What Being American Means to Today's Youth

The George H. Gallup International Institute ^ | November 18, 2003 | George H. Gallup Jr.

[RWR8189]

What does it mean to be an American? In a recent Gallup Youth Survey*, Gallup posed this question to U.S. teens (aged 13 to 17). Asked on an open-ended basis, the question allowed respondents to offer whatever answer came to mind. While some people might expect disinterested replies, teens' responses reveal a deep and sincere appreciation of the implications of their status as Americans.

Teens frequently mentioned freedom, or some aspect of it, in their responses. One 17-year-old boy said being an American means having "freedom to choose what school I want to attend, what church I want to go to, study what I am interested in, travel freely throughout this country without any restrictions, listen to any radio or TV stations that I want to, and achieve my career and educational goals ... without any influence from any government or military group." A 15-year-old boy said, "Being an American means being proud of my country and defending our right to free speech and the freedom to be who we are." He ended his comments dramatically: "I will defend my right to be free to the death."

Teens Don't Have to Agree With the Government

The war in Iraq has raised many questions about the meaning of patriotism. However, some teens stressed that being American does not mean one has to agree with all the government's actions. A 16-year-old girl said, "Being an American is just caring about the good of America. It doesn't mean agreeing with everything the government does, but at the same time you have to agree with the most core values … freedom to life, liberty, pursuit of happiness, speech, etc." A 17-year-old boy said, "It means having citizenship in the United States. It doesn't matter if you burn flags or join the armed forces, if you have citizenship you are American."

Many Note Freedoms and Welcome Diversity

The United States, by virtue of its founding principles, is a nation of diverse religions, cultures, races, and ethnicities. A 16-year-old girl said that being an American means being "able to have our own ideas and beliefs, and being able to express [them], along with the freedom of being an individual who is different from everyone." A 14-year-old girl gave this response: "I think to be an American means accepting others, treating everyone equally, being open to new ideas and thoughts, understanding and appreciating your freedom, and not taking what your ancestors did for granted."

Criticism and Apathy

A few teens gave apathetic answers, and some were notably critical. But such downbeat responses were rare. "To be an American is to be blind to [the] world's problems, and to consume its resources," said one 16-year-old boy. A 16-year-old girl commented, "I am grateful to be in a country with so many freedoms. I just don't like how high-headed America is and how we may be a little more headstrong than we can handle."

An Open Door to the Future

A common theme in the replies is that being an American and having freedom opens the door to great opportunities. One 13-year-old boy said it means "having the freedom to make choices in my life -- I can be as successful or unsuccessful as I want to be." A 14-year-old girl said to be an American is "to have freedom. To be able to dream and try to be anything you want … My parents taught me to always do my best and to always have hope, even if you get knocked down over and over. In America, you have the right to always get up!"

Bottom Line

Perhaps somewhat surprisingly in these uncertain times, teens tend to show deep appreciation of what it means to be American. While writing about freedoms, they also note citizens' obligations. Negative and cynical voices are rarely heard. One 17-year-old girl reflected: "…we are a group of people who have dreams and live in a place where we have the chance to fulfill them." Another 16-year-old simply said it means "being part of a nation that tries to be good."

*The Gallup Youth Survey is conducted via an Internet methodology provided by Knowledge Networks, using an online research panel that is designed to be representative of the entire U.S. population. The current questionnaire was completed by 517 respondents, aged 13 to 17, between Aug. 1 and Aug. 29, 2003. For results based on the total sample, one can say with 95% confidence that the maximum margin of sampling error is ±5 percentage points.

[weegee]

A 17-year-old boy said, "It means having citizenship in the United States. It doesn't matter if you burn flags or join the armed forces, if you have citizenship you are American."

By accident of birth we are born in America rather than some other land. The "horrible" history by which America was settled and battles fought (against the British, Mexico, and others) for freedom of soverign rule is what brings us to today. Those on the left who continually dredge up America's past as a way of tearing down America today (and this was a tool of the Communists) miss the lessons of history (we can move on) and more importantly the consequences of history (is there a "free-er" nation than the United States Of America?).

I don't support forcing native born citizens to swear to a loyalty oath although such a declaration could be made a requirement of govenment jobs without any complaint from me. Subversive overthrow of the government is a reality for anarchists, communists, and islamofascists. Treason and sedition are still crimes against the state. I do think that snotty nosed punks should read the loyalty oath that is sworn by all naturalized citizens (and for "as bad" as America is, there is a large influx of people who must not have gotten the message that it's horrible here; or maybe it is that as bad as the US "is" other places are far far worse and good men there choose to do nothing, letting evil thrive).

Here is the loyalty oath:

The Oath of Allegiance

I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty, of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen;

that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic;

that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same;

that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law;

that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law;

that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law;

and that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion;

so help me God.

Funny thing about that oath. Canadian Petah Jennings lied when he took it because afterwards he was boasting that he was still a Canadian too (the US does not recognize dual citizenship for naturalized citizens).

[cyborg]

Being an American to me, means that I was born here. Other than that, the economic opportunity and freedom to work, work,work does it for me. I can go to my mother's country, can go to Europe, can go to South Africa and get diversity and nice people and all that. I love to work, and here in America I can work to my delight and be more rewarded.

[WilliamofCarmichael]

I suppose these attitudes reflect society as a whole. The "To be an American is to be blind to [the] world's problems, and to consume its resources" feeeeeeeeelings may be "rare" but they dominate the universities and the various mainstream media, IMO. Virtually all in those sectors are liberals to hard leftists. Many of them, such as the best and brightest Sacramento Bee brains, blame the U.S. for 9/11.

The more common feeeeeeeeelings expressed by "[Being American] means having citizenship in the United States. It doesn't matter if you burn flags or join the armed forces, if you have citizenship you are American" are not entirely correct. Yes, physically you are an American.

But burning our Flag and other deliberate acts of disrespect are sorry ways to express "disagreements." Again these feeeeeeeeelings dominate the universities and the various mainstream media. These feeeeeeeeelings helped our press win the coveted General Giap "Most Valuable Guerilla Award" in recognition of the important role our left played in defeating the U.S. in Vietnam.

Today another war, another time. Same leftists. Same range of feeeeeeeeelings on the left. From surrender our sovereignty for safety and world peace to "bring it all down,. man."

Not every American is an American though all do have inalienable rights to "do their thing." We have inalienable rights to say, NO! A clash of inalienable rights. Now what?