There’s no right answer here. What does being an American mean to you?

Being an American means being free and having the ability to do what you want, when you want.

quote:

Originally posted by GarandGuy:
Being an American means being free and having the ability to do what you want, when you want.

Not necessarily. If everyone did what they want, whenever they want, we'd have complete anarchy and unending crime.

It means I have the privilege of standing on the shoulders of many great men who carved and refined the very definition of freedoms as they relate to state interactions. And it means it is my honor to take my place in that line for our children and their children's future. In short form, anyone living in America today has effectively won the lottery. And now must do their part to ensure the Republic endures.

quote:

Being an American means being free and having the ability to do what you want, when you want.

I agree to a point. As long as what you do doesn't negatively affect others.

One example I enjoy the outdoors. I do a lot of outdoor activities. I think we should be able to hike, swim, and enjoy the land that is owned by us(government). I hate when I go somewhere and I see signs that restrict what I can do because someone has hurt themselves. I believe in big boy rules. Do stuff you can do safely but don't restrict my rights because some fool with no experience tried to climb some rock or swim in some river.

Also while you say "to do what you want, when you want." Doesn't include leaving your trash somewhere, spray paint your name on mother nature, leaving you ass wiping paper laying on the trail.

So while I'm tired of having restrictions on what I can do I'm also tired of shit dicks destroy things.

It means a lot to me.
It’s a place where a guy with not much of an education, but a strong work ethic and some intelligence, can work and end up with a career that can support his family.
It’s where my wife could immigrate and learn the English language. Find a job, work and have success.
It’s the ability to have hope, and dream, and if your work ethic supports it, your hopes and dreams have the ability to come true.
That’s my viewpoint on your question.
It’s the greatest place on earth, and I am beyond proud and happy to be an American.

It means that I have a birthright granted to me by the blood and sacrifice of others, who often gave up their lives to ensure our continued freedom. I hope to live up to it.

I've got ancestors who fought in the revolution, the civil war, and were among the first 100 families to settle Texas. I try to live my life in a way that honors what those people fought and worked so hard for, so that it isn't squandered. Being an American, to me, is freedom, yes. But it's also a responsibility to keep earning what so many have sacrificed for.

quote:

Originally posted by comet24:
I agree to a point. As long as what you do doesn't negatively affect others.

Yep. The way I heard it growing up was "your freedom extends to your fist, and ends at the other guy's nose."

quote:

Originally posted by YooperSigs:
It means that I have a birthright granted to me by the blood and sacrifice of others, who often gave up their lives to ensure our continued freedom. I hope to live up to it.

I cannot put this any better. It makes me physically ill to imagine people here giving up on the idea.

As simply as I can put it, being an American means having the absolute freedom to make his own way with the absolute means to keep it should that freedom ever be threatened.

Appreciating the ideas and gifts given to us by God and our forefathers.

I had the great privilege of visiting more than 50 countries while serving in the USAF. By comparison, none can hold a candle to the US in terms of our freedoms, affluence, compassion, and strength. I am damn proud to be an American.

A couple quotes from John Wayne:

On American spirit: “It’s an outlook, an attitude.”


“It’s kind of a sad thing when a normal love of country makes you a super patriot. I do think we have a pretty wonderful country, and I thank God that He chose me to live here.”

It means I won the lottery!

I've lived in four continents, traveled all over the world, and every time I return I feel like I won the lottery.

This is where I have the freedom to work the job I want, speak my mind, vote for my elected officials, attend the church of my choice, move about as I please, and raise my family as I see fit. It means I have a heritage that I must pass on to those coming as it was passed on to me.

You don't realize how great this country until you see how bad it is in the rest of the world.

I can say and do as I please as long as it doesn't hurt anyone else.

I can worship as I please or don't.

I can carry if I want.

The harder I work, the luckier I get most of the time.

I can vote.

I too feel like the won the lottery.

quote:

Originally posted by mlazarus:
It means I have the privilege of standing on the shoulders of many great men who carved and refined the very definition of freedoms as they relate to state interactions. And it means it is my honor to take my place in that line for our children and their children's future. In short form, anyone living in America today has effectively won the lottery. And now must do their part to ensure the Republic endures.

I know I could not have said that any better. Preservation of what we have for future generations. They must be passed the baton. They must take it and run.

It means I am the beneficiary of the rights entrusted to me by the Founders and the blood of those who preserved those rights. It means I have responsibilities to go with those rights to do my part to preserve the many gifts we’ve been given.

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:

quote:

Originally posted by GarandGuy:
Being an American means being free and having the ability to do what you want, when you want.

Not necessarily. If everyone did what they want, whenever they want, we'd have complete anarchy and unending crime.

True. I meant as it pertains to us Americans who aren’t assholes. Those who won’t scream fire in a movie theater for the hell of it. The more refined, civilized class of American.

quote:

Originally posted by 83v45magna:

quote:

Originally posted by YooperSigs:
It means that I have a birthright granted to me by the blood and sacrifice of others, who often gave up their lives to ensure our continued freedom. I hope to live up to it.

I cannot put this any better. It makes me physically ill to imagine people here giving up on the idea.

Totally agree!

An all encompassing " meaning" is well beyond my purview but will offer
an analogy.

I used to think it was like a rope,
You were either pulling the rope when you were able
or you were being pulled by the rope when it was other people s turn but it's no where near that simple.

Being American ,at least while I was going up,
Was like the spoke of a wheel,

Yes there are still times when ,out of consideration for the other 164 other spokes
You are relied upon to provide support by either pushing or pulling,
But for
A very brief moment
you're pushing and pulling are in very minimal but not totally diminished status.

For the wheel to remain true ,it's essential that each spoke be up to its individual optimal task.

only then can any expectation of a harmonious coexistence be imagined .

The hub of this social wheel is important as the collective spoke's

Just as the government of the people is important , more,no less

This message has been edited. Last edited by: bendable,

This immediately sprang to mind...

Not to be melodramatic, but whatever it might have meant to be American... after having served in the Army (just a 2 year Reagan era stint), it has always means more. I lived alongside men who were shot and carried shrapnel under their skin, and watched friends cut down for my rights.

I was once the stupid, self absorbed kid whose own desires ruled my universe, but that changed. I owe a debt I cannot repay to Drill Sgt. Gaskin back at Harmony Church, Ft. Benning.