Explain What It Means To Be An American

What does it mean to be an American? What ideas and experiences define being an American? These are questions that people living in the United States occasionally ask themselves. Some individuals simply choose to define being an American as simply living on United States soil, while alternatively certain Americans wish to limit being an American to a more legal definition – such as legally being a citizen in the country or the rights we are given. Others choose to find more personal definitions to answer the question of what it means to be an American. However, if there’s one thing life was taught us; it’s that to be an American means to live a unique experience that is different for every individual living in the US.
Many Americans feel that to be an American means having freedom of speech. For a multitude of U.S. residents having the freedom to speak to your mind without being fearful of government retaliation and interfere is a major part of being an American. As protected by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution, we as Americans are legally able to …show more content…
In some places in the world, the government is capable of denying citizens their autonomy and limiting their opportunities. However, in American, most individuals are legally free to make their own choices without fear of persecution. Americans are able to watch any television program we choose or read any book we wish to – whether the content of the media has been challenged or not. We can wear almost any article of clothing in public that we wish, be it a dress or even religious garb, at least as long as it’s not considered inappropriate for public eyes. In the case of wearing religious clothing items, such as a hijab or kippah, being able to wear an article of clothing that expresses their religious freedom without being limited by fear of religious persecution is an extremely important aspect that many people cherish in