What Being American Means

Being American to me means, having a freedom of speech, being equal to everyone no matter what the race, being united as one, and of course reaching your dreams. There are many people out there that believe being American means that they have to be a specific race, and look a specific way, or they need to be born here to be an American. Others who come to America believe that being American means to have opportunities and to have freedom. Then there are other people like those who believe that being American is to be united, having equal rights.

People come to America for better opportunities, to be free, and so they can get another chance on reaching their dreams. They come to America because they know that there are better opportunities here that they had from where they came from because their voices will be heard here, they’ll have a freedom of speech, as the Bill of Right states “congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble.” I think this matters because its stating that we can say whatever we want and they didn’t say we have to be a citizen to say whatever we want even if it is the U.S Bill of Rights. Which is what makes a person an American because they have the freedom of speech while in other states/countries there will be consequences if you speak up for what's right.

While there are other people that believe that being American means that they they have to be a specific race, or look a specific way, which is obviously not true. If we look at a lone fro the Pledge of Allegiance there are many important meanings to it, “I pledge of allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all.” (1882, Rear Admiral George Balch) This line represents what being American means because it means being equal, respectful to one another, and unifying together for justice and liberty. The U.S stands for the United States, hint the word united meaning we are supposed to stand together to be better, to unite when we are attacked, and unite to be stronger together no matter what religion you are, no matter what race you are, it just matters that we come together as one when tragic happens.