What does it mean to be American?

What does it mean to be an American? Depending on who you ask, you will get different results. For example, if you were to ask a history teacher, it would mean to be from the United States and if you asked an economist, it would mean someone who became successful. However I think it means to be free. One of the core values that America was founded on was the idea of natural rights. This idea was first proposed by the philosopher John Locke, who said that mankind has certain, undeniable rights to life, liberty and property and it was the governments job to protect these rights. This key root is one of the main causes for the founding of the United States. Thomas Jefferson proves this when he wrote the Declaration of Independence, saying "...that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed".

When we use the word freedom, most people use it in the sense of "I will do anything I want to because this is a free country" and they are wrong. The dictionary definition of freedom is "The power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint." Just because you have the ability to do anything you want does not mean that you should. For example, I could walk down the street and punch a random person in the face. However they have the freedom to punch me back as well. The best illustration of freedom would be the saying "my right to throw punches ends at your face". In a free country I have the ability to do anything, as long as it doesn't affect you. That is what it truly means to be American. Being American means you can work as hard as you want, say what you want, and be what you want and no one can stop you, which is the true essence of freedom. It's a shame that other countries don't allow that, because it brings along progress. If we couldn't say what we wanted to, then how could we criticize and improve on ideas and inventions? If we couldn't be who we wanted, how would our culture evolve and establish ourselves as Americans?