What Is An American? | Teen Ink

What Is An American? MAG

November 6, 2008
By thelastharpy SILVER, Granby, Connecticut
thelastharpy SILVER, Granby, Connecticut
8 articles 0 photos 3 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Love is selfless--and it's requited. Anything less is merely glorified infatuation."


When I asked my father this question, he laughed and shook his head. I have a knack for asking the hard ones. But as our nation struggles with the issue of illegal immigration, we don’t bother to ask this of ourselves.

The first time this question occurred to me was while I was watching “American Idol” a few years ago. A beautiful Russian performer was struggling to get her green card. The judges loved her but rejected her all the same. My mother said it was because they wanted an American idol. I blinked and asked her, “What’s more American than an immigrant?” She sighed.

Every single American citizen is an immigrant, even Native Americans, who came across the Bering Strait thousands of years ago. Homo sapiens originated in Africa, and every other place we settled we were strangers, right? But the United States is unique because it once welcomed all immigrants. The majority of Americans have ancestors who came over barely a hundred years ago. My earliest family immigrated scarcely three generations ago. And so we must ask ourselves: is it right to deny entrance to people who, like our ancestors, want to make a new home and are willing to work for the opportunities we have?

If you really think about it, the people who risk life and limb to come to our country have a higher opinion of U.S. ideals than a lot of us do. Their ancestors have lived in the same place for hundreds of years, perhaps more. Can you imagine the courage it takes to leave all that behind?

Furthermore, we owe immigrants a lot. For example, our fresh produce is cultivated by migrant workers, a harvest picked in shame. I ­believe the very least we can do is grant them citizenship, minimum wage, and schooling for their children. In addition to some of the more skilled jobs immigrants do, we take many advantages for granted – aisles of produce, janitors at fast-food restaurants – that are made possible by the people some scorn and wish to remove from our country.

Some say if we let everyone in, we won’t have room. We’re the third-largest country on the planet. There’s room, and immigration is happening regardless. Let’s screen for criminals but let others in. After all, can’t we share Thanksgiving with the laborers who have more than earned their wages?


The author's comments:
I hope my piece will encourage others to think about this issue.

Similar Articles

JOIN THE DISCUSSION

This article has 71 comments.


sts231 said...
on May. 27 2010 at 1:17 pm
no one is american..thts a made up name we came up with to not have to be called european anymore..we took this land we werent here first..this article is a waist of time.

on May. 27 2010 at 8:15 am
mutekid016 GOLD, Gap, Pennsylvania
12 articles 0 photos 30 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Remember when you play like a girl used to be an insult?" Mia Hamm

I think all of you need to chill about this immigrant issue. Not all natural born Americans want to leave, so don't say that. I have a father who served in the army in the Korean War and The Peruvian Gulf war. My brother wants to serve. So Americans have different opinions, don't hate on them.

juniorminty said...
on May. 21 2010 at 12:33 pm
tru dat homes!!! i agree wholeheartedly :) :)

on May. 21 2010 at 12:32 pm
Viva_Mexico_21, Caddo Mills, Texas
0 articles 0 photos 4 comments
if it werent for immigrants there wouldnt be americans, the original immigratns werent mexicans it was europeans, sstop being ignorant

juniorminty said...
on May. 21 2010 at 12:30 pm
americans r americans!! duh! bravery and fredom is what makes an american an american. wolverines!!

on May. 3 2010 at 7:06 pm
horsie_luver SILVER, Tigard, Oregon
5 articles 1 photo 56 comments

Favorite Quote:
"I cannot live without books."-Thomas Jefferson

I don't mind at all! :-D

on May. 3 2010 at 3:17 pm
DizzyRae PLATINUM, Fort Washington, Maryland
20 articles 2 photos 37 comments

Favorite Quote:
“For one human being to love another; that is perhaps the most difficult of our tasks; the ultimate, the last test and proof; the work for which all other work is but preparation.”
-Rainer Maria Rilke

Love the 1st sentence u said..I hope u didnt mind but I quoted it..thank you..I gave u the credit though

on May. 3 2010 at 3:16 pm
DizzyRae PLATINUM, Fort Washington, Maryland
20 articles 2 photos 37 comments

Favorite Quote:
“For one human being to love another; that is perhaps the most difficult of our tasks; the ultimate, the last test and proof; the work for which all other work is but preparation.”
-Rainer Maria Rilke

Great article..Love ur opinion...I feel the same way...We(Americans), but not all of us, think that since we have been here since birth or something that its okay 2 keep those out who havent & label them as immigrants..I know that that is the official term for them or whatever but still it is offensive. I just believe that every1 deserves a chance. No matter what

on Mar. 30 2010 at 10:40 pm
horsie_luver SILVER, Tigard, Oregon
5 articles 1 photo 56 comments

Favorite Quote:
"I cannot live without books."-Thomas Jefferson

What are people from Canada called? Canadians. What are people from Mexico called? Mexicans. What are people from the USA called? No, not USA-ians. No we're called Americans. We are such a big melting pot of different countries that we don't even go my our country's name! I love this article because it points that out very clearly. Thank you so much for putting how I, you, and many other people feel about immigration into words.

Jigjoo GOLD said...
on Mar. 22 2010 at 12:26 pm
Jigjoo GOLD, Many, Louisiana
10 articles 8 photos 30 comments

Favorite Quote:
Hello. My name is Muerte, and I will be your assassin today.

Sadly, since there are many different kinds of people who haven't the slightest clue what they're doing with their money and, of course, price gougers (Gah, my eyes!!), there is virtually no chance at all for a stable economy in our country. *sigh* If only we could all play fair...

Jigjoo GOLD said...
on Mar. 22 2010 at 12:19 pm
Jigjoo GOLD, Many, Louisiana
10 articles 8 photos 30 comments

Favorite Quote:
Hello. My name is Muerte, and I will be your assassin today.

We are all either immigrants or decended from immigrants, not necessarily immigrants ourselves. I support your opinion because illegal immigrants are more willing to do the jobs that most American citizens refuse to take. Who shovels poo at the chicken houses? Illegal immigrants. Who wants to shovel poo in a chicken house? Not me, or any sane person I'm associated with in any way, shape or form. Illegal immigrants deserve to become citizens, but they can apply for a green card or a working visa. If they are denied, then they'll have to try again later. Sometimes it takes a long time and some good luck.

on Feb. 9 2010 at 9:27 pm
FlyingAlight SILVER, Atlanta, Georgia
5 articles 0 photos 11 comments
Hanna I completely agree with you and I don't think Jacky knows how hard it is to get a green card. There are many fees and tons of paper work. Risking life and limb to cross the border (in my opinion) shows thier love and drive for America/a better life. And illegal immigrants don't by any means freeload. If all the illegal immigrants were to freeload then I would garuntee our economy would crash. Corporations aredependant on them

on Feb. 3 2010 at 8:17 am
SaraRoxsHerSox SILVER, McVeytown, Pennsylvania
7 articles 0 photos 85 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Brochacho!"

wow! I completely agree with .:al3na

on Feb. 2 2010 at 3:33 pm
DarkRose18 BRONZE, Marion, Iowa
3 articles 0 photos 2 comments

Favorite Quote:
Once you are forced to stand alone you realize what you really have in you. Darkness does not equate to evil as light does not always equate to good. The truth about forever is never certain.

This was a great article. I do not agree with the the sterotypes they put on people that immagrate into this country. They work hard just like any other human being.

Ive heard many stories from illegal aliens not one of them speaks of a simple or pleasurable trip. They make a big comitment to leaving theyre home, belongings, and theyre closest family members. Not only are they leaving many things behind but they come to nothing and no one waiting for them.

I all so think we should stop judgeing wether we are latins, americans, chinese, or any other race we are all human beings. We have diffrent backrounds yes but we all live on this Earth as one.

on Jan. 30 2010 at 7:25 pm
LihuaEmily SILVER, North Kingstown, Rhode Island
7 articles 3 photos 196 comments

Favorite Quote:
"It is said that there's no such thing as a free lunch. But the universe is the ultimate free lunch." -Alan Guth

A fantastic piece. Thanks for sharing your opinion. I do believe that those who have grown up in the United States tend to take being a citizen for granted. There is SO MUCH here.

GiSELA SILVER said...
on Nov. 21 2009 at 5:20 pm
GiSELA SILVER, Escondido, California
7 articles 0 photos 53 comments

Favorite Quote:
Life is about doing things people said you couldn't do.

You're completely right(: I myself was raised by my illegal immigrants and they worked their butts off!! And yes America should give them good credit for it like citizenship but no, this country is too cruel. Anyways becasue of them im legal and have a good education with a good job. Becasue of them (: And not many people like me take advantage of that.

on Nov. 21 2009 at 10:44 am
Hanna Crooks GOLD, Louisville, Kentucky
13 articles 13 photos 10 comments
But we also have to consider that immigrants pay taxes even though, if they are illegal, they don't get the benefits. They also take jobs that a lot of natrual-born citizens would not accept for so little pay, keeping our industries afloat. But I agree that it is a tricky subject for debate; if only we just had a stable economy!

on Nov. 21 2009 at 10:39 am
Hanna Crooks GOLD, Louisville, Kentucky
13 articles 13 photos 10 comments
Not everybody has that option. Everybody who enters the country would like to enter legally; it would save them a lot of trouble. But our immigration system is messed up, and it's a lot harder than it sounds.

on Nov. 21 2009 at 10:38 am
Hanna Crooks GOLD, Louisville, Kentucky
13 articles 13 photos 10 comments
I think the point was that there are plenty of people living in America who would rather live somewhere else, but anybody who comes to America has to want to live there. It's an active decision to come here rather than a passive decision to stay here. It's not so much that all natural-born citizens love America less (certainly not true), it's that a smaller percentage of them love America.

on Nov. 9 2009 at 8:30 am
Jezabel PLATINUM, Ricmond, Virginia
35 articles 0 photos 53 comments

Favorite Quote:
In the end we will not the remeber the words of your enemys, but the silence of are friends.
~ Martin Luther King Jr.

i am an immigrant. legal, but i no that people would die to give there familys just have the things we do.