What does it mean to be American?

It means you can wipe my butt

To be born in America! Thats all it really means lolz...

what you really mean is to live in the united states.

These are all supposed to be decided on an idividual level by means of thinking, not following yahoo answers users, but i love telling people what i think they whould do so ill go ahead and enlighten you on my thoughts: Being american means being a citizen of the US of A. 1. You don't owe anybody anything, so you have no social responsobilities. 2. Any goals you wish to reach. This has nothing to do with your citisenship. (Boy, that was a hard one....lets move on..) 3. Don't know, don't care. Family members can play whatever role they want. 4. To educate people. What the curriculam should be varies depending on ppl's opinions. I think education anywhere (not only in america) should be secular, it should teach history, science, statistics, language(s), literature, critical thought and questioning everything and how to do research for when you get out into the real world. It has not been very successfull so far. The problem is not lack of money, as teachers always claim, it's the fact that school children are forced to go to an assigned school (only the rich have the option of going wherever they want) if you want to know how to fix any countires education system watch this. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bx4pN-aiofw it's really interesting but long... but its worth it. or don't. up to you. 5.it means liking your country. I guess to me it's important because i want to live in a country i like. But i've never considered myself a patriot. Patriotism is like respect, it has to be earned by my country of residence, so i don't freak out on people who i think aren't being patriotic, i don't care if they show their patriotism. I'm not one of those people who stand up during the national anthem, say the pledge or care about the arbitrary "rules" consearning the flag. Some see that as patriotism, but i don't. 6. No. haha. fight peer pressure. we should care about what is "right". Of course there is no objective "righ"t and my idea of how our country should be run is probably not shared by a lot of people. But we should make desicions based on logical reasoning rather then to seem good to the rest of the world. 7. Be a natural born citizen (which i think should not be nessesery, but that's what the constitution says) and honestly win an election. I would prefer an atheist, someone who is as socially liberal as it gets and would cut gov. spending. ('cept for some sort of a public option healthcare... that makes sence... i think) 8. I like how on paper our country is free and all... But i don't like how there isn't actually liberty and justice for all. I think religion is still a big part of politics - that should change. The gov. shoudl not be encouraging social behavior - like encouraging marriage, discouraging smoking, drugs and prostetution. Everything that doesn't directly infringe on people's "rights" to life, liberty & property should be legal. Also make the gov. smaller. Im sure there's a lot of wastfull spending that could be cut: i.e. subsedies to companies, foreign aid to israel, the fcc, public television... ( i know we have more important issues but those things really aren't nessesery) There you go. My 2 cents. now answer my question about England por favor? http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=ApfvqkxcYWDDkFdLQFloKC3sy6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20090919214124AA4Ez9p

Nothing, anyone can be one. Whatever you think you are. Everyone's a free agent in America. You're a free agent remember. Decide for yourself. The role of your family and yourself is whatever your ethnicity says it is. It's a rainbow society, remember? To brainwash the masses into believing everything works. It doesn't. Patriotism is the last refuge for scoundrels. Remember that and you'll never end up fighting sand fleas in the Middle East. We should care what other countries think of us only when we're traveling. A president should have an IQ higher than a muskrat's. He won't need much more than that because the Federal Reserve will tell him how be one. I love its houses but the people suck. What should change? EVERYTHING! (except the houses) I was born just after WWII, so I've been around these parts for awhile and I can honestly say that all the changes that I've seen take place involve greed and how it has ruined the American character. Unlike what Americans have come to believe, everything does not revolve around money. Somewhere in the mix, honesty and competency have to be considered but rarely are, even by Christians and Jews who are supposed to be forthright.

all i can say is i like how we can somehow manage to bully the whole world

Social responsibilities. Well try to police the world and say your on top even though Russia has the biggest military on this PLANET. Personal goals are to play football. Roles are to spoil your children and make them obese. Education is second to last right behind Africa and after Mexico. Patriotism is about pouring beer on animals and lighting them on fire and then be obese and lazy and complain. You are dirt on the clean shoe of the world. American presidency is like being a congress man but being able to declare war with over 50% agreement. Seriously this is true. Nothing I like about here its all chocolate fat people who make gangs.

u people r ****** or blessed depending on who looks at it. this country gave me some amazing opportunities, but i dint thank the politicians lol

Following the "law of the land" Achieve something, start a career. The family should help other families in the community, keep each other safe. Role is to educate? I'm living proof that they need to do better lol. I think we spend a lot of time on useless things. To represent, care about your country. Have pride in your country, nationalism. Yes, because if they hate us, and we just go over there like we're best of friends...could be very dangerous >.< doesn't always mean that we should go try and 'fix' the relationship though. Not everyone likes everyone. Nationalism. Wisedom. Must know American History to keep us from making the same mistakes. I like the mixture of cultures. I'd like to see more equality, starting with a FLAT TAX.