What does it mean to be American?

This is from a letter published in Documented Dreams:

Luis, a 17-year-old DREAMer states “to me, an American is not simply someone who was born here and has proof of citizenship; rather an American is someone living in and contributing to this country, while trying to pursue the American dream…documentation has nothing to do with the rights of a person.”

Do you agree/disagree with Luis? I got several questionnaires back and the overwhelming majority of DREAMers consider themselves American, while the opposition is telling us to "go home." I think it is a major point of contention -- until we can prove that we are one of 'them' they simply do not get it and maintain their stubborn defiance to our DREAMs.

What is your reaction to this and how do you defend your identity as an 'American?' What do you think it means to be American?

Lets reconstruct

Agree with Luis. Let's do what needs to be done to get this bill pass ASAP.
Need to contact Sen. Durbin, OBAMA , CLINTON AND MCCAIN AND as many Senators/Congressman, Nancy Peloci, on dream act. Should send some of the stories to them and update them with all the students problems and loosing their big time talents, and their frustrations.

Being an American is an idea. Anybody can be an American just as long as they love this country and appreciate it for what it is.

No one else?

Good question. By all technicalities the racist prick hick over in Mississippi is as American as the tree hugging hippy over in California is. They were born inside America's borders and the ink that someone penned on a piece of paper way back when, says they should be American and so they are. Yet both of these people, more likely than not, would decry the validity of each other's claim to what it really means to be American.

To me however it is nothing other than beating the nationalism drum for the gazillionth time. Which in my opinion breeds nothing more but hate and ignorance. Really, how is America any different from the rest of the free world? People everywhere love and hate, express their likes and dislikes, live and die. Everywhere you go you'll meet shit people and you'll meet characters who will go out of their way to help you even on their worst day.

What does it mean to be American? I don't know, I'm just an average Joe trying to make a living, do I fit your definition of an American?

I actually think your last statement speaks profoundly about who we are and the nature of our existence. What really ties us all together is the day to day struggle of earning a living and being alienated from ourselves and those around us. Very much on the mark IMHO.

Others?

I think the larger question is; what makes anyone American? Even those children born here - who have a United States birth certificate? There's no American gene or pill that makes these children American. You aren't born patriotic to your country.

I think a shared cultural experience makes you feel American. Just like our US citizen peers, we've gone to school here and learned the history of the United States. We feel proud to call this country our home. For a lot of us all our memories - our *firsts* - such first time rode a bike, learned to swim, first dance and first kiss - happened right here in this country. We've been here through all the fads from pogs to beanie babies. We've been here through the tragedies America has dealt with (Columbine, 9/11, Katrina). It's hard to put into words what being an American is because it’s a combination of many different things.

Exactly. I don't believe a piece of paper is what makes one an American or belong to a certain country. One's place of birth is simply that, just a place. It's up to you to find a true home. Unfortunately in our case, the "simple piece of paper" is that last piece in the puzzle that defines our lives. It's hard to live a life that's incomplete.

I think we dreamies are more American than those who are native born, 'cause we want it and we want it bad and none of us would ever take it for granted.

So very true...