To be American is to be one of many. You may never meet these people, but you already have a preconceived notion about every one of them. After all, to be American is to also be judgemental. Judgement is an assumption, and assumptions create miscommunication, and miscommunication creates war. We are built on war. We find solace in the conflict between each other, because is the easiest way to unite. Anna Quindlen writes in “Quilt of Our Country,” “Terrorism has led to devastation--and unity.” Once we unite, we put aside our judgements about each other to judge others as one. Is is truly a sickening cycle, but alas, this is what it means to be American. As negative as Americans can be, there are also a special (selective) open-mindedness. Quindlen
