What it means to be an American

The other day at work someone asked what it meant to be American. The obvious response was a legal United States citizen but the question caught me off guard. I would define myself as a typical American. I love the U.S and have traveled all over the country and met people from the North, South, West and East coast. I truly believe that that every area of the United States has a different way off life and culture. Are we defined by our appearance? I look like Italian. I am tall have dark skin and dark hair. My best friend who is just as American as me has red hair and freckles. So it is not based on looks. The conclusion I came to is what defines Americans is their love for their country, stubbornness and independent natures. The 4th of July is next weekend and although every state and family has different traditions, U.S citizens all over the country are all celebrating the same thing, freedom. No matter what activity you partake in we are all celebrating the same thing. Americans all love where they come from, we are independent and we know it. We never listen to anyone telling us what to do or how to live our lives. And that is what it means to be an American.