The following is an assignment I was given for my Sociology class and my short response. I am very proud of it. ^^
WHAT IS AN AMERICAN?
How does an American look?
How have various groups been excluded from the “American” image?
An American should be any citizen of the United States of America, be they ‘legal’ or not, that is willing to put money back into our system and economy or do something for the betterment and advancement of our country as well as our society in general. Unfortunately, that is not the case. Our society says an American is either born in this country or has ‘legal documentation’ that says that our country allows them to live here. Americans are supposed to look and act ‘white,’ and are easier to accept if they buy into the idea of Christianity or other such monotheistic religions, these ideas bearing a striking and terrifying resemblance to past historical events. Groups have been excluded from the “American image” based on a variety of factors such as race, which is the most obvious, religion, and in some instances with a very select group of people, sexual orientation. Anyone from another country who celebrates their original culture is considered ‘un-American’ by a disturbingly large number of people. Are we as a society so threatened by our own lack of culture that we really feel it’s ok to discriminate against and attack those who are proud of a more rich and culturally diverse background? It makes me sick to have to say yes. We Americans are only human, after all, and fear anything that differs from our known way of life.
