What does it mean to be an american

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I had the privilege to live for four years in Israel as a new immigrant emigrating from New Jersey with my wife, four-year-old and month-old daughters. The country was generous with its basket of services for new citizens providing healthcare, housing assistance, child care, language instruction and counseling—all for free.

We returned to the U. Living in Isreal for four years gave us a taste of a different worldview, but it also gave us the unique perspective of reentering American society. I think we were as excited for the possibilities that awaited us as we re-embarked on our American adventure as the newest arrival from the furthest corner of the globe. There are many differences between the two countries, but they share the peculiarity that most everyone you meet, was a newcomer, either in this, their parents or grandparents generations.

There are other languages and traditions embedded in their psyche and demonstrated proudly. This is the essence of being American: embracing our traditions, recognizing the uniqueness of others, discovering the mosaic around us and creating an America that aspires to be a light unto the world.

For me, right now, being an American means being nervous. Americans have plenty of things to be nervous about and these issues span all ideological divides. I am nervous about the economy. I know so many people on unemployment and am particularly nervous about the future economic prospects of young people, those just graduating from high school and college and those with not that many years in the labor market. I am nervous about our political polarization and how it might adversely affect our ability to deal with all the things I am nervous about.

And yet, I am optimistic. We seemed to have contained the virus in New York, at least for now, and doctors are learning more about it every day. Americans who downplayed it as a coastal problem are taking it much more seriously.

There are reports of many large employers, like Target and Walmart, raising their wages, in particular their entry-level wages. I am hopeful these corporations are recognizing the importance of their workers to their bottom line and that others will follow by raising wages.

People, especially young people, seem more interested in voting. I saw the lines of people waiting to vote in places like Michigan and Georgia and know more than a few people who recently voted for the first time ever, usually by absentee ballot.

There are conversations about racial inequality occurring that I could not imagine happening a few years ago. Americans have faced many challenges during our history and, while I am nervous, I am also hopeful that, despite our differences, we can and will face them together. No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here.

Thursday, November 11, Advanced search. Toggle navigation Main menu. Community Living. Lifestyle Magazines. Why, you might ask? Because I was born in America, to a wealthy family in a nice neighborhood and I go to a nice school. A lot of people I know including myself take that for granted.

People look up to America. Because of how our country is and how good the people of America really have it. There are people that dream of being an American and would risk there lives just to live in our country. All I thought about when I heard the word America was it is just where I live. But now when I hear the words America it means a whole lot more than that to me. Every day when I wake up I am just so grateful of where I live.

We have problems here to. I mean it is not as great as some people make it sound, but it is a whole lot better than other countries where people are killed for the littlest things. I am an American and I am grateful. I was put up for adoption because my birth mother wanted me to have a better life and made sure that I would come to American. Which I think says a lot about what a great country we live in.

Six months later I was adopted and on a plane on my way to Detroit, Michigan. Nine years later I became a citizen of the United States. I was now was a legal resident and had a social security number. I was made a citizen so late because my mother wanted me to remember that day. I was no longer just another foreigner. I was now a US citizen. I now no longer had the threat to be deported I was now here to stay and no one could do anything about it.

I know now what a proud day it really was, not only for me but my parents as well. I was now a part of the greatest country in the world.