Argumentative Essay On American Me

“American” Me?
Descending from minority-driven ancestries, it’s hard to truly call myself an American, ethnically at least. Scratch that. I’m going to dispel the notion that being an American is a way of describing someone. No one is truly American, not even natural born citizens. We are all descendants of either Natives, Africans, Asians, or Europeans, and even those ethnic groups were derived from even earlier ancestors. The point is: the suggestion that an American identity exists, is a myth. Granted, people who live within the borders of the United States do share certain customs that are unique to them, but for the most part, what we identify as American would be better labeled as Nativasiofrindiapean. The foods we eat, the music we drown

feels unwelcoming and dismissive would be a lie, but compared to Colombia, it does lack a sense of community. But, although people don’t seem to be too concerned with their immediate community, people in America are far more concerned about the national community than people in Colombia. Yes, I’m talking about the paparazzi and all the nonsense that comes with it. I’ve traveled to more than 5 countries and there isn’t a single one in where its people are as concerned about media gossip. A perfect example would be the 2016 presidential debate. Moreover, the willingness of the American people to watch and believe the news lends itself to furthering the consumerist lifestyle that is synonymous with the United States. Advertisements litter every corner of just about everything, and as Americans, or better yet, as Americanized foreigners, we buy everything. I certainly am guilty of falling into these habits. I entertain the news, I communicate through my phone more than I do in person, and I binge shop. Ah, the “American Way”. This is vastly different from the culture in Colombia. Perhaps it’s because most people in Colombia don’t have the means to splurge on all the new goods or the time to pay attention to media buzz. Nonetheless, there is a stark contrast between both cultures. This contrast is simply a product of the economic prosperity that you see in the United States, nothing else. This is true if take anybody, from any corner of the planet, and drop

My parents came to the U.S. chasing the same goal that millions of other foreigners were chasing: a better future for their children. Truthfully, they found it. I wouldn’t have been provided with such an abundance of opportunities anywhere else in the world. It’s simple: the best universities in the world are found in the U.S. and I’m lucky to be attending one of them. So, I am a product of the American idea: that if you work hard, you’ll make it in life. If not, I’m on my way at least. Although I’ve been blessed with countless opportunities, my parents haven’t been so lucky. They surely have worked hard, at times taking up two jobs just to make sure we’re comfortable. So why is it that the rags to riches story hasn’t been true for us. It’s been 15 years. Well, I firmly believe that that story is currently being written, through me. Every family’s experience is different. I have friends whose parents did the same thing my parents did and struck gold mines shortly after their arrival. I also have friends whose story is similar, but who are worse off than we are. It’s a gamble, but a gamble that’s worth it. I’m a firm believer that hard works pays off sooner or later and that’s the American