What does it mean to be an American?

Question

In other words, who is an American?

Answer 1

People born in the country United States of America.

Technically, people born on either North or South America would be "American" but people don't usually identify with their continent but rather their country of origin.

Answer 2

The literal question of being an American I think was best answered by OustFantastic. In terms of geography he is spot on.

The figurative question can be answered differently by every American. Erika, I have to say, what you speak of is not patriotism but nationalism which is a very different thing. By your standards the governor of California is not an American. By the way, I am married to a veteran who has been out of the military for less than a year.

Being an American to me means the freedom to choose. Choose who will govern us, where we will live, how we will worship. With everything that is wrong in this country right now I wholly believe in the immense potential of America.

For me it also means the freedom to question. We not only have the right but the duty to question every decision made by our elected leaders. In America they work for us.

Thank you for asking this question just in time for Independence Day. I'm glad that you reminded me to think of how I would answer.

Answer 3

We can vote for our political leaders and periodically they change office without bloodshed. We can cuss out our government and our politicians. We can go where we want, when we want, and how we want. We are citizens, we can own firearms, speak in public, hold public office, our trials are in open court and not dark dungeons, we are unique on the face of planet earth and people die trying to get here from there.

Answer 4

If your born in America and speak ENGLISH. Immigrants with a citizenship are not Americans. You are American if you are born here in the U.S. and speak english.

Answer 5

obviously not you