What Really Makes You an American?
It’s not where you live, nor does it involve the U. S. Constitution.
The highly divided political climate in the United States between the Democratic and Republican parties poses a challenge since both parties claim to represent what it means to be an American.
The squabble is akin to one frequently encountered between opposing military combatants with each claiming God justifies their actions; that is, God is on their side.
In the not-too-distant past it was taken for granted allegiance to the United States Constitution took precedence over party affiliations and supported what it means to be an American. Unfortunately, allegiance to the Constitution is no longer useful for establishing one’s national identity.
Why allegiance to the Constitution does not make you an American.
Put simply, the Constitution is a contract, and contracts require good faith to work properly. When there are disagreements between the parties to a contract, good faith can lead to compromise. Additionally, if contract negotiations are honest, transparent, and address the concerns of all impacted citizens, then on this basis a shared national identity is possible.
However, if one party reneges on their promise to support the terms of the contract (Constitution), good faith between the parties involved is replaced by mistrust and their once shared national identity fades into history.
This is what occurred when Donald Trump broke his promise to …preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States.¹ by instigating an insurrection to thwart the transfer of power. He would later put his intentions in writing, …termination of all rules, regulations, and articles, even those found in the Constitution.²
Had Republicans fully supported Democrats in prosecuting Donald Trump rather than enabling his anti-American slide toward authoritarianism, good faith, and our shared national identity would likely have continued unchanged. Currently, however, only mutual mistrust exists between the parties.
Another problem with using one’s allegiance to the Constitution for determining who is or isn’t an American is because the document is mutable, it can be changed. Some might consider this a strength and suggest having flexibility allows the Constitution to evolve with the changing consciousness of the people. Whereas, this has been true in the past, for example, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibiting discrimination does reflect the evolving consciousness of a vast majority of U. S. citizens, it can just as easily be changed for punitive reasons by punitive politicians, for example, with the turning over of Roe vs. Wade.
To call yourself an American must be based on an immutable principle to which all citizens can accept as good, and which is able to withstand the vicissitudes of opinion for time immemorial. The question is, therefore, what legitimate basis, independent of party affiliations and immune to the duplicity of politicians, can citizens of the United States use to identify as Americans.
Who is an American according to our nation’s founder.
Regardless of whether the threat of authoritarianism originates from a monarchy, dictatorship, terrorist regime or a narcistic president, it always consists of someone trying to exert control over others by force.
Just as we are currently experiencing threats to our democracy from authoritarian sources both inside and outside our borders, so also was our nation similarly threatened by an authoritarian monarchy at its birth.
Before there were Republicans or Democrats our nation’s founders faced and overcame tyranny to bring America into existence. It is reasonable, therefore, to consider the thoughts of our country’s founders regarding what is required in order to call oneself an American, and the words of our nation’s founding father settle this question unequivocally.
The hour is fast approaching, on which the Honor and Success of this army, and the safety of our bleeding Country depend. Remember officers and soldiers, that you are free men, fighting for the blessings of Liberty — that slavery will be your portion, and that of your posterity, if you do not acquit yourselves like men. ³
Therefore, you can consider yourself an American if you take up the fight against tyranny to secure liberty.
References
- Oath of Office for President of the United States, US Constitution, Article II, Section 1
- Trump calls for the termination of the Constitution in Truth Social post, Kristen Holmes, CNN, Updated December 4, 2022
- George Washington, General Orders, August 23, 1776, in Founders Online, at https://founders.archives.gov/documents/