What It Means To Be American Analysis

The motto of the United States is E Pluribus Unum. This translates from Latin as "Out of Many, One." This “One” in the motto represents our combined culture, the American culture. But what does it mean to be American? I will examine two different perspectives of what it means to be American and determine what it truly means to be American. The way I will do this is by using a conversation between two people with two different perspectives. Next, I will analyze the conversation and conclude what it means to be an American. The first perspective comes from Jean, a college student coming from a high income family. The second perspective comes from Julio, a Mexican immigrant from a low income family going to the same college as Jean. The two meet

Julio: I believe that it means to have the opportunity to pursue one’s dreams and live in that dream.
Julio: My parents stressed that to me when I was younger.
Jean: It was not like that for me. For me, my parents were strict and taught me that I had to work hard for what I want.
Jean: All they really wanted was for me to impress them. They wanted me to fight for the golden moment of freedom.
Julio: My parents were different. They expected me to make peace with mediocracy. They did not care if I was ambitious or not. Just as long as I enjoyed myself. You could also say that I was not expected to aspire to excellence.
Julio: So, what do you believe it means to be an American.
Jean: I believe that with hard work and effort, one may attain their green light
Julio: What do you mean their green light? A far away dream?
Jean: Yes, America gives us opportunity. To be an American is to have opportunity.
Jean: But, not all of us can achieve that goal.
Julio: Oh, and why not? I truly believe that anyone can achieve anything with hard work.
Jean: Just like in the Great Gatsby Gatsby could not achieve is goal and died in attempting to achieve it.
Jean: His goal was minute and too far