What is it to be American?

Question

What are the qualities that define an American? Has America lost it's identity in regards to culture and it's history up to this point? Has America become the salad bowl instead of the melting pot?

Is there no one thing to assimilate to anymore?

Has America become so politically correct and so afraid to offend that in doing so it has lost it's uniqueness?

(I really wanted to get my 5 points worth)

Killer Instinct - you don't know me, instead of trying to insult me, why not answer the question in regard to yourself.

justanotherjoe - you are correct. The United States IS a Constitutional Republic, however, we are no longer a nation of laws. It's all about political pandering for power and wealth.

Killer Instinct = Star Players

Answer 1

Well...I am a "American" and what it means to me isn't much as I agree that we're more of a salad bowl than melting pot. I get offended by those born here who still claim to be "african american", "mexican american", etc. Why can't we just be AMERICANS? I am not saying that people should disregard their ancestoral roots...What I am saying is it should be "american african", "american mexican", etc. PUT AMERICA FIRST! PEACE!

Answer 2

To be an American means to not only stand firmly for what we believe in personally, but to defend human rights where they are oppressed. We as a nation are as a whole a vast multitude of different cultures, traditions, religions, and ethnic groups. We stand under a banner of freedom and are willing to sacrifice our very lives to defend our God given rights. Each person in this country is judged on his own merit, not that of his father's or his race.
This is a country, literally for the people and by the people. We have the authority granted to us by the Constitution to change and enact laws by the general population. We have the right to vote, to an education and to the pursuit of happiness. It is the duty of each American to uphold these beliefs and ideas as a reality least they disappear from the face of the earth. Added together we are stronger than any dictatorship or tyranny on the globe, and as the man once said " divided we fall". JMO

Answer 3

you make some good points....soon enough they'll put collars around our necks and if we say something wrong we'll get zapped. (if that day comes, I'll be on a plane to another country like my ancestors took the boat to this country!)
But to be American means you are the result of the dreamers that came here (our ancestors)..for the most part........but things change...the Roman Empire rose and the Roman Empire fell. The 'American Empire' has risen and someday the 'American Empire' will fall.

Answer 4

To be American is to come from anywhere in the United States except New York, and perhaps Los Angeles.

Answer 5

We lost our identity the minute we became a "democracy", when we are in fact supposed to be a constitutional representative "REPUBLIC". GREED has no uniqueness. However the HUMAN ELEMENT does. As for being PC? PPHHH!! I've never known truth to make unwarranted power and corruption smile nor apathy and despotism for that matter.

Answer 6

You are so right about that , and most Americans don't even realize it .You need to read Pat Buchanan's book , State of Emergency . I don't agree with all he Say's but he does make some very good points on illegal immigration

Answer 7

the melting pot is out. it is now the Mosaic theory.

being that all of us have our own individual things we bring to the big picture, which create America as a whole.

but to answer your question, yeah i think America is loosing its identity to a point.

Answer 8

to be an american is to be the best u can be in whatever u choose 2 do or be
stand tall & proud man USA ALL THE WAY

Answer 9

This is my idea of an American.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/march11/message2.html

Answer 10

i don't know but i think i want to go to canada...........oh_hell