“Our great modern Republic.\u00a0 May those who seek the blessings of its institutions and the protection of its flag remember the obligations they impose.”\u00a0 President Ulysses S. Grant said it well.\u00a0 It is a blessing to be an American, protected under its flag.<\/p>\n
But who are the “real” Americans?\u00a0 I recently had occasion to ask myself this question.\u00a0 What is required to be an American?\u00a0 Is it citizenship?\u00a0 Is it being born in America, others remaining immigrant Americans?\u00a0 Are some races, some religions more American than others?\u00a0 How do we decide who the “real” Americans are?<\/p>\n
Speaking English as a requisite to being American was put forth by President Theodore Roosevelt when he said, “Every immigrant who comes here should be required within 5 years to learn English or leave the country.”\u00a0 Are “real” Americans not just citizens, but English speaking citizens?\u00a0 Nevertheless, I know citizens who speak English who I do not consider “real” Americans.<\/p>\n
Perhaps “real” Americans must be in this country for generations before becoming “real” Americans.\u00a0 Nine generations ago, in the 1690s, Walter Bosley emigrated from England to Maryland.\u00a0 Four generations ago, in 1852, my great-grandfather Herman Gerbeling emigrated from Prussia.<\/p>\n
Perhaps it’s more than just the generations a family has been in America.\u00a0 Perhaps it is more important to have the correct ancestry to be a “real” American.\u00a0 Maybe I am a “real” American because another ancestor, Edward Fuller, arrived in America on the Mayflower; his brother Samuel was the ship’s physician.\u00a0 Or, maybe I am a “real” American because two of my Bosley ancestors fought in the Revolutionary War.<\/p>\n
Even so, I know people I consider Americans who have not been here for generations, whose ancestors did not come over on the Mayflower, whose ancestors did not fight in the Revolutionary War.\u00a0 As I think about it, I know people who are first generation Americans I consider “real” Americans.<\/p>\n
What if none of these attributes have anything to do with being a “real” American.\u00a0 What if birthplace, race, religion and lineage are all irrelevant?<\/p>\n
Was 20th century novelist Sinclair Lewis on to something when he said, “Intellectually I know that America is no better than any other country; emotionally I know she is better than every other country.”<\/p>\n
Could being a “real” American be more about a state of mind?\u00a0 That makes some sense and goes along with one of our mottos, “E Pluribus Unum” (Out of Many, One).\u00a0 Are “real” Americans one people from many races, religions and countries of origin?\u00a0 Is being a “real” American, more than anything else, about values, attitudes, loyalty to country and love of country?<\/p>\n
“Real” Americans are Americans and nothing else. They see themselves as Americans first, everything else pales in comparison.<\/p>\n
President Theodore Roosevelt summed up this sentiment saying,\u00a0 “There is no room in this country for hyphenated Americanism…. This is just as true of the man who puts ‘native’ before the hyphen as of the man who puts German or Irish or English or French before the hyphen.\u00a0 Americanism is a matter of the spirit and of the soul. Our allegiance must be purely to the United States.\u00a0 We must unsparingly condemn any man who holds any other allegiance.\u00a0 But if he is heartily and singly loyal to this Republic, then no matter where he was born, he is just as good an American as anyone else.”<\/p>\n
To better describe Americans we could modify Daniel Webster’s famous quote, “I was born an American; I will live as an American; I shall die an American.” It could say, “I will live as an American; I shall die an American; I am a ‘real’ American.”<\/p>\n
Being a “real” American is simpler than I thought.\u00a0 It is all about love of country, about respectfully giving our heart and soul to America.<\/p>\n
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