What does it mean to be American? - Page 2

if you live, love and contribute more than you take from this country, then you are an American in my eyes. paperwork has nothing to do with it!!

To me an American is someone who has proof of citizenship in the US or was born here.

I know it is hard on us, but I'm basing this answer to the question I made myself years ago "What does it mean to be Mexican?"

Culturally speaking we adopted the American culture for obvious reasons, but we won't be "Americans" until we have the citizenship papers with our names in it on our hands.

That's just my opinion.

american=citizen of usa

In the eyes of this nation's law, being an American means being a citizen on paper but we all know that it takes more than a piece of paper to be an American. Is someone who was born here but never grew up here any more American than I who has never known any country but this one? In the eyes of many that answer is easy. But the reality is more than just the bare facts laid out on a piece of paper. We Dreamers are invested in this country, we love and hate it, work hard, study hard and try to live as best we can within its borders. If we passed each other in the street or stood in line together at Dunkin Donuts, we would not know the difference. and many of those who hate and oppose us "illegals" wouldn't be able to tell either. To be an American is to be invested in this country, to live through its trials and embrace its triumphs. Even though my country of birth defines my ethnic background, it is only a part of my cultural identity. In my own heart I am an American with or without the papers.

Preach on girl!!!



you really do have a way with words.

You should start a blog...

lol, thanks. I definitely would if I had the time or the attention span but it's definitely something I wouldn't mind doing

This questioned is far too intricate to answer in a thread, in my Globalization of Culture class we tackled a similar question. A college colleague and I agreed to to disagree on the issue and we had a good discussion. I just find it interesting how we are here today 232 yrs after the Declaration of Independence and we are still asking: Who are we as American's? I asked my History Professor (He has multiple Masters and a PHD in History) if in any other time in U.S. History there was this anti-immigrant sentiment. I learned that 100 years the same anti-immigrant environment was directed at the Irish. Anyway I could keep on writing on this topic, but the point is that years from now, I do not know, 300 years maybe, when America is intertwined with all cultures of the world (America will eventually become a cultural-hybridity nation), maybe then America will stop asking themselves, who are we as American's? The cultural relavists, who want to maintain a culture pure (i.e. the Hittler's of the world), will say the following about immigration: Build a wall at the U.S. Southern border, no amnesty, protect our heritage, stop the invasion, keep America pure, etc (what wacko's lol)

to live have sex make money and die

The United States is made up of a variety of people who represent numerous cultures that it's difficult to accurately say just who or what is an American.