What it means to be an American

What does it mean to be an American? Is the American spirit more than a hotdog at a baseball game?

“Being an American means freedom and enjoying the fruits of that freedom without persecution,” said Lexie Keeton, a senior English major.

America’s constitutional form of government allows U.S. citizens that freedom, said Bob Holsworth, a political science and public administration professor. It is also what sets the country apart from many others.

“Most Americans would say…(it) accords people certain rights and liberties,” he said.

The U.S. Constitution, he said, provides Americans with basic rights and a route for legal recourse if those rights are violated.

One such right from the Constitution is the right to object to an administration’s actions, such as war. These objections often lead to protests, Holsworth said.

“(However), most Americans in wartime are going to support the administration,” he said, adding that most people will support U.S. troops.

Americans often show their support during a war by writing letters to the troops, making statements of support and conducting rallies on behalf of the troops. While some people experience anxiety from watching the war on television, Holsworth said, there is a tremendous interest in it.

Future tragedies might not steer the public away from the war against Iraq. Instead, Holsworth said, negative events might double a person’s commitment and support.

The only thing that could cause a dramatic swing in support for the administration, he said, would be if the war became protracted with no sign of resolution.

Another constitutional right Americans have is the right to religious freedom, as stated in the First Amendment. This guarantees that a person’s civil rights will not be affected by their religious beliefs, or the lack thereof, said Cliff Edwards, director of the division of religious studies. The law allows a person to be a good citizen regardless of his or her background.

“That makes the United States unique,” he said. “(Different) religions have been asked to work out their differences and learn to live in peace in this country.”

States without religious freedom sometimes support one religion and discriminate against others, Edwards said.

Despite America’s diverse religious background, Edwards said, some people are still distrustful and intolerant of other religious beliefs. Others, he said, use their religion for political gain.

People of various religions can contribute to American society and become great resources, Edwards said. In classrooms and workplaces, open-mindedness can occur naturally.

“I think that in itself…encourages understanding and tolerance,” he said.