In the current political environment, the question “What does it mean to be an American” is one that really caused me to think and reflect deeply. And while some are vowing to “Make America Great Again”, I think there are already a number of things that already make America great and make me proud to be an American. Early on, our founding fathers suggested through the Constitution that at its core, what it meant to be American was simply “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” That’s a fairly simplistic notion and the focus of my essay explores whether this literal interpretation can still apply in today’s more complex society or whether being an American requires more than that.
As I try to answer this question myself, I began first by trying to inventory the things I appreciate most about America. I quickly determined that the things I cherish most might be quite different than my other classmates, friends, and possibly my own family and that’s when I realized that the discretion to express your own ideas and to think
I have listed several things that are important to me including freedom of speech, embracing diversity, appreciating America’s natural beauty, and the fundamentals of equal opportunity. This is by no means an exhaustive list, but rather just some of the ideals most important to me as I think about what it means to be an American. It’s likely a list that may change over time, but yet one that can tie back to the fundamental ideals our founding fathers seemed to cherish themselves. Finally, I would be remiss to not acknowledge my sincere appreciation for all those brave men and women who have fought to make these freedoms possible. By virtue of their personal sacrifice they might possibly best define what it truly means to be an American and that we are the land of the free because of the