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Being an American is fighting for what you believe in. It’s having the basic rights to practice any religious beliefs you may have and have the freedom of speech to say anything you please. It is being proud of your country and doing anything you can to improve it. America is full of people with different ethnic backgrounds that want nothing but the best for themselves and their family. It is a country with many flaws and we the people have the right to voice our opinions and make the change we want to see.

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Jennifer Kousonsanong

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Jennifer Kousonsanong

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There are lot of different ways be to an American.  You have the right to pretty much do want you want within reason.  And the reason we have all this freedom is the men and women that gave their lives and fought for our country to be free.  An in remembering those that have fallen I feel is a very big part of being American.  You have the right to speak out in what you believe is right.  Being proud of your country no matter what your political views are.  The freedom to go where you please without anyone tell you that you can't.  I feel that the list could go on and on.

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To me, being American means you fight for your country in the armed forces, you participate in voting, and you stand up for what you believe in. Fighting for your country plays a huge role in being an American because you are defending the country in which you live in. You are protecting not only your family, but everyone else around you. Another reason as to what it means to be an American is voting. Everybody has a say in who the president is going to be and everyone has a voice of their own, which can be expressed through voting. As soon as you turn 18 you are allowed to vote and I believe that every 18 year old should vote because the younger generation is the future. Lastly, standing up for what you believe in because it goes back to everyone having a voice of their own, speak up and defend yourself when something is wrong. Everyone was given a voice, and they have every right to use it to fight for what they believe in.

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Nicholas

NHTI

There are no mere words that can make up a definition to describe what it means to be an American. If there was a specific definition it would have to be constantly changing because every day, year, decade, sentry etc is changing in America. Back when the term “American Dream” became popular it was in the early 1930’s due to the book “Epic Of America” by James Adams In his book he described the American dream as "that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement." this describes fairly well what it is like to be an American. If I were to define what it is to be an American I would say something along the lines of “A lucky privilege given to only 4.23% of the worlds population. The ability to become who/what a human wants based on their ability to do so” Like I said, I do not believe there can be a definition of what it is to be an American only a feeling through the spine, or a lustful nudge of the gut.

Barone, Adam. “What Is the American Dream?” Investopedia, Investopedia, 28 Aug. 2020, www.investopedia.com/terms/a/american-dream.asp.

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Renee French

NHTI

To be a United States of America, “American” You only need to be a citizen of the United States. You can be a born citizen or you can be naturalized. When you are an American you have all of the rights and freedoms that go along with it. In America it doesn’t matter what your background is, everyone can have the opportunity to make a good life for themselves. One big part of being an American is striving to make a better country for everyone, fixing social and economical issues. Making sure that everyone can practice whatever beliefs they may have and making sure everyone can have and voice their own opinions. Every American comes from many different backgrounds, that’s why the United States is known as the melting pot. To be an American is to learn to coexist with other people and thier different lifestyles.

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The be "An American" is as much an idea as a legal status.  The power of the United States rests on the idea of America as a "city on the hill" the shining example to all.  The country whose shores welcome all and proclaim, "Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free."  The power of the US rests in its ideals, the country who helped liberate Europe from fascism and Asia from imperialism.  The country who rests on natural equality and the pursuit of happiness.  To reduce the status of an American to one born on her soil is to strip away her greatest source of power and inspiration the world over.

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Aiden Pipkin

GBCC

Well in my eyes, to be an American is to be born within the borders of the United States of America, that is a true legal American. Other than that, to be an American is just to be another person, just happen to live in the United States. You can add on other adjectives and descriptive words to that definition, but our country is so divided at this point that those words lose value.

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Jason Mosher
GBCC

I don't think that the question of what constitutes an American has a single answer, as being an American means different things to different people, often contradicting one another. Looking at America's founding, the greatest appeal of the country was that it allowed a fresh start for those who were unhappy with their current position in life. This was something that began before the country had even become the United States, before there even was a country at all. Though when it donned the title of the US, a big selling point that people pushed was that sense of individual freedom and the pursuit of your own passions. After all, another title that we wore with pride was the "Land of Opportunity." While this rugged individualism has its downsides—such as its tendency to breed a population that can be selfish and/or entitled—when wielded correctly, it offers a power that can be used for the betterment of others. I think it's important to remember that the US is, as a nation, incredibly young in comparison with the rest of the world; some may even consider it an experiment in its philosophies. I don't know what being an American means to me personally, but I imagine for many it is about the fight for true equality amongst all people regardless of faith, race, or class. To me, that is certainly a part of it, though exactly how large a part is something I cannot answer.

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In response to Monique D's post: Yes, I would also define being American as having freedom and equality, which are values that the country was founded upon. Unfortunately, there is still inequality in our country. Systematic racism is in the limelight in a way that it never was before, which is great for the fight for equality but it is also showing us exactly how deep this runs. People of color were not a consideration when America was being founded. They were added in later as almost an afterthought because the founders likely never imagined that people of color could become citizens. Besides skin color, people are discriminated against for many other reasons like poverty, disabilities, education, etc. It leads to the question of was America ever truly free and equal? -Madeline R., GBCC

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Meghan Monahan
Great Bay Community College
When you put into google “what defines an American?” Merriam-Webster dictionary says “a person born, raised, or living in North America-“ But I believe it goes beyond that. I believe it is much more complicated than that, everyone has a different experience in the melting pot that is our country. In all honesty it depends on the color of your skin, as Monique said above. If you’re a wealthy white male you will do great in America but if you are any other ethnicity, gender, or class you will have a difficult time here at one point or another. Racism and sexism is prominent in our country and since we are a younger country a lot of our history happened just a hundred years ago. Slavery was and so was the oppression of women. So to me the definition of what it is to be an American is to over come our past and look towards a brighter future for generations to come. To learn from the past and present and build a future that is better.

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Now more than ever the question of what being an American means is a very hard question to look at. However I believe being an American is practicing the principles that our founding fathers placed hundreds of years ago. We are a country of freedom, and the land of opportunity.  So when we appreciate these gifts and have people acting upon them is when our country gets stronger. Thinking about women CEOs or an African American president are all things that make us great. We need to be united as one, and when we do unite as one as a team, we are Americans. We are at our strongest when people support one another and don't attack others. We are all here to make this country we live in a great place. And being prideful of your beliefs, and supporting others is what it's all about.    - Jay manzi GBCC

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Monique Doukas, Great Bay Community College. I think what it means to be an American is different for different people depending on the color of your skin. If you're a person of color in America, many of the opportunities that are afforded to other people may not be afforded to you. Simply based on the color of your skin. Systemic racism runs deep in this country, it's how America was built. To be an American is to have equality and freedom. However; many people in America are not treated equally, they're treated as less than. The opportunities are not the same. We need big change but it seems like it might be impossible to fix, it's so broken.

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Karin

NHTI

When I think of what it means to be an American, the first thing I think of is how a country should be. Uniting as one, no matter the circumstances. Being willing to put your life on the line to help your country. Coming from a military family for generations, the respect that is given, and is deserved after seeing what they have seen. My family members have fought in every war this country was ever a part of, from World War II to Vietnam and every war after and in between. Being an American, comes with certain ideals of having a good life, and having ample opportunities for greatness in life. After all, America is the “Land of Opportunity” right? Having people fighting to make sure there are equal rights for all no matter the color of your skin, or your gender, or sexual identity. Being an American means being a part of something that is bigger than yourself. Making a difference to better your life, and others around you.

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Anna Milton, Great Bay Community College

I don't think there is an exact definition of what it means to be an American. Supposedly, America is the place where people of all kinds can come and join the melting pot. They can bring their ideas, beliefs and cultures to blend them in with others to create a better place. Where they can escape the hardships of their homeland and leave behind the bad. To be American is supposed to have freedom, equality, and the ability to accomplish your dreams- whatever they may be. However, America does not make it easy for people to blend in, it does not really allow true freedom, dreams are difficult to achieve, and lack of equality has always been prominent. So, along the lines of what others have said, I guess to be an American is to endure these issues and work together to overcome these problems that have been prominent throughout America's history. To be American is to be active in the changing of the world for the better, and I don't mean America as the world's police, but individuals working together to change things. To work together with these different heritages and beliefs and ideas to overcome inequality, the suppression of dreams, and hatred. To strive to be better.

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Nash Hebert                                                                                                                                                                                  Great Bay Community College                                                                                                                                                   The question of what it means to be an American is a tough one. While the United States has had a huge impact on recent history, we still are a young country and one with many flaws. It's hard to define what it means to be an American because America has always been a country that has been exposed to many different cultures. A term commonly used to describe America is the term melting pot, and on many levels it true. Not only is it a melting pot of people and ethnicities, but products and practices. Americans often are portrayed as materialistic with their love for expensive foreign objects, whether it's a car or a watch, even foreign clothes are often seen as high end. This hints that America maybe doesn't do it the best like it often wants us to believe. We can see that most products that are used in everyday American life were likely not invented and made by the U.S, but we often still see ourselves as independent and different from other countries across the world. In a way, being American means being a mixture of all types of people, and not having one true identity because Americans were shaped by existing countries around them heavily. Americans have even been heavily influenced by Greek and Roman architecture for some of their most important buildings in their capital. This could be a nod to a civilization ahead of it's time, or a lack of their own identity and replacing it with something that is perceived as high quality.

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I am taking  intro American studies at Great Bay Community college. Like Samantha above, I also would have given a very different answer on what it means to be an American. Probably including the "American Dream". I don't believe there is one answer on the definition to be an American. Actually, an American does not mean you are only from the United States of America. It means you can be from North America or South America. America was built upon stolen land from the Native Americans. The ones who built upon America intended an American to be a white, rich, land-owning man. There are many definitions on what it means to be an American, especially now. There are no right or wrong answers on the definition. Many have immigrated to the United States for a better life and freedom. To me, being and American means to take advantage of the rights you have and fight for equality and make opportunities for yourself.

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To be an American has many different sides to it. Before I began taking an American Studies class, I would have a completely different answer. Probably something cliche along the lines of being free, and having equality, but these things are still being worked on. America's past had a horrific start, with slaves and keeping women from having equal rights, or any rights at all for that matter. American's tortured people and forced them to do their work, for the sole reason that their skin was a different color. We have done unforgivable things, that are just in recent years, really changing. Immigrants uprooted their entire lives to come here for a "good life", and to have freedom to say and do what they want. People moved, and still move here today for equal opportunities and healthier living, just to be told they need to leave, or they don't have the Same rights as the American-born people. so when I am asked what it means to be an American after truly learning about the past, I would say that yes it means freedom in so many ways that a lot of countries don't get, but also to create change, and to protest and stick up for ourselves and one another. We make mistakes, large ones, but there are people who stand up and change them. The past will always be there, but we have the opportunity to change the future. To be an American is to be united, and to continuously work towards a better future for everyone.        Samantha Francis Great Bay community College.

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Welcome to a cross-college conversation between NH community college and University of New Hampshire students! Every two weeks a new discussion prompt will post. Please be reflective and respectful in your initial post and in responses to others. You can include websites, pictures, and other media in your post. PLEASE TYPE YOUR NAME and COLLEGE in your RESPONSE. We welcome your thoughts and the sharing of perspectives!

Sept 28: Is there a definition of what it is to be an American? Try to define it.