...Ben Nelson once wrote, “What does it mean to be an American? While each of us may have our own specific answer to that question, we likely agree on the basic principles of America: freedom, equal opportunity, and rights accompanied by responsibilities.” (Nelson, n.d., quote 1). From a personal perspective this quote can be interpreted as, while many individuals might have a personal opinion or definition of what it means to be an American, there is still a clear foundation in which it is built upon. It is viewed that it is the rights, freedoms, and opportunities for all, and with those liberties also comes a responsibility to all individuals. Such responsibilities to ourselves and others include moral obligations, ethical behavior, and respect. As members of society, there are situations that may be difficult that...
Words: 1544 - Pages: 7
...Some people may ask themselves, “What does it mean to be an American?” many new people coming to America; always have that question in mind, because they want to fit in. An American is someone who doesn’t let society change them, they are proud of being themselves and doesn’t care who judges them, and an American is someone who has courage to stands up for what they believe in and won’t let anybody change their views. Being in a society, everyone is expected to act and do the same things. But, America changes that with the different types of cultures and people from all around the world in one place. Of course in the beginning of America, it wasn’t like that at all. Many people thought we should be separated and some were better than others because the color of their skin. The biggest conflict...
Words: 838 - 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
...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
...There are many interpretations of what “The American Dream,” stands for but I have a solid definition for it. What I believe “The American Dream,” stands for is that, if you work hard you will never be poor in your life. You have the freedom to do what you want within reason, when you want it. You could start a company and be the next Bill Gates, or just relax working at Gamestop. Making it in life is what “The American Dream,” stands for, and what you take from that is what the dream means to you. You and all other Americans have equal opportunity, and it only matters how hard you work. It doesn’t matter if you were born here, or in another country. If you are a United States citizen, and have the will to work towards what you want, no one is going to stop you. It doesn’t matter what you do, but only hard work, determination, and persistence will get you there. The American Dream is achievable for everyone, because you can start whenever, with whatever you feel like. In this country, you...
Words: 746 - Pages: 3
... or a loving and supportive group. In most cases when people think of families they think of having a mom, dad, brother, sister. However, nothing in life is perfect. Today, we have separated , same sex, extended, and blended families. Society tries to explain these more contemporary families but has a harsh way of doing so. In the essay, Stone Soup, by Barbara Kingsolver, she discusses how society views families and in the essay, Family Values, by Richard Rodriguez, he talks about American family values. Both essays express the view that family should be valued regardless of differences. Kingsolver breaks down what it means to be a real family while Rodriguez emphasizes the value of family; both authors show the importance of having family. In the introduction of the Kingsolver essay, she talks about a young boy’s soccer game. She talks about how the young boy, whose name is Andy, has a blended family. Kingsolver writes, “He’s Andy, my best friend’s son. The cheering section includes his mother and her friends, his brother, his father, and stepmother, a stepbrother and stepsister, and a grandparent” (147). She uses her friend’s son as an real life example of what kind of family would be considered a broken family by society but is not. Andy’s family is supportive of him and loves him enough to come and cheer for him regardless of Pagan 2 his parents being divorced. Kingsolver talks about how society assumes if that a family is broken apart, it is a failure. She talks about how when she was growing up...
Words: 1500 - Pages: 6
...The Fight for the Fifteenth Amendment The fifteenth amendment to the United states constitution prohibited the United States government to deny someone suffrage based on color or race. The fight for suffrage for African Americans was a long one and took the help of many people and their words and ideas to finally win. However, it was a small step for mankind. African American men finally gained the right to vote, but where did that leave women? Fredrick Douglass and Elizabeth Cady Stanton were two important writers dedicated to the cause of gaining the right to vote. Although their struggles were similar in nature, the difference between gaining suffrage for all races, and gaining suffrage for both sexes raised arguments between what should have been a collaborative force. In Fredrick Douglass’ essay “Learning to Read and Write” and Elizabeth Cady Stanton’s essay “Declaration of Sediments and Resolutions” there were significant shared literally binaries. First off is the underlying factor Civilized v. Uncivilized. This is relevant to the argument because they both are considered uncivilized so they can’t vote. Secondly, Mental Darkness v. Education. Douglass wasn’t able to be educated because he was a slave to a white family and it was looked down upon for him to be educated. Stanton was a woman therefore she was seen by society as less intelligent even though she wasn’t. Third is Depravity v. Innocence. Both of them were being treated wrongly by someone above them and both...
Words: 892 - Pages: 4
...to live in America for working privileges. Their real desire is to become something that depicts pride and honor, an American. Being an American in a country as diverse as ours means more than just living on American soil, it has endless benefits that allows one to feel free. Unfortunately, the rapid flow of immigrants into America has led to many issues. One of the main ones is the concept of assimilation, which has been disputed for years due to the capacity of the incoming immigrants. Jay Nordlinger, in his essay “Bassackwards: Construction Spanish and Other Signs of the Times” notes that not “everyone who comes to America is dying to melt into the pot”. Yet he stresses, as does Linda Chavez in her essay “Supporting Family Values”, the need for immigrants to assimilate to American culture. These two concepts have been floating around America since the first illegal immigrants started to show up and they’ve been controversial ever since. Everyone is looking for a happy medium for the issue but can’t seem to find it. Recent immigrants are being expected to trade their ethnic and national identities for new American identities, and the concept of ‘Americanization’ commences. Is the idea of American culture as a “melting pot” still valid, or are immigrants becoming ‘Americanized’? Being an American means to live on American soil. But more than that, to be American is to...
Words: 1262 - Pages: 6
...J. Hector St. John de Crevecoeur, a French aristocrat, traveled all over the American colonies. His audience would consist of the people who read Letters from an American Farmer in 1782. Crevecoeur’s diction, metaphors, and rhetorical questions show that his tone is proud for Americans. His purpose of this essay was to praise American society and prove that America is doing great. Crevecoeur starts off his essay by using a rhetorical question “…; to what purpose should they ask one another what countrymen they are?” Crevecoeur does this to get Americans thinking about their history and the history of America. America was colonized by Europe. The first people are Europeans who colonized America. The people who came to America were...
Words: 444 - Pages: 2
...Summative Rhetorical Analysis Essay Format. Intro=hook+precis 3 body paragraphs, one about each choice: 2 pieces of evidence Commentary linking choice to SOAP Final body paragraph ends with a concluding idea. Summative Rhetorical Analysis Outline Choice 1: Repetitions Choice 2: Different Perspectives Choice 3: Use of metaphors Evidence 1: The word “Breath”. Connection to SOAP: Purpose- the hardships of having to breathe and what they have to do just to breathe. Evidence 1: If you’re white, you may be thinking, “They certainly aren’t socially distant.”. Connection to SOAP: Purpose- the different lives you live depending on what color you are and how you are treated. Evidence 1: “Racism in America is like dust in the air”. It seems invisible....
Words: 815 - Pages: 4
...with which to support your essay. To assist you with this, complete the following worksheet. Part I Directions: Use the following library and internet resources to locate a resource to support your essay. Complete the following table below the example table provided. * Use the Role Model you selected as your “keyword” to search the GCU database located in the GCU Library at http://library.gcu.edu Example Table Topic | Resource Name | Resource Type | Explain how you accessed your resource. | How is the resource relevant to your essay topic? | Martin Luther King, Jr. | Journal of Religious Thought | Academic Journal | Clicked on the link above to the library home page. Selected “Find Journal Articles.” Clicked on “Christian Studies” under “Find Databases by Subject.” Selected “ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials.” Also selected “Religion and Philosophy Collection.” Used keywords “Martin Luther King AND (worldview OR religion* OR belief*).” | Describes how Martin Luther King, Jr. viewed racism, a just society, and the means for creating a just society. | Permalink | http://library.gcu.edu:2048/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=rlh&AN=4975124&site=ehost-live&scope=site | Student Summary | This article covers the views of Benjamin Mays, Malcolm X, and Martin Luther King, Jr. on three key questions: 1) What is the nature of racism? 2) What is a vision of a just society? and 3) What are the means to enact the vision? Benjamin...
Words: 1168 - Pages: 5
...Complex Systems in Education CSE ESSAYS COURSE Complex Course on Writing English and American Essays for Advanced Students English Language Programs Division Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Writing 2 United States Information Agency, Washington, D. C. 1999 2 3 How to Use this Complex Course Частные уроки Английского Языка 387-1231 MIND Speaks to MIND – Selected American Essays 4 Preface Some years ago, a visitor to our office, a professor of English at a large foreign university, asked if the English Language Programs Division had published a book of American essays for foreign students – especially students at the advanced level. Having to respond in the negative, I was, nonetheless, “intrigued” by the idea of a collection of essays that would form a source of stimulating ideas or thoughts that could be thoroughly examined in the EFL classroom, discussed and debated in free conversation, and perhaps, ultimately, lead to a significant growth in the exchange of information between cultures – via the printed page. From this rationale, then, there issues an explanation for the title, Mind Speaks to Mind, which itself is an “exchange of information” between the editor and Edward Hoagland in his essay, “On Essays”! And, readers are encouraged to study this essay first as a type of guideline concerning the nature/purpose of the essay. It is found on page 26. For ease of reference, the essays are presented in alphabetical order according...
Words: 42425 - Pages: 170
...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
...American is of or relating to United States of America or its people,language, or culture. What does it mean to be an American? Being American means that everyone gets to say the Pledge of Allegiance every day and show respect to all the Americans that sacrifice their lives for citizens. There were prisoners that were also American that said the Pledge of Allegiance every day because it meant so much to them. However Mike Christian is a great example of what it means to be a real American no matter how badly mistreated he went through. Americans do a lot of things to show their country’s pride; like hanging american flags in their yards, on their cars, and also having them on their shirts. Americans also say the Pledge of Allegiance every...
Words: 415 - Pages: 2
...Turner is most successful at analyzing American history through his essay, “The Significance of the Frontier in American History”. This piece examines how life was first created here in America, as well as how the first frontier set the stage for numerous civilization advancements that would occur in the near future. Many Americans today seem to forget about the first settlements that served as the basis for what the United States of America has become. This essay accomplishes the goal of reminding those people of how majorly important each step was on the American frontier centuries ago. What was once just an enormous area of free, unoccupied land, is now the home of billions of people as well as numerous buildings, businesses, and modes of transportation....
Words: 1552 - Pages: 7
