should mean living a good life or owning everything you always wanted to own. For an example, you have everything you have ever wanted or wanted to be like being a bank accounted and living a big house driving a Corvette....
Words: 369 - Pages: 2
...American Exceptionalism is a belief that America is exceptional and does not conform to the norm. It is the uniqueness of our country which sets us apart from all of the rest. American Exceptionalism can be traced back to the 1830s when Alexis de Tocqueville who was the first to use the term “exceptional” to describe the United States and the American people in his class work Democracy in America. However, the idea of America as an exceptional entity can be traced back to the earliest colonial times. The idea American Exceptionalism has changed over the decades and many Americans in recent years do not believe in it. In the opinion editorial, “Decline of American Exceptionalism,” written by Charles M. Blow, he believes that Americans should realize what our nation has come to and to restore what was once the greatest country in the world. He also believes that people have fallen into deep pessimism about our country because the country is in “the start of a longer-term decline where the U.S. is no longer the leading country in the world.” (Blow) Even though America is known for opportunities arising and our hope for humanity, I believe that the belief of American Exceptionalism has changed because Americans have forgotten what it means and what it looks like. Therefore, American Exceptionalism will be gone unless, America as a whole takes the initiative to change the country back to its mighty state. For example, a country who once had everything the other countries dreamt...
Words: 643 - Pages: 3
...I believe that to be an American you get certin rights that not all of the world is thankful to have such as freedom of religion, freedom of speech and a fair trial. In Amendment 1 congress talks about religion which means they cannot stop you from practicing your religion which is one of the most prominent things in america. We see in Amendment 1 “ Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion”. This shows what they cannot do to your religion this matters to everyone because it is what american was build on, to escape the religious hierarchy. Also in Amendment 1 they wrote of freedom of speech and how you can have it. In that they write “Or abridging the freedom of speech”. Which means that the government can not stop us from talking about something or saying something, how ever this does not exclude us from getting in trouble for saying it outloud....
Words: 324 - Pages: 2
