by Nicole Oickle

Created on: February 22, 2008

America is defined as a melting pot simply because of their tolerance for allowing foreigners and all different walks of people to come into the country and live the American way. The Chinese, Japanese, Jamaicans, Canadians and many other cultures have moved to America to embrace this lifestyle. The foreigners who wish to become American must live in America for a number of years and take a test to be considered American. I hope this isn't new news but no matter how many tests a foreigner takes, they are not American. A nationality is given by the country an individual was born in.

What if a certain individual was born in America? They are of American nationality but do they embrace American values whole heartedly? What is the defining line that considers one a true American? America is really no different than any other country in this aspect. Many countries have foreigners moving in and making lives for themselves. Many Americans embrace values other than the American values which is not an easy feat.

After America was discovered people came from all over Europe and other continents to live in the new land just like in Canada. So one could say that we are all foreigners and that we hail from other lands. Technically we are Germans, Italians, British, and even Spanish. America is just a clump on the map filled with people from other countries.

If, and I mean if there was to be a true American then that nomination would go to the Natives and First Nations who have been there for over ten thousand years ago, however, the First Nations did not consider themselves to be American. The term America was not introduced until Columbus accidentally discovered this land in 1492, by what the school children are being taught.

The First Nations did not consider themselves Americans but they called themselves the Cherokee, Navajo, Algonquin, Iroquois, Sioux, Apache, Chippewa, and many more. The foreigners who decided they were going to call this land mass 'America' decided to move in and boot the First Nations off the land that they have been living in for so long. Of course the Europeans who settled in Canada decided it was acceptable to follow suit.

So, is there in fact any such thing as a true American? I must conclude that from the presented argument that there are no true Americans nor Canadians for that matter. We are all foreigners who should be grateful to have the ability to exist on these lands. Land belongs to no one but Mother Nature. We just live on it.

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