What it
means to be an American
What Makes America Great?
By John D. Turner
I am an American,
fighting in the forces which guard my country and our way of life. I
am prepared to give my life in their defense.
- Military Code of Conduct, Article I
Familiar words to those of us who serve, or
have served in the military forces of the United States.
Twenty-seven words which pretty much describe what service in our
armed forces is all about. A tie that binds together all who wear
the uniform; active duty, reserve, and guard. A reminder that
military service is more than just a job; it is a commitment to
serve and, if necessary, die, to protect those we love and the
freedoms we cherish.
I feel the same way concerning citizenship in
this great nation we call the United States of America. Whether we
are born to citizenship, or came here from somewhere else, we need
some common thread to tie us all together. What does it mean to be
an American? When (if ever) was the last time you stopped to reflect
on this question?
What makes America great?
America is the sum total of the people who
comprise her population. People from all walks of life, from every
country on the face of the Earth. People of every race, color, and
creed. But America isn't great simply because of her diversity.
Diversity for the sake of diversity is as meaningless as change for
the sake of change. Unfocused diversity is chaos. America's past
brilliance has been to take that diversity and harness it into
productive channels. We used to call this "the melting pot"; taking
people from various backgrounds and cultures and melding them
together into a new culture; an American culture, focused in a
common direction. Diversity brought new and different ways of
looking at things. And, as a hybrid is frequently stronger than the
sum of its parts, so too American culture was stronger than the
cultures from which it sprang.
Today, America more nearly resembles a stew,
rather than a melting pot. And instead of celebrating American
culture as a whole, we seem more bent on celebrating the meat,
potatoes, and carrots individually. To an extent we have always been
a stew, with pockets of various cultures existing within the united
whole. I'm not saying we should be bland and homogeneous. I am
saying that we should remember that we are a stew first; that our
heritage as a potato is something to be proud of, but not to the
exclusion of the stew. And oh by the way, we wouldn't be half as
good a stew if it weren't for that onion or carrot over there, a
dash of salt, and perhaps some oregano and curry powder for spice.
I am John D. Turner. Not Scottish-John D.
Turner, or French-John D. Turner, or English-John D. Turner. I am
the sum of my genetic heritages. I may find study of one or more of
my cultural roots to be of interest, but I am not Scottish, nor
French, nor English in my culture. I am American. The cultures in
the countries I just mentioned are very different from America in
ways large and small. American culture takes pieces from each (and
many others) and blends them together into something new. Something
American. I may some day decide to don a kilt and attend the
Scottish games held in North Carolina, said to be the largest of
their kind in the world (including Scotland). If I do so, I will be
celebrating the Scottish part of my heritage. But I will not
consider myself a "Scottish-American". I may be an American of
Scottish descent, but I am simply, an American.
So too, it should be for all Americans from
where every their ancestors hailed. There is nothing wrong with
being interested in your roots. Genealogy is a fascinating subject,
and one of great interest in my Church. But we should be Americans
first. Hyphens and racial identifiers serve only to divide, not
unite us.
As one people, we should have a common,
official language. That language should be English. There is nothing
wrong with speaking other languages. Americans should, in fact,
strive to be more multilingual. It is of great benefit in the world
we live in today. However, we should have one language in common.
Having a common language strengthens us. There is no benefit in
having citizens who cannot understand each other. Throughout the
history of this country, emigrants from other countries have had to
learn English in order to become fully functioning members of this
society. They might or might not be incredibly proficient, but
generally their children were. Unfortunately we are no longer
emphasizing this in our country. Rather we are making it easy for
people to live here, become citizens, raise children, and never
learn English if they don't want to. And we seem to be celebrating
the fact that Spanish is rapidly becoming a second "primary"
language in this country.
We are not doing people a favor by placing
them in this position. Nor is this healthy for the future of our
country. Like it or not, English is the primary language in the
United States of America. Not having a good command of both spoken
and written English is a handicap which in general will condemn one
to a lower economic status than they could otherwise achieve.
Additionally, part of living in a representative democracy is
communication with our elected officials. It is hard to do that
without a common tongue. And Balkanizing ourselves is so unnecessary
and so counterproductive. Take a good look at the Balkans, the area
where the root for the word "Balkanization" derives, and you will
quickly see where we don't want to go.
As a nation, we need things that bring us
together, not drive us apart.
Perhaps we need some sort of "code of conduct"
to remind ourselves that we are Americans, and what that means. Not
hyphenated Americans of some sort. Not extra privileged Americans,
or under privileged Americans, but Americans, united by our desire
to be free and beholding to no one. United by a common vision. Proud
of ourselves as a people and of our accomplishments as a nation. It
might go something like this:
I am an American. I live in a nation where the
ideas of liberty and individual freedom reign supreme.
Where a person is judged not by their outward
appearance, but by their personal integrity as expressed by their
actions and deeds. Where thoughts and ideas can be freely expressed,
and freedom of worship is regarded as a right. Where I can be secure
in my possessions, free from government interference and imbued with
the right to defend myself and my family from those who would seek
to do us harm. As an American, I stand ready to aid my fellow
citizens when needed, knowing that they stand ready to do the same
for me for we are Americans.
Having such a code, it would then be necessary
for us to live the code. And that of course is the problem. Words
are easy; deeds are more difficult. There is no law that can be
passed to make us all work together, and even if that could be
accomplished, it would violate the concept of freedom for which we
stand. Coerced compliance is not freedom. The ends do not justify
the means. It takes an individual effort from each individual. I
have to be willing to make the effort, whether or not my neighbor
feels the same. I am an American. Not a white-American, or a
Scottish-American, or a Mormon-American, or any other prefix I could
attach that might apply. I am simply an American, as are my fellow
citizens. With the full rights, privileges, and duties that being an
American implies.
The US Military Code of Conduct has six parts.
Click here if you want to view them all. I suggest you do; it is
important for the citizens of this country to understand the culture
and ideals of those who stand in harms way in defense of their
liberty.
I leave you with article VI of the Military
Code of Conduct. I don't know how to put it more succinctly than
this.
I will never forget that
I am an American, fighting for freedom, responsible for my actions,
and dedicated to the principles which made my country free. I will
trust in my God and in the United States of America.
Military Code of Conduct, Article VI.
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