What does it take to be American? Does it involve making sure I have the right to my weapons? Is it going to church every Sunday? Is it playing the role of a straight man or woman, in order to get a standing ovation at the end of our show called life?
1. What is the price of being American?
The Founding Fathers said, "All men are created equal," yet we live in a world where it's okay to convict a man because of his race or financial status and not for his wrongdoings.
2. What does it take to be American?
The other day I was told I have bad morals and ethics because I chose a side. When we were younger, we were all told in our lifetimes that, "everyone is entitled to his or her own opinions," but I can be thought of as inhumane because of my views, which may or may not be anyone's business.
3. What does it take to be AN American?
I do stress the word "an." America has no set race or religion, but it's okay to be sub-categorized because of the color of our skin. I was once told that I am just a sub-category, that my culture is not the same as another American's, regardless of the fact that we were both born in America. Doesn't that make us both American? Don't we share the American culture?
4. What does it take to ACT like an American?
It's okay for me to praise God, who is the head of my life, but when a tragedy happens, in America, anything but Christianity must be uncommon and not the "American way."
5. What does it take to be an American MAN?
An American man provides for his family. He's a man married to a woman. Has 2.5 kids and lives a stable life. Anything else is not considered the "American way."
Over the hundreds of years since America has been founded, these were the unspoken and unwritten attributes that were invented by the people of America. Along with it came racism, sexism and homophobia. When does the time come for peace?
Peace. Some people would say it is Utopia, a perfect place that we could never have, because of the fact that perfect can't exist. So does that mean that peace doesn't exist? No. It does exist, but we, as Americans, get in the way of it. We let bad-mouthing individuals create turmoil and stir the pot of problems that America faces. We fight over the small things like "Black Lives Matter vs. All Lives Matter," or petty situations on gun control. We see each other as enemies, so it makes it easier for America to be the target for other countries to say, "Wow! Look at them, that is America, the land of the free to an extent."
These are the qualifications of being an American. Constantly judging one another, instead of coming together for a greater purpose.
What does it take? Another war? No one wants that. Stand strong, love one another, stay connected the right way, and don't judge each other. I'm American and I will live my life the right way by treating everyone like they should be treated and walking tall when I am put down. I will fight for peace. Will you?
