What does it mean to be American

What does it mean to be "American?" What makes it "American?" And how does it make us "American?" American stands for the beliefs, the music, as well as the people that come from this great nation. The beliefs of this great nation speak every language. These beliefs stretch from the furthest reaches of Africa to the city life of New York. These beliefs are pride, freedom, and equality. American means to be proud. It means …

…These same people also stand for exploration and discovery. The first white people lead by Captain Smith, traveled to the newly discovered Americas, to explore and colonize. They show the American strength of character, determination, and will. To be "American" is to be many things. It means different things to different people, yet they all agree on the basic American fundamentals. The beliefs, music, and people of a country define the essence of that nation.