What is it to be an American

This is an essay I wrote for my 11th grade English class. So, today I went to class all excited to hear everyone else's opinions and feelings. I was shocked by the lack of patriotism, and the lack of understanding of how blessed we are to live in this nation.

What is it to be an American?

What is it to be an American? It’s a question that has been asked since this country was founded. Does it mean to be proud, to be free, and have boundless opportunities? There isn’t a set definition of what it is to be an American. It means different things to different people. To a refugee from the war ravaged country of North Korea this country would offer a sense of safety, and the ability to start anew. Such a person would have a very different view of what it is to be an American and live in America; compared to a cooperate executive who works on Wall Street. To me, an American is a person who wants something better, something more. In the Declaration of Independence it states, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.“ Most people don’t understand the risks, lengths, and sacrifices that were made that led our country to where it is today. Being American means knowing that you have a great heritage, that people gave their lives for this country. Many people have heroic tales of ancestors who fought for what they believed in and suffered many afflictions. A story of such endurance in my family is that of Grandma Jo. Grandma Jo crossed the plains and had to bury her new born baby in the ice. She covered her child’s body with rocks for a grave, and while slowly driving away she heard the wolves scrap the away those rocks. Such is the faith and courage of our fore fathers. It means knowing that I have a father in the Air Force who has multiple times put his life on the line to protect his freedom, his religion, his family, and this country.

Being an American is the knowledge that there’s something else out there. That all reason told us we would lose in the war against Great Britain. It’s realizing that all of our fore fathers: Jefferson, Franklin, Hancock, Rush, Madison, Adams, Washington, etc believed there was a Divine intervention. In May of 1776 George Washington wrote a letter to Reverend William Gordon. In it Washington said, “The man must be bad indeed who can look upon the events of the American Revolution without feeling the warmest gratitude towards the great Author of the Universe whose divine interposition was so frequently manifested in our behalf…. In war He directed the sword, and in peace, He has ruled in our councils” We as Americans should strive to be better, do better, and do what’s right. We’ve been blessed with this free nation and it’s our job to keep it that way. An American is a person who isn’t afraid to shoot for the stars and stand up for what they believe in. Nelson Mendalah put it perfectly when he said, "Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just in some of us, it is in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others." I am an American; I come from a long line of religious stalwart people. Who were pilots, engineers, military men, spies, teachers, leaders, friends, examples, laborers, mothers and fathers. Because of those before me I can worship my God.

I know that I have the same privileges as those around me, whither male or female. I can strive to be what ever I want to be; the sky is the limit. It’s the knowledge that if I don’t like something I have the power to change it. I can vote and petition, so that righteous leaders are elected. Being American is a blessing and a privilege. Thomas Jefferson said,” If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be.” This is what our country was founded on, what we need to uphold. Such statements remind me daily that I need to actively shape my future and do my best to help my country in the right direction. I will not be a lazy complacent citizen, I am American and the time is now.