What Is An American?
Being an American is not evident by a particular skin color or way of life. He
is a person from many places, with many shades of skin, of different sizes and
varied energies. He has a Master's Degree, or he may never have finished high
school. He may drive an expensive automobile, or perhaps relies on two mules
to carve his living out of the earth. But regardless of what he is, beneath the different physical features is a bond of strength in tradition which exemplifies
the American way; a way which opens doors of opportunity to all peoples who
may knock upon them. An American has a spirit which was born when the bells
tolled of independence, and which has released the adrenaline of his nation time
and time again when its existence was threatened by an aggressor.
An American does not view armed conflict as a means of getting what he wants,
but rather as a means of protecting what he has. He is the one who loves the very concept of peace for all nations, but will not hesitate to fight on the shores of
others to protect his own. An American sees the knowledge of experience in his
past, feels pride in the accomplishments of the present, and has hope for the
future of the world, even when others would view the days to come with
dismay. But a realistic American finds no guarantee of freedom or security
in the future solely because he has always had it in the past.
An American recognizes the faults of his system and seeks to correct them
through a process unknown to many nations. A process which does not promise absolute perfection, but one which allows for peaceful change, if change is
needed. That process is democracy, and an American holds that word so dear, that he stands ready at a moments notice to lay down his life for its perpetuation!
An American finds nothing at all unusual about getting cold chills when his flag
passes in review, for his flag has always been a source of inspiration; when the
smoke cleared over Fort McHenry, when its sheen was reflected on the sand
of Iwo Jima, and when the colors glistened on the side of the craft which took
the first man to the moon. An American sees nothing strange about getting a
lump in his throat when the National Anthem is played, or weeping unashamed
when taps is played for one who paid the ultimate price for his freedom. He
realizes that the only thing that exceeds that price is the freedom itself. An American never forgets the indebtedness he has because of that sacrifice,
for without it, his freedom would only be an unreachable concept in some philosopher's mind.
A true American is the essence of pride in a way of life. What is an American,
you say? He is blessed! He is free! And with great pride I say..."It is me!
I am an American!"
