Who/what is an American? What does America mean to you and your faith?

I have lived in the United States for 40+ years, but did not stop to think what it means to me to be an American. Now that you have asked the question: Being an American for me means being free to persue my dreams and happiness. I define what my dreams are and what happiness means to me as long as it is within the law. As an American, I also strive for the ideal that all men are created equal. Even though I see examples of inequality all around me, I realize that it is a journey and I have to take small steps every day to reach the ideal that all men are created equal.

To my faith, being an American means that I am free to practice my faith and my belief system. Neither the American government nor the American society tells me what faith I should practice.

Most of all, I am proud to be an American.