by Larry Lounsbury

Created on: September 14, 2010   Last Updated: September 15, 2010

What is an American?

You would seem to think that it is easy to describe what an American is when you're born here, yet aren't we all are strangers and sojourners? The idea of an American transcends birth to something that is ethereal in its quality.       

John Hector St. John’s American name was changed from  Hector St. Jean de Crevecoeur. He too, is part of that American Dream. As an American formerly living in Scotland, I often was asked about the American West. You see, people still have that American dream, even in our former motherland of Britain. It brought tears to my eyes when I discovered that in Great Britain, Americans are still respected and loved.

Liberty, you see, is the essence of what being an American is all about. In a local Chinese Restaurant, I have become good friends with the owners. They lived and worked hard in New York City as immigrants before coming to Auburn, New York as new citizens. I feel responsible, and wish to make them welcome. I have no great fortune, as some past immigrants described America as a place where the streets were paved with gold.

Yet there are other kinds of fortunes, fortunes in America that grow with a person. Crevecoeur tells us that the genius called liberty was brought with us all long ago. “When he says to himself, this is the work of my countrymen, who, when convulsed by factions, afflicted by a variety of miseries and wants, restless and impatient, took refuge here. They brought along with them their national genius, to which they principally owe what liberty they enjoy, and what substance they possess. Here he sees the industry of his native country displayed in a new manner, and traces in their works the embrios of all the arts, sciences, and ingenuity which flourish in Europe” (Crevecoeur,1). Some of us came over on the boat only recently, while others of us have families that were here even before the U.S. was born. My family also had dreams, One of my great grandfathers had a dream. His name is William Pennoyer. He belonged to a group of merchants called The Merchants Adventurer Club. He dreamt about making a fortune, and did; but he forgot about liberty. That was until his daughter met one of my forefathers, Robert.

Robert came from Yorkshire England, and who knows, he may have even known some of Robin Hood's clan.  The point is that he went to the States. Somehow his dream became infectious, because William Pennoyer helped with

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