What Does It Mean To Be An American? [Y-not]

I have been thinking about this a lot lately as the effects of Obama's "fundamental transformation" manifest themselves. Today seems like an appropriate day to ask you what you think is the most American value.

For me it is exemplified in the following:

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

- From Martin Luther King's "I have a dream" speech, August 28, 1963

This is the most fundamental of American values: that each of us is created equal and that, through hard work and determination, we can rise above the circumstances of our birth.

America is - or should be - a meritocracy, not an oligarchy. I think that's why so many of us chafe at the "ruling classes" in our government, media, business, and other segments of society. And it is, of course, why most of us rebel against the trend to "protected classes" who are demanding, not "protection" from discrimination, but special treatment.

What value do you think of as distinctly American?

posted by Open Blogger at 10:26 AM

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