What is an American?

In my opinion, being American isn't owning 762 American flags, or wearing red white and blue everyday, or being fat, or whatever other stereotype you would like to throw at me. It's not even agreeing with your president or various government representatives. But it's believing our first amendment. Freedom. American would not be America without it's freedom. To a certain extent, I can wear what I want, worship who I want, be who I want, live where I want, etc. And I can't be thrown out the country for doing so. 

Being American does not consist of celebrating the 4th of July. In all honesty, I do not celebrate the 4th of July. African Americans were not free that day. Bring American is understanding that no matter what the law says, who got killed for it, the skin color of our president, America is a racist country. Even still to this day. 

Being American is knowing the rights given to you, the rights people fought for, so that you can have it easier than they did. 

I feel like now as Americans we just think this stuff is automatic, and we just came and the country was like this for us. I feel like as an American we should be grateful because I wouldn't want to live here 100 years ago. 

I feel like being American is being capable of not calling yourself Mexican, Irish, Polish, French, African, or Brazilian, but calling yourself American. Not forgetting your heretage but being able to consider yourself a part of the country in which you live 

Modern Day Puritan

I feel like in today's society, the Puritan way of life is still expressed even if not directly. For example, how in Scarlet Letter, Hester was publicaly embarassed for commuting her sin. We as Americans publicaly embarrass someone for something bad or uncharacter like they did, especially famous people. If the president of the Unied States were a drug lord (extreme I know) but if he were caught, you would not stop hearing about that, even years later, it may no longer be headline news but it'snow  something passed on and talked about. 

I also feel the Puritan strictness of religion is well alive as well. Some churches don't want women wearing short dresses or can't have relations until marriage and enforce the 10 commandments heavily. The puritans considered you ungodly if you did not know your commandments. 

Although Puritan culture is alive, I also feel that it is constantly shut down by modern day society. For example, one is not publicaly embarassed for commuting adultery. And in modern day society, adultery is much more common than in Puritan time. I feel like I wouldn't agree with a Puritan way of life because it's too strict for my life.  People should live how they want, and what they do is their business. Not that of the community.