What is an American?

“An American is English… or French, or Italian, Irish, German, Spanish, Polish, Russian or Greek. An American may also be African, Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Australian, Iranian, Asian, or Arab, or Pakistani, or Afghan.

An American is Christian, or he could be Jewish, or Buddhist, or Muslim. In fact, there are more Muslims in America than in Afghanistan. The only difference is that in America they are free to worship as each of them choose.

An American is from the most prosperous land in history of the world. The root of that prosperity can be found in the Declaration of Independence, which recognizes the God-given right of each man and woman to the pursuit of happiness.

Americans welcome people from all lands, all cultures, all religions, because they are not afraid. They are not afraid that their history, their religion, their beliefs, will be overrun, or forgotten. That is because they know they are free to hold their religion, their beliefs, their history, as each of them choose.

And just as Americans welcome all, they enjoy the best everyone has to bring, from all over the world. The best science, the best technology, the best products, the best books, the best music, the best food, the best athletes.

Americans welcome the best, but they also welcome the least. The nation symbol of America welcomes your tired and your poor, the wretched refuse of your teeming shores, the homeless, tempest tosses.

Because Americans are not a particular people from a particular place. They are embodiment of the human spirit of freedom. Everyone who holds to that spirit, everywhere, is an American.

For most Americans, freedom is something we take for granted. But like anything worth having, it’s important to consider how our lives would be different without it. We express our freedom each time we offer an opinion, practice faith, select a book to read, or choose where to travel.

Freedom is a part of this country’s rich legacy but we must do our part to ensure freedom for future generations.”

– unknown