What is an American?

What do you think that the United States is? Some people say that the United States is “World of opportunity.” People want to come to the United States because they want to get opportunities. And it called “immigration.” When they are living in the United States, they are becoming an American. What is that mean that they are becoming an American? What is an American?

Americans, or American people, are citizens, permanent residents and natives of the United States. It also includes certain individuals who are considered as nationals of the United States. The country is home to people of different national origins. As a result, Americans do not equate their nationality with ethnicity, but with citizenship. With the exception of the Native American population, generally all Americans or their ancestors immigrated within the past five centuries.

Despite its multi-ethnic composition, the culture held in common by most Americans is referred to as mainstream American culture, a Western culture largely derived from the traditions of Northern and Western European immigrants. It also includes influences of African-American culture. Westward expansion integrated the Creoles and Cajuns of Louisiana and the Hispanos of the Southwest and brought close contact with the culture of Mexico. Large-scale immigration in the late 19th and early 20th centuries from Southern and Eastern Europe introduced a variety of elements. Immigration from Asia, Africa, and Latin America has also had impact. A cultural melting pot, or pluralistic salad bowl, describes the way in which generations of Americans have celebrated and exchanged distinctive cultural characteristics.

An American is anyone who has a lot of opportunities in the United States. In some countries, women can’t drive and show their hair. Also, women can’t get a lot of jobs than men. When I was in my country, there was less opportunities to study than the United States. It means if I don’t know high class’ people, absolutely, I can’t get high level’s job although GPA is higher.

An American is anyone who has human rights. There are a lot of different races in the United States; White people, Black people, Asia people and etc. Rosa Park protested human rights for black people, Lincoln protested human rights for slaves and John Locke protested human rights for people. An American means not race, which has American’s mind inside of their heart is an American.

An American is anyone who know that freedom, peace, and indivisible. People can have any religions what they want; Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim and etc. People can have choose and buy anything what they want; Cars, Foods, Buildings and etc.

American culture encompasses traditions, ideals, customs, beliefs, values, arts, folklore and innovations developed both domestically and imported via colonization and immigration. Prevalent ideas and ideals that evolved domestically such as important national holidays, uniquely American sports, proud military tradition, and innovations in the arts and entertainment give a strong sense of national pride among the population as a whole.