What is an American?

So this year in English, we're reading about American literature. One of the first questions the teacher asked us was, "What is an American?" This, I believe, is a controversial question. Honestly, what is an American? What is a true American? Because America is in truth, a melting pot, a collage of all different cultures...and what is American culture?

What I interpret for American culture is the mixed cultures and the fact that we have so many different cultures and not just one style. There have been Chinese styled rooms, Japanese styled gardens, Italian cooking, ..., and American culture just doesn't seem to stand out save the hamburgers and hotdogs and loads of unhealthy junk food.

Also, there is the sore issue of racism, which is inevitable, regardless of age in time. Of course we all know that racism is a horrible monster, yet, unknowingly even, each one of us will commit some sort of racist remark. For example, why do some people in American think they are better than the minorities? Is it because they are the "majority"? Unless you were in America since long before, I don't think anyone is truly an American. Everyone in America, is at one point or another, an immigrant; the only difference is how early you immigrated to the US.

Another point is the Pledge, which states that there is "justice and liberty for all." Is it true? With regards to the former stated, "unknowingly even, each one of us will commit some sort of racist remark," even if we do not know it, we tend to lean towards certain types of people. This is preference and opinion, liking and disliking. It's not a bad thing, but it is this self expressed opinion and idea that leads to a more serious racism. And so, it is with that, that I am assuming that not everyone is treated equally, and somethings that are obviously injustice, and still unseen by the government or law in general. All in all, what I am trying to say is that we may try our very best to protect the "justice and liberty for all", but that would make us idea-less and preference-less...basically, everything we might try would be hypocrisy.

I believe that that standard of being a true American is set too high for human reach. To be able to be fair to all people, even the kindest people might have their own preference [which does not refer to them being racist, but to be "equal to all" means to respect all...equally]. This does not mean we are allowed to stop trying to reach that standard just because it is near impossible.

So the question is: What do you think is a true American?