Texas Faith: What does it mean to be an American?

Dallas Morning News - What does it mean to be an American.

To this immigrant American, the word American has always conjured up the image of my dear friend and father figure for over 36 years; Dadski Lt. Everett A. Blauvelt, USNR and a WW II Veteran (1916-2013) buried at the US National Cemetery in Grand Prairie. On his 97th birthday this January, we asked him to share the biggest lesson of his life – and his instant response was, “to mind my own business” shaking his head on every word.  Indeed, to be American is to mind our own business, and yet be compassionate and caring for fellow beings like Dadski.

Texas Faith : What does it mean to be an American today? 
Dallas Morning News | Published on June 11, 2013
By Bill McKenzie  
 
 
This question is more than an academic one. It goes to the heart of the immigration debate that is growing hot in the Senate this month. 

The Senate is debating a reform bill that could come up for a vote by July 1. A part of that legislation focuses on institutions that help immigrants become part of American society. I recently wrote a column about this aspect of the bill, which you can read at this link.

http://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/columnists/william-mckenzie/20130513-william-mckenzie-senate-bill-would-help-immigrants-join-the-mainstream.ece

Tamar Jacoby of Immigration Works USA has written extensively about the concept of assimilation. As she has pointed out, what it means to be an American today is vastly different from what it meant in, say, the 1950s. 

Almost a decade ago, Jacoby wrote this:

We may need a new definition, or new understanding of assimilation — a definition that makes sense today, in an era of globalization, the Internet, identity politics, niche advertising and aTV dial that offers a choice among a hundred or more different channels.

“Even as they live out the melting pot myth, today’s immigrants and their children are searching for new ways to think and talk about it, and together, they and the rest of the nation face the challenge of updating the traditional ideal.”

For more of her essay, see this link: http://www.manhattan-institute.org/meltingpot/html/part_1.pdf

I would say we still are searching for an update for that ideal, including how immigrants become part of the mainstream without losing their ethnic identity.

This is obviously hard work. As our society becomes more diverse, America develops a broader and richer culture. At the same time, nations depend upon some common core of values, beliefs and identity to hang together. And that requires some kind of definition of what it means to be an American. 

So, how would you define being an American today?

MIKE GHOUSE, President, Foundation for Pluralism, Dallas, and Speaker on interfaith matters, diversity and pluralism

 To be an American means to be free to live my life as I choose but with a responsibility to the common core values that enhance the safety of my fellow Americans. All it takes is to follow the rule of law to contribute towards a cohesive environment for everyone, one in which we function effectively when we understand that my freedom hinges on the freedom of people around me.

To this immigrant American, the word American has always conjured up the image of my dear friend and father figure for over 36 years; Dadski Lt. Everett A. Blauvelt, USNR and a WW II Veteran (1916-2013) buried at the US National Cemetery in Grand Prairie. On his 97th birthday this January, we asked him to share the biggest lesson of his life – and his instant response was, “to mind my own business” shaking his head on every word.  Indeed, to be American is to mind our own business, and yet be compassionate and caring for fellow beings like Dadski.

America is God’s own country and a microcosm of everything God has created in the universe from her geography, seasons, resources, people and diversity from sea to the shining sea. To be an American is to be in tune with our land.  

Our land is represented by native as well as immigrant Americans of every race, nationality, ethnicity, language, culture and religion. We see God as one, none and many, and in every form, male, female, genderless, existent and non-existent, being and a non-being, nameless and with innumerable names, yet what unites us is the idea of all men are created equal and every man has the right to his life, liberty and pursuit of happiness. 

Assimilation means being a part of the whole with our own unique identity. It does not mean we have to give up anything, or be not who we are not. Yet, it means we can choose to enjoy and celebrate the civic holidays together, respect each other, work together, drive on the same roads, uphold our constitution, defend and serve the nation together and mind our own food, drink, clothing, housing, beliefs and life style.  

Indeed, the phrase conservative American will take on a new avatar, it would mean minding our own business without messing with anyone else’s life-style. It amounts to learning to respect the otherness of others and accepting the God given uniqueness of each one of the 318 million Americans for the common core values of safety and well being of all.

.....

To see all the other responses, at Dallas Morning News at:http://religionblog.dallasnews.com/2013/06/texas-faith-what-does-it-mean-to-be-an-american-today.html/
 

....... 
Mike Ghouse is a speaker, thinker and a writer on pluralism, politics, peace, Islam, Israel, India, interfaith, and cohesion at work place. He is committed to building a Cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day at www.TheGhousediary.com. He believes inStanding up for others and has done that throughout his life as an activist. Mike has a presence on national and local TV, Radio and Print Media. He is a frequent guest on Sean Hannity show on Fox TV, and a commentator on national radio networks, he contributes weekly to the Texas Faith Column at Dallas Morning News; fortnightly at Huffington post; and several other periodicals across the world. His personal sitewww.MikeGhouse.net indexes his work through many links.