It means that you have equality because everyone is given an equal chance here. It means that you have the right to go out and chase your dreams and strive for your goals. To be an American also means that you are a citizen in one of the most diverse countries in the world and that you must
I want to end with amazing quote from President Harry Truman, “You know that being an American is more than a matter of where your parents came from. It is a belief that all men are created free and equal and that everyone deserves an even
The idea that everyone has a shot and prosperity and success no matter your class or race or birth. The idea that hard work can accomplish anything. Everyone has the same equal rights, and same equal chances to do great things. A person just has to put the sweat and tears into it. This 'American dream ' so to say, is rooted deeply in our Declaration of Independence, "that all men are created equal" and are "endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights that included Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."
Most everyone in the world knows about America; "Land of the Free and Home of the Brave," a nation of free men and women doing whatever they wish, pretty much a place to make life as you desire it to be. But there is actually much debate on if this nation of liberty & freedom is truly the pinacle of the global nations. Nations are overall rated by four main areas; military strength to both attack threats and defend the nation, healthcare to ensure the wellbeing of the nation 's people, unemployment rate monitoring the ability to make a financial living, and education to see how the nation is in intelligence and technology. More so, America has a concept known as the "American Dream", an idea of what one can do by becoming a citizen of the first
Racism that involves treating some races as superior to the other in terms of their belief should not be used to gauge the identification of an individual. Identification of individuals with their cultural practices is not harmful unless the priority of identification is misused. Misusing such priorities makes some cultures be viewed as superior to the others. America is a country that has a diverse culture and this is seen in large cities such as San Francisco. Most people in US are either descendants of immigrants or immigrants and identification using one’s race is not essential because it makes individuals from other races uncomfortable.
After the 14th and 15th amendments were added to the constitution African Americans were legal citizens and were able to vote. However, in the South these improvements for African Americans were impeded due to white resistance, segregation laws, and discrimination. There were numerous legal and social changes during the civil war and after the war ended during reconstruction that made African Americans free. The first legal change, which took place during the war, was the Emancipation proclamation. In 1865 the 13th amendment was added to the constitution and it abolished slavery in every state.
Civil rights programs were originally enacted to give rights to African Americans to become full citizens of America. Slavery was later made illegal in the thirteenth amendment. In the fourteenth amendment, citizens were ensured equal protection under the law. This amendment allowed all citizens regardless of the race to participate in voting. The blacks and all the citizens were ensured same rights in making and enforcing contracts by the civil right act of 1866, (Edley, 1996).
In addition, the Voting Rights Act protected all voting rights for American individuals of all races, not just African-Americans. However, prejudice was still alive and present, especially in the south. Not everyone agreed with the new laws that were being made, but nevertheless blacks didn’t give up hope. They continued to preserve and fight for their rights in hopes that a change wou... ... middle of paper ... ...in color. It was because of this that it’s the most important event in African-American history and culture due to its great accomplishment in giving blacks liberty and putting an end to all discrimination for everyone.
But embracing the title “American” means you actually get to live, enjoy and experience this profound freedom for yourself. Being American means you have the right to serve any God you please, and even no God if you prefer; being American means you have the right and power to say exactly what you feel and act upon it if need be; being American means you have a voice in the way your country is ran. Compared to other countries such as Iraq and Zimbabwe they do not embrace such freedom and rights because of dictatorship. Luckily, we are entitled these rights by the help and encouragement of Jean-Jacques Rousseau and his most valued assertion written, The Social Contract. For example a section taking from Book I of the Social Contract explains it best, he states, “If I took into account only force, and the effect derived from it, I should say: “As long as a people is compelled to obey, and obeys, it does well; as soon as it can shake off the yoke, a... ... middle of paper ... ... is build up, resulting in the decrease of American suicide.
An American is a free person who is given the right to live his/her life without intervention. The Statue of Liberty symbolizes this freedom to many Americans.