The American identity

Abstract

The creation of a common American identity is based on three fundamental concepts – personal freedom, self-governance, and a common language. To try and create a shared identity based on culture and/or history would be nearly impossible in America due to its specific history and the fact that it was built almost entirely by immigration. To this end, the proposed identity looks at some common aspects that can be accepted and embraced by all irrespective of their origin, culture, or ethnicity. Freedom of expression, equality before the law, self-governance, self-reliance, and the English language form the basis of this identity, which means it is rooted in higher-order moral values rather than culture, religion, or any other source.

Introduction

The fundamental element of the social contract in the developed world, including the US, is the premise that the state is responsible to its citizens above all else. What this means is that the development of all policies, including those regarding migrations must be rooted in the evaluation of benefits and costs to society as a whole and citizens as individuals. In many cases, the debate about social cohesion centres on the issue of immigration, especially in the US, but that appears to be the wrong question to ask (Huntington et al., 2004).

Instead of asking is immigration good for a nation, it is much better to ask how much immigration is necessary and what should the immigrants be expected to do once they are in the country? This, then, elucidates another critical point; there can be no clear vision for the nation without an equally clear understanding of its identity. What, exactly, is American, and what does it mean to be an American citizen?

The answer to this question cannot be sought in the traditional sources of citizenship, such as shared ancestry and history, as most of modern Americans came from somewhere else and have a varied ethnic background. To be American, then, means to share a common language, standard set of values, and some sense of a shared purpose (Wodak, 2009).

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