[Commie Basher]

Ideally, an American is someone who has completely assimilated into the US, and who feels closer to his fellow American countrymen than to any foreigner or foreign nation. An American is a black who feels closer to white Americans than to African nationals. An American is an Arab who feels closer to Jewish Americans than to Arab nationals. An American is a Jew who feels closer to Arab Americans than to Israeli nationals. An American is a Latino who feels closer to Anglo Americans than to Mexican nationals. An American is anyone in America, of any race or religion, who feels closer to other Americans than to nationals from Britain or Ireland or Germany or Russia or China.

That's the ideal. E. publium unim. Applied equally, welcoming all, preferring none, demanding the same loyalty and obligation to assimilate, and in return granting the same rights and privileges of an American.

[LisaFab]

Well said. Happy Birthday Declaration of Independence!

[skeeter]

Thanks for your post script. I do appreciate the basic sentiment expressed by the writer, but I am growing very uncomfortable with this 'we're all Americans' rap, which is appearing more & more like a Trojan Horse.

America isn't everywhere, it is a real place and Americans are a distinct people and culture.

[FITZ]

Yes --a true American doesn't need to qualify "American" with any hyphen or adjective especially from another nation.