When thinking about the American identity, I admittedly catch myself having a slightly negative outlook. When asked in class what words came to mind when thinking about Americans, I thought of things like “lazy”, “spoiled”, and “ungrateful”. It’s not that I think all Americans represent these qualities, but watching the news and hearing about all the crime and low-class people that populate are country, it’s hard to see those citizens that still represent the kind of character our nation was founded on.
In “The New Colossus”, Emma Lazarus talks about the freedom and opportunity our nation can provide to anybody, no matter their background. While this is a beautiful thing and is a quality unique to America, it’s balanced out by “Unguarded Gates”, written by Thomas Bailey Aldrich, where he talks about the concern he has with letting just anyone into our country, knowing that there will be people that would choose to waste it liberties America has to offer and instead become a cancer to society. Langston Hughes, who wrote “I, too”, was such an optimist that even through all the oppression he went through, he could still look to a brighter future. While this is an outstanding quality to have, it doesn’t change the fact that there are still racists refusing to let go of the past.
It seems that in every aspect of the American identity there are extremes. No matter how outstanding someone is, there is still someone out there who is equally awful. And although my definition of American identity hasn’t changed, it’s now altered. I do see those upstanding people that will keep our nation going, but I still recognize those people that don’t deserve all the opportunities laid out in front of them.
You are wrestling with the complexities of American identity-- good job! Where do you see yourself in this spectrum of Americans?
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