What is an American?

Americans.  What are they?  Over the expansion of time, there have been many conceptions to this question.  One great contrast in views of what an American is that of the 1700s versus the idea of today.  In the contemporary year of 2008, the way most Americans and the rest of the world see those living in the home of the brave as lucky to live in a place where they are free of the oppression which faces most peoples in the world.  These drastic changes have been brought about through time and they are feasible to continue to alter as time continues.

In the present day of 2008, Americans are just another part of world.  However in the 1700s, Americans were revered as a fortunate few, those able to flee the hardship of their fatherlands.  The plethora of immigrants who came to the United States brought with them their wide range of cultures and their diversity of languages.  These cultures have evolved and merged into one ethnic background. The culture of the United States of America.  The most powerful country on either of the American Continents, and perhaps one of the greatest countries in the entire world.  Most other people on earth view Americans as lazy and controlling.  That may be what we really are, but what truly matters is how Americans see themselves and other Americans.

            In the 1700s most Americans faced a plethora of troubles and dangers in the New World.  The early settlers toiled with the Native Americans.  The Native Americans were extremely agitated with the Europeans for settling on land they used.  In Native American culture, there must be balance in the world and humans must act as thought they are one with nature.  They also believed that it was wrong to own land.  This completely contradicted what the European belief of “conquering” and owning land. So many battle were fought, and, of course, the settlers were victorious.  It is sad to see the petty size of the Native Americans that are left.  One would suppose that they would be respected as America is, in truth, their land.

            In the present day there are much less Native Americans, but there are still many problems.  Energy and the economic crisis seem to be the biggest thoughts on everyone’s mind these days.  Should we continue to drill for oil, or shift over to clean energy?  Will this economic downturn ever end?  Illegal immigration is another major problem.  Many, but not all immigrants are illegal, causing many social problems in the nation.  They cannot get health care or apply for aid.  Most are unable to get a well paying job and most are paid less than minimum wage.  Should illegal aliens be allowed to stay in this country or should they be sent back to their oppressing countries in which they are most likely at the bottom of the social chain?