America, Land of Opportunity Land of the Free Land of Unity And the land that holds the key.

We all know were American, But what does that mean? Does it mean were all White? Growing up with money, Owning everything at sight? Are we American just because we speak English? Because we dress American? Or is it something more meaningful? Like someone who takes advantage of America, A dreamer, a risk-taker, With perseverance to stand by what they believe in. It is to live with rights. To dream and hope. To work hard, and sprout Or lie around and mope. That is what being American is all about. Knowing we can do anything, everything. Doesnt matter what our religion is, What our income is, What the color of our skin is. What matters is that we have the mentality to achieve anything, And that we are able to achieve it. Like Obama said: ...We can say what we think, write what we think, without hearing a sudden knock on the door. We can have an idea and start our own business without paying a bribe. We can participate in the political process without fear of retribution, and that our votes will be countedat least, most of the time. Being American also means carrying on. In times of hardship, In times of injustices, In times of discrimination. We Americans have carried on. Weve seen it in the past

the pain people went through, But they didnt give up on their country, Not on America, Not on becoming American. Being American means we have the right to overthrow our government when necessary to go against policies and laws when necessary. MLK did not give up on America, He said: We refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds, in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges. Being American is never giving up and never losing hope. Despite our difficulties, We carry on. Part of being American, Is to make what we have better, And to always try to better oneself. Part of being American, Is being born with our unalienable rights, as stated on the Declaration of Independence. Because of this document, there is a place called America. In this document, the rights of an American are stated: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. But with these rights, come obligations. Obligations only Americans have. when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. Being American is to look out for society, To improve the nation. Because today, no country is perfect It is the duty of an American, the definition of an American, to fix it.

No matter what age, what height, what skin color. Because America was founded and created from diversity, And we are all different, diverse, We are Americans.