What does it mean to be American?
He wore an Abercrombie&Fitch shirt with Levi’s 501 jeans. He listened to Eminem on his iPod and bobbed his head. But the long, black braid down his back, name, and tanned color skin revealed his Native heritage. He’s American.
She had a sachel full of freshly picked strawberries, weathered hands, and a slight hunch when she sat. She proudly stated in Spanish her governmental documents arrived and now she is officially a legal citizen. She smiled and went back to work in a strawberry field off the 101 freeway in California. She’s American.
Young and eager to learn English, she explained to me in a thick Japanese accent she was American. She’d never been to America, but she was born on a military base in Japan and therefore considered American. So yes, she’s American too.
I’m bi-cultural. I eat rice and beans and apple pie. I light off fireworks on the 4th of July and listen to salsa music. I speak English and I can pray in Spanish. I’m American too.
But what does it mean to be American?
A professor in college asked this question in class one day and I have yet to figure it out. Because the truth of the matter is that we can and do have prejudices toward people of different ethnic backgrounds. We make assumptions about how they should act, drive, talk, walk.
The only remedy to this ill is to first ask the bigger question: What does it mean to be a Christian? It is then we can provide a context and rubric of how to engage and dialog with our brothers and sisters living in America.
What does it mean to be a Christian? And in honor of Dr. Orozco, what does it mean to be American? I know we have international readers, so feel free to chime in 🙂 I’d love to read your perspective!
Wow, this is so thought provoking! All that comes to mind is a line from a song that goes "I'm proud to be an American, where at least I know I'm free." But I can't help but ask the question, "Am I really free?" Yes. But not because I'm American. I'm free "because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death." Romans 8:2
I love this country, I love being bi-cultural too, I loved watching the USA win against Algeria in the World Cup this morning and almost cried when Mexico lost to Uruguay on Tuesday. I'm not afraid to eat tacos from a roach coach and I'll happily enjoy a hot dog, even if it's not Hebrew National.
What does it mean to be American? I don't know.
What does it mean to be a Christian? "Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God" John 1:12 Could it really be this simple? I'm a daughter of the most high because I call on His name and believe his holy word. Wow. The simplicity and power of that blows my mind.
You are SO darn insightful! I love reading your posts 🙂
by this they know that you are my disciples [a.k.a. christians] IF WE:
1. obey Him luke 6:45-47
2. love one another. – john 13:35
i am filipino [not american] so i can't answer your other question.
by their fruit you will recognize them – Matt 7:20
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. – Gal 5:22-23
By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. – John 13:35
The greatest commandment: Love God. Love Others.
I have been using 'stop acting like a Christian and BE one' for quite some time, and writing about 'real Christianity'. It's generally a call to do more than act like a Christian as we walk into church on Sunday and take it into how we treat others and live our lives on a daily basis. A call to deeper faith, walked out in action.
And….it comes from my own experience, and many others, an over-arching sense of people being afraid of Christians because the consensus in the world seems to be that Christians are scary, judgmental, hypocritical people looking to shove their religion down their throat using terrifying tactics and threats about what happens if they don't and leaving out the stuff about love, grace, mercy, joy, etc. (Mostly because people have run into Christians like that.) I just keep thinking it'd be nice if all the amazing Christians I know out there keep talking long enough and doing enough 'trying to live Christ's example'……so that they are seen as the 'example' and the 'norm'.
But 'being a Christian'? Yeah. I do think it's a little more simple than many of us like to make it, and yet, in the context of culture — something worth thinking about.
And being an American? (And Cindy, that song makes me cringe. HA Mostly just due to memories of an ex and living in Texas associated with it, but I digress.) I think that's a little more simple than we make it too. I'll cheer on Team USA at the Olympics and so on. I'll cry when our soldiers and families who have sacrificed so that we can enjoy the freedoms that we do are honored. But mostly, being an American for me is nothing more than a reflection of where I was born. I love this country. But I had nothing to do with my being born here. I was just lucky, I guess.
Then again, I love salsa music. I enjoy tango music! I enjoy the music, art, food, people, etc. of other cultures. I don't know that an appreciation of culture is an expression of 'being an American'. I was just born here, enjoy freedoms here, love it here, even when we mess it all up (but keeping moving forward).
These are kind of big questions to answer in one little comment. HA
I'm probably entirely too fragmented here today. 😉
Love you though!
deb
I'm sorry you cringe at that song. I love it because the first time I heard it was at Disney's California Adventure and it was sung a capella by a Group 66 and it was so beautiful to me. I think it's sad that although I am not supportive of everything this country stands for, there aren't that many people (other than military personnel and their families) who love the nation we're blessed to live in.
My first boyfriend was a Marine, I have a handful of friends that serve our country and my pastor is a Veteran… Hoorah! But I don't know your situation with the ex. Or Texas. I don't know about the republic of Texas and them Tejanos…. (I kid, people! Don't stone me!)
I hear you on non believers generally believing Christians are narrow-minded and judgmental. What can we do to change this mentality and perspective about people that are called to do one thing; L-O-V-E?
Oh! HA It's okay. I LOVED Texas and still have lots of friends there. We all sang (most of us still do) and that was his 'signature song'. (It's the thinking about him part that makes it icky. HA) I have another friend of mine who came back from Desert Storm and said they played it so much that group of guys feel 'icky' when they hear it too. (Then again, play me "Battle Hymn" and have a men's chorus do the 'in the beauty of the lilies' part and I'm downright weepy! HA) Different songs just hit us all different ways sometimes. It's cool. 😉
And I'm totally and completely with ya on the 'Love' thing 😉
I think if we demonstrated how much love and how many commandments of love there are — we'd have to fight to keep people away.
Love!
d
Oh man I love that you put Matt. 7:20 on here. So true.
I think Cindy sums up what it is to be a Christian with the word… love.
what does it mean to be American… I honestly have no clue. 😉
Summer, – I am 18. Parents just left to try it out in US after winning US permanent residency for our family. I am certain I will have nothing to do with that unknown world on the other side of the ocean. I won’t leave my friends, my country, the places of my childhood…
Fall 2000 – Airport. Round-trip ticket for me and one-way for my younger brother is in my hand. I wave to my relatives one last time – “see you in 3 weeks” while heart is whispering “..or not”. 12 hours flight – head is pounding with intense thoughts. Still in the air, everything is clear to me – my home is where my family is. Whatever THAT world is – I am staying. There is no sitting on two chairs, so being only a permanent resident, I knew right then – in order to survive, I have to detach my heart from my homeland, and learn to become an American.
2008 – first visit to Ukraine. Familiar places and smells, tons of cheerful relatives, dear, all-grown-up and changed friends..Ahh – home. Three weeks later – back in US..Exhausted and happy – Finally I am at home!!
2009 – Trip to Israel – Jesus – Your eyes saw those mountains, Your feet walked those paths, those people are your people.. my God, they are my people too. -I FEEL AT HOME!!!!
What does it mean to be American? To me it is being a thread in a multi-colored, multi-textured, amazing embroidery. Some threads on that piece of art are already completely woven-in and some are still attached to their yarn-ball.
What does it mean to be a Christian?
It is knowing that there is no sitting on two chairs. It is respectful and responsible detaching from all “humanly-defined-identities” and lures of this world – whatever place on the globe – and step-by step taking on our new identities, it is wholeheartedly embracing our final destination – the Kingdom of Heaven, before even “walking off the plane”.
Philippians 3:20
“For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. “
I am an American byy choice. I had the opportunity to go back to my country where I was promised the schooling, and even a career… I am a wife, a mother, a sister and a daughter… My most important title is The daughter of the most High. I am also a Christian by choice (for God is a gentleman and dos not force himself on anyone). I am promised eternal life, a life spent praising him!
First Bianca, thanks so much for commenting on my blog! I've known about your blog for quite some time. Second, I think I've been debating in my mind what it means to be a Christian lately. Am I a Christian because I ace the theology test, or ace the test of obedience? And where is the balance between obedience and grace that makes me a Christian?
Wow. Bianca. I am new to your Blog, came across it yesterday! I love your post and was listening to your different discussions on Youtube, yesterday as well. You are very REAL and thought provoking. In this post I love Aljolja's comment. It shows you how for most, being an "American" is not their first choice but in the end we never stop being who we are and we never forget where we came from.
To me, being an American means; taking advantage of the opportunities created, it means respecting and learning about my origins while embracing where I am now, it means being a responsible and involved citizen, it means learning and enjoying everyone around me no matter what race, color, gender or background…being an American means many things to me! But mostly, I am Thankful, Thankful to my parents for immigrating to this country before I was born so that I could learn that life has no limits and that you can do everything you set your mind to! Thank you for this question.
[Had to split my comment, sorry]
[Rest of my comment]
As for being a Christian, I think this is very difficult and to me being a Christian means evolving, learning, loving, praying, but most importantly being yourself and allowing God to guide you through the rest. I learn everyday what it means to be a Christian and attempt every day to be a better person, a Faith filled person with grace and wisdom in my heart and in my actions. I like everyone's insight into this question and as always will take from everyone's answers and learn and apply them to my everyday! Thank You as well for this question!
Love Love your Blog! Love your perspective and your mission…. LOVE IT.
I LOOOOOVE this post. and you 🙂
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