Real Americans example essay topic

1,013 words
'What is an American'; What is an American? This question can not be answered by one word. There are so many different characteristics, qualities, and features that can be used to describe an American. Besides features, someone is only a real American if they take advantage of all of the many privileges that are given to them. Any person that is not grateful for the privileges that are given to them to me are not real Americans but this is only my opinion. Real Americans use their privileges to benefit themselves and everyone around them.

In today's society there are certain things that are expected from American citizens, for instance being a responsible citizen. Being responsible is a very important part of being an American. There are many rights that you are given when living in America, and with these rights you are expected to be responsible and not abuse them. One right that you shouldn't abuse is your right to vote. This is something that many of us take for granted. Having to make this choice you are expected to make the responsible decision.

The only person that it would hurt if you don't take this type of thing seriously is yourself. Along with this privilege of voting on whom you want to run our country, you are then expected to take the responsibility to fight in war if ever needed. This is just a small price to pay for the right to decide of whose running the country. J Rockefeller Jr. describes this good in this quote, 'I believe that every right implies a responsibility: every opportunity an obligation: every possession a duty.

' ; Being an individual is very important with being an American. The main purpose of America to be able to live a free and happy life. That is what makes our country great. We can express our selves however we want and not be told otherwise. Americans have the right to express there individuality by standing up for what they believe in, such as they can vote for who they think is the better man for the job. You also do not have to always agree with what the rest of the population has to say.

You are aloud to have your own opinions. Ghandi says this very well with this quote 'A 'no'; uttered from the deepest conviction is better and greater then a 'yes'; uttered to please, or what is worse, to avoid trouble. ' ; Expressing your individually is a big part of being an American. Along with doing things that you want to do, many people like to express themselves by the cloths they wear and music that they listen to? This is a good way to express your self, but you should never dress some way just because of what one person says to you. You should always be true to yourself, that's what a real American would do.

Liberty is another thing that makes someone a real American. Being an American you have the liberty to do almost anything you choose. If you want to practice a different religion you are free to with out anyone telling you that you cant. This is one of the many reasons that immigrants came over to America. Their lives were threatened if they tried to practice a different religion then what everyone else did. Our liberty is something that many of us take for granted every day, though it's one of the things that make us Americans.

When having the get opportunity of being and American it is a must that you have an education. First of all when being an American you have chance to go to school for free! This is one of the greatest things that anyone could ever ask for. Some parents in other countries, where it is not free, would do anything to have the chance to send their children to school. If you don't take advantage of this great opportunity you must be dumb. Also it is important to have an education in today's society because it is now a competition between people to get jobs.

The person with the better education ends up getting the job. If you don't take the advantage of getting an education you are cheating yourself out of life. Living in America gives you so many opportunities in life. You have the chance to become anything that you want to be without anyone telling you different. If you want to become a doctor or a lawyer all you have to do is work hard and anything can happen.

In America you have the chance to make a new life for your self. Let's say you owned a business and it went under. Your life is not over, all you have to do is find a little opportunity and you can start you self on the right foot. Opportunity is always around for any one to take, you may just have to work to achieve it. Through out this paper I have talked about many things that make up an American.

I wish I could say that this is all there is to being an American but that would be a lie. There are so many more things that play a role in it. Someone can't really write a book on what is an American because you technically are an American if you live in the United States. What it basically all comes down to be is deciding what type of an American you are. They type that doesn't care about anything or the type that takes action and have some of the characteristics in this paper. The only person to decide if you are an American is yourself.