When asked the question," What does America mean to me?", I am immediately confused. Why would this question be asked knowing that each student writing the essay would answer in the same manner. Instead of continuing to question the motives, I decide to just write the essay, which proved harder than anything I had ever done. My mind was consumed with thoughts as I realized that this essay would teach me more about myself than any essay written in my four years of high school. I had to make a decision, would I; sugarcoat my thoughts, be brutally honest, or would I write something that I knew the readers would enjoy. I had to choose between what I have felt for most of my eighteen years and what would please the reader. If I was thinking coherently, I would have chosen to make the reader happy but my mother's teaching of honesty was clearer. Unfortunately for you, the reader, or maybe me, the writer, I decide to be brutally honest.
America has always been known as the land of the free and the home of the brave, but lately America has taken on a somewhat different meaning for me. The whole 9/11 ordeal has given me a new insight, a new reason to be utterly ashamed of the country that I call home. Of course admitting that probably gives you, the reader, about twenty different reasons to pass negative judgment on me. Before you condemn me and place my paper in the nearest trashcan, hear me out. The creation of America was for the sole purpose of finding a place to be free and equal. Those that rushed to the "New Country" were in search of a better place, a new beginning where they could be their selves. This country has always been known for an assortment of things, one being its tolerance for different religions, races, and cultures. This tolerance of such diversity has earned the country the nickname of being a melting pot. America's diversity has long been an attraction for various people of different backgrounds.
This is probably one of the hardest questions I have been asked: "What does it mean to be an American?"" ... When I am in America, even though I am not from here, I feel like I can do everything. ... Even for me, since I was little, going to America was a biggest desire. ... Those are ideas on what America was built on. ... And that's what America is, a promised land....
Americans can be free in what they choose to wear and what they choose to do with their time and money. ... To me, being an American isn't the greatest thing. I think that out of all the places to live, America is the best, but to me that's not saying much. ... The American government doesn't oppress the citizens; it's the people who do it to each other. ... And just because someone is born in American or is an American citizen, doesn't mean that they are going to agree with and support everything that the President says. ...
What History Means to Me To me history is a way of looking back at the past so that I don't forget important events to me or in the world or universe in the past. I believe that history mean a lot of different things to a lot of different people. ... What I mean is that it tells me how I should live my life. History also tells me about how my family's ancestors lived their lives, including things like who is in my family, what religion they believed in, where they lived, and what times of jobs people in my family had. ... Knowing what religion my ancestors believed in gives me...
What the Constitution Means to Me The Constitution means a lot to me. ... I have human rights to do what I want to a certain limit. ... These branches mean that there will be laws to protect me. ... The Constitution is what America's government is base on. ... In all, the Constitution is what makes America the United States of America. ...
Does Ferlinghetti fit into the label of "Rebel Artist/poet of the 1950's"? ... What I mean is Ferlinghetti believes that drugs, the Zen Arts, and physical and emotional love in order to release life, literature, and art from the restrants of societal conformity. ... In this poem he points fun at what people in the 1950's loved. Like when he said "I am waiting for the American Eagle to really spread its wings and staighten up and fly right" When the american people in the 1950's thought nothing but good things of American society, american thought that everything they did w...
Someone who has freedom to do anything and be anything they want having no limitations or boundaries for their success. ... I for one have met a racist person and it makes me wonder sometimes that to be an American is only right if you were white. ... In his essay "What is an American" he states that all Americans are of European descent and that people who comes to America lives a better life. ... Being an American is a good life for me, but I can only look at it financially. ... Having money doesn't mean that we live a better life, it just means that we have more bills to pay. ...
Diversity is found everywhere there is a large amount of people, especially schools. People are threatened by diversity. These people want the same people around them at all times. I don't believe in people are different just because the difference in color or appearance. I believe we are all the s...
To What Extent Can Willy Loman be Seen as a Victim of the American Dream? ... The American Dream meant the idea that any one could become a success no matter what they started with. ... Willy cannot understand why the promises made between him and his original boss, do not mean anything to his new boss Howard. ... The only thing you got in this world is what you can sell. ... And I was fine I opened the windshield and just let the warm air bathe over me. ...
It is things like this that make me feel that all is not well in America at the time being. ... To me, life in America is beautiful. ... Just because you love this country called America does not mean that there is not room for improvement. I mean look at some of the suburbs and you will see exactly what I am talking about. ... Even though; I have said all these things about America, I still do not think that I fully understand what America means to me. ...
