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Ted Talk:  What Does it Mean to Be American?

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Ted Talk:  What Does it Mean to Be American?

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Someday I could be the president! I can be whatever I want to be! Second grader at Fuerte Elementary School. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx.

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Dear Americans ,

What does it mean to be me?

Does it mean to be free?

To escape the enslaved of mind and get back to the root of your own tree

To pledge allegiance , One nation but are we really one?

The things our people have done should have never took place and begone

The desire to see your nation succeed , strive , and love each other

Having the privilege to know and honor one another

What does it mean to be me?

An American that stands for something even greater than the national anthem Family, Friends, Peace, Love, Happiness , Freedom , and Equality

Everyone being equal and having this same advantages not thinking you're better than the next woman or man

Knowing your place in society but what role are you really playing? Hopefully it's being positive, helping others, and encouraging kids imaginations

Being born in America is such a great thing but is it so great that we elected a president that seems to mess up everything?

We should still feel special as an American in our own way as an confident, honorable, an amazing place

It's so special a lot of immigrants love to stay, Yes I said immigrants are you surprised?

Yes they are to be treated equally too and not miniaturized

Most americans ancestors were probably immigrants too; your great grandmother, your great grandfather, or even your parents

That does not take away their self independence or freedom a lot of us could bare it

I love being an American and being me I'm free to chase my American dream

I am free to believe I can be anything I want to be , My education it is free and writing this poem is what I believe

It gives you freedom to do what you want to do, so don't Be fluke be you! an true American

Sincerely, Jayla Kelley an true American

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What Does it Mean to be Me? { An True American}

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Dear Americans , What does it mean to be me? Does it mean to be free? To escape the enslaved of mind and get back to the root of your own tree To pledge allegiance , One nation but are we really one?

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Ted Talk:  What is Our Role in Creating The American Identity 

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Ted Talk:  What is Our Role in Creating The American Identity 

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What is Our Role in Creating the American Identity?

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Political and media consultant, Carri Twigg discusses how the choices we make construct our identity. Referencing her experience growing up biracial in America, Carri challenges her audience to ponder what each person's unique role in creating the American identity actually is.

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What Being and American Means to Today's Youth

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What Being and American Means to Today's Youth

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What does it mean to be an American? In a recent Gallup Youth Survey*, Gallup posed this question to U.S. teens (aged 13 to 17). Asked on an open-ended basis, the question allowed respondents to offer whatever answer came to mind. While some people might expect disinterested replies, teens' responses reveal a deep and sincere appreciation of the implications of their status as Americans.

Teens frequently mentioned freedom, or some aspect of it, in their responses. One 17-year-old boy said being an American means having "freedom to choose what school I want to attend, what church I want to go to, study what I am interested in, travel freely throughout this country without any restrictions, listen to any radio or TV stations that I want to, and achieve my career and educational goals ... without any influence from any government or military group." A 15-year-old boy said, "Being an American means being proud of my country and defending our right to free speech and the freedom to be who we are." He ended his comments dramatically: "I will defend my right to be free to the death."
Teens Don't Have to Agree With the Government
The war in Iraq has raised many questions about the meaning of patriotism. However, some teens stressed that being American does not mean one has to agree with all the government's actions. A 16-year-old girl said, "Being an American is just caring about the good of America. It doesn't mean agreeing with everything the government does, but at the same time you have to agree with the most core values ... freedom to life, liberty, pursuit of happiness, speech, etc." A 17-year-old boy said, "It means having citizenship in the United States. It doesn't matter if you burn flags or join the armed forces, if you have citizenship you are American."
Many Note Freedoms and Welcome Diversity
The United States, by virtue of its founding principles, is a nation of diverse religions, cultures, races, and ethnicities. A 16-year-old girl said that being an American means being "able to have our own ideas and beliefs, and being able to express [them], along with the freedom of being an individual who is different from everyone." A 14-year-old girl gave this response: "I think to be an American means accepting others, treating everyone equally, being open to new ideas and thoughts, understanding and appreciating your freedom, and not taking what your ancestors did for granted."
Criticism and Apathy
A few teens gave apathetic answers, and some were notably critical. But such downbeat responses were rare. "To be an American is to be blind to [the] world's problems, and to consume its resources," said one 16-year-old boy. A 16-year-old girl commented, "I am grateful to be in a country with so many freedoms. I just don't like how high-headed America is and how we may be a little more headstrong than we can handle."
An Open Door to the Future
A common theme in the replies is that being an American and having freedom opens the door to great opportunities. One 13-year-old boy said it means "having the freedom to make choices in my life -- I can be as successful or unsuccessful as I want to be." A 14-year-old girl said to be an American is "to have freedom. To be able to dream and try to be anything you want ... My parents taught me to always do my best and to always have hope, even if you get knocked down over and over. In America, you have the right to always get up!"
Bottom Line
Perhaps somewhat surprisingly in these uncertain times, teens tend to show deep appreciation of what it means to be American. While writing about freedoms, they also note citizens' obligations. Negative and cynical voices are rarely heard. One 17-year-old girl reflected: "...we are a group of people who have dreams and live in a place where we have the chance to fulfill them." Another 16-year-old simply said it means "being part of a nation that tries to be good."
*The Gallup Youth Survey is conducted via an Internet methodology provided by Knowledge Networks, using an online research panel that is designed to be representative of the entire U.S. population. The current questionnaire was completed by 517 respondents, aged 13 to 17, between Aug. 1 and Aug. 29, 2003. For results based on the total sample, one can say with 95% confidence that the maximum margin of sampling error is ±5 percentage points.

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What Being American Means to Today's Youth

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What does it mean to be an American? In a recent Gallup Youth Survey, Gallup posed this question to U.S. teens. Asked on an open-ended basis, the question allowed respondents to offer whatever answer came to mind. While some people might expect disinterested replies, teens' responses reveal a deep and sincere appreciation of the implications of their status as Americans.

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New York Times Author Interview with Americans. 

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New York Times Author Interview with Americans. 