How best to describe the citizens of America? I have never been
to any other part of the world, so it would be difficult
to do so
comparing American citizens with citizens from any other country, on
any other continent. A lot of made of Americans’ Patriotism, and
this is most likely the first thing that would come to mind when anyone
else thinks about what it is to be an American. The ideals of
pride, in one’s self, in one’s country, religious or moral beliefs.
I believe that on some level there are three
different types of people,
with respect to how they view themselves in the context of being part
of a
society. Some individuals are interested in being leaders
and others in followers. Some believe it is best to follow those
leaders irregardless of what decisions are made, as if you do not back
your leadership this weakens your position in the society as you do
indeed need to be led by someone to thrive, to get ahead.
Patriotism is often confused with this sentiment, yet you can be
patriotic yet still be fully aware and conscious of what bothers you
about the current government and your faith and trust in the countries
leadership. The strength of America citizens are in their ability
to rationally deal with all of these different voice, different
information, views, while continuing to live their lives to the best of
their ability in spite of the many obstacles you are presented with in
society.
But America’s freedoms and democracy can become as much of a crutch as
it is empowering. It is easy to forget what it means to be an
American and why we enjoy the freedoms that we do when we often
insulated to what the rest of the world is dealing with.
September 11th was a wake up call, and for the first time Americans had
to deal with the terrorism we were often set away from. There was
for the first time, vulnerability, which had to be dealt with through
resolve of some sort. For some that was the war, for other’s it
may have been a new compassion, or empathy or simply an awareness of
what goes on throughout the world, for a change. It is so easy to
isolate yourself, ignorant to the plight of individuals in other
racial, socioeconomic and religious situations than the one you are in,
it was too easy to forget why we’re in this country together, that it
took, and often does take, adverse situations to remind us all of that.
Many equate Americas role as the policeman of the world with it’s
infiltration of democracy and Christianity into the societies of
whatever countries they claim to be protecting themselves from.
Many wonder if America does not trust the worlds societies to govern
themselves, assuming that any ideology different from (Americas)
represents a threat to the way of American life. Yet it is common
place for other’s to come to America for it’s wealth and resources, and
opportunity, that class systems often make inaccessible in their own
countries, at the same time, Americans often leave to experience the
progressive mindset that we think exists overseas, for artistic
reasons, to experience things that would be considered unlawful or
unethical here in the states. If it helps individuals to
empower themselves and to better find and understand themselves as
human beings then so be it. Yet the worst thing is for anyone to
loose a sense of who they are.
America has had it’s dealing with racism, and class systems, in it’s
past. For all of the social advances there has been pain, strife,
even death. But I believe it has all served just to make this an
even better country and place to live in. Ultimately, the role
and character of Americans in the global society has as much to do with
individual personal responsibility as it does the role of
government. Many who go against the government, and complain and
cry afoul of it’s travesties do nothing when it comes time to vote or
to change the system from within. It means nothing if you’reshort of the best person you can be, as a citizen within a society that
is part of this big world. I would rather be remembered as an
American who did something to evoke and bring about change for the
better than one who merely existed and paid lip service to it’s
ills. America gives everyone that opportunity to make it big, and
to be as big of an influence for good, particularly given the richness
of the resources that are available. Whether or not everyone is
up to that challenge, is a different story indeed.