The Definition of an American

The United States of America is the "melting pot" of the world. It has been a place of retreat for foreign immigrants to flee to in order to pursue their hopes and dreams in freedom. Therefore, there is no stereotypical image of what an American is. I believe, by definition, an American is one who lives or was born in the United States and in one way or another supports the country’s well being. This could be by working in the country or supporting it in a time of war. In addition, you should be an authorized citizen, whether you are born here or earn legal citizenship.

The Arena

The demise of the Native American population was a result of their threat to the Europeans. Europeans were power hungry and wanted complete control of the new land they discovered. However, the Native Americans who were already established on the land posed as a threat to them fully inhabiting their discovery. Because of this conflict the Native American people were brutally killed and became part of a series of fictional stories.

In order to make themselves feel better, the Europeans made up stories and referred to the Native Americans as savages. They portrayed them as being barbaric and warlike in order to make themselves feel better for conquering their land and killing most of their inhabitants. They argued that the Native Americans were not real farmers, merely hunter and gathers who never really settled in one place and claimed the land. Therefore, they felt as if they were taking over land that had never been occupied, when truly it already had a definite owner.

Rather than making peace with the Native Americans and sharing the land such as the Natives suggested, the Europeans fought for it and nearly wiped out the entire population over their own self-interest and craving for supreme power. These conflicts still causes great friction with remaining ancestors of the original Native Americans who were robbed of what beyond doubt belonged to them.

Furthermore, surviving minorities of the Native American population are still, in some cases, treated improperly. They want justice in return for the inequality forced upon their ancestors. Like many other segregated groups in America, the topic of their distress causes friction and un-comfort to people. Therefore, their pain and suffering often goes over looked. This can only be over come by people carefully voicing their opinion as well as hearing others and coming to some soft of understanding.