What does it mean to be an American? | Scholastic.com

I'm glad you made this it's own topic. It's an important one. Once upon a time any school child could answer it easily. Sadly, it's not taught anymore. Indeed, the narrative sponsored by the Left now directing American education teach something new. Now, my answer is the same that I provided in another discussion where you first asked it. I won't copy and paste it here (just a test to see how consistent I am). I didn't Google this. I have no authority to back it up. It really is MY answer...

An American is one who accepts responsibility for themselves in exchange for Individual Liberty. Born here, they owe allegiance to no one else. Immigrants renounce allegiance to foreign potentates. Regardless of where born or how we become lawful Americans, we all pledge allegiance to the rule of law as embodied in the Constitution. We respect the rights of others as we expect our rights to be respected.

That's my answer. As to those who claim that citizens of other nations are just as free as Americans, they are ignorant of the fact that only in America are our individual liberties guaranteed. In every other nation with a semblance of freedom, individual liberties are granted by the government. Even in Great Britain. None other in the world believe in God-given rights. Sadly, many Americans don't believe in them either and are all too willing to surrender them in exchange for freedom from responsibility. As they rush to wave the white flag, there are those among us, still real Americans, who must tell the world that we have no intention of surrendering ours, even if a majority of American citizens decide to surrender theirs.

My views on being an American actually come from my time as the NCOIC in Iraq with the Al Kut Police Academy cadre. Most people see my rank and dismiss me a just a Buck SGT.

In 2004 the war was over so fast that there were hardly any State Department Police Advisors in country. In my police department back home I was a Field Training Officer (FTO), our SWAT team leader, K9, and a range officer. I had 11 years in patrol. Gen Sanchez had put out the order that any Guard guys that were police officers were to began working to train Iraqi Police so that they could stand themselves up and we could get the hell out of Iraq. Because I had a lot of experience in different things I got sent all over Iraq to train either Iraqis or soldiers to run police academies. I some how ended up as the NCOIC for Al Kut Regional Police Academy with 11 Iraqi Polce Cadre, a light Col, 3 State Department trainers, and a old mutt named Blondie. We were stuck in the middle of a base ran by Ukrainians.

After a hard day of training the best Iraq had to offer (which was not much). The cadre and I would sit down and we would just talk. One night they began to ask more personal questions about my family, which I shared freely. Then they asked me about my tribe. I had no clue what that even meant. They explained that this guy was from this area, and that guy was from another area. This guy was Shiah and that guy was Sunni. After about a hour I began to understand even though all of them were the police none of them had any allegiance to Iraq. They worked for the interest of their family, tribe, and religion. They shared no common bond. The shared no sense of national pride. That night I laid in my bunk and digested what had happened.

As a American I just don't think that way. No matter what, race, religion, gender, or sexual preference, wither I agree or disagree with someone on any subject, I accept the fact that they are an American. It does not even cross my mind when i decide if I like or dislike a person. I just can't imagine liking or disliking somebody based on the things these cadre do.

Then I thought of my prejudges. We all have them as hard as we try not to. If I could just look at another person and dismiss every other prejudge and just see that person as American how much better would my life be?

So to end this way too long rant, for me, what it means to be a real American...to be able to recognize that i have prejudges, look past them, and see another person as a human being.

To me, being "American" entails two parts. The first, I didn't have a choice in...I was born in the United States. I may take pride in blood ties to ancestors across the Atlantic...but I am an American. The second is the more important one, as it is the primary reason for those who come here from other native lands; It is a choice- a choice of whether or not I will continue to embrace my native country as my own, and each citizen therein, as part of that country, and therefore connected to myself. It can be challenging at times because in truth, my loyalty to nation comes third, behind that to my family, and above that, the God who I believe commands the loyalty of all humanity. For two hundred and forty years, my nation's principles have protected my family and honored her citizens' individual choice of fealty to the Divine; each in their own way...or alternatively, to abstain. Should that ever change, I believe my duty is to as a citizen, and in keeping with the laws that bind us, do what I can to support a return to the values that make us, "...one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."