Introduction
When people think about America, they think about freedom, opportunities, the American Dream, and many more; All such things that define us. Our country has come a long way from revolting against Great Britain to gain independence, abolishing slavery and segregation, establishing civil rights, women’s rights; the list can go on and on. People from around the world come here for a better life and to achieve their American Dream; it’s not always easy, but in a country full of opportunities, it is possible. In this essay, I will discuss words, symbols, and rituals that define the American Creed and identity.
Words that define America
There are many words that describe America such as freedom, pride, courage, etcetera. Freedom, the power or right to act, speak or think as one wants without restraint. In America, we are free. We are free to speak our minds. We are free to practice our own religion. We are free to love anyone. We are free to live anywhere. We are free to go to school. Our freedom is one of the best things about our land; not many countries are lucky to have this right, that’s why people worldwide insist on coming here. Pride; we take pride in all that we do, like being the country with the most accessibility and opportunity. Everyone in the United States can achieve whatever goals they put their minds to as long as they work for it. The American Dream is still alive; instead of people trying to go from rags to riches, people now want an affordable life where they can provide for their families. Which ties in with courage; Americans are not afraid to work and achieve their goals; that’s why we take so much pride in our country.
Symbols that represent America
Many symbols represent the American Creed, such as the American flag, Statue of Liberty, National Anthem, and so much more. The American flag represents freedom and justice; “the color red symbolizes hardiness, the color blue symbolizes purity and innocence, and blue represents vigilance, perseverance, and justice. The stars represent the 50 states of the union” (History of the American Flag). The Statue of Liberty represents America’s freedom as well; it’s symbolic of the friendship between the people of France and the United States. The Statue of Liberty also represents hope and opportunities for people seeking a better life in America. The National anthem represents the tradition, history, and beliefs of our nation and its people. While there are many good symbols in America, there are also bad ones like the Confederate flag, representing white supremacy in the south and a hate symbol. Thankful America has mostly banned that flag that stands for hatred because America stands on equality for all.
Rituals that represent the American Creed
Rituals are traditions that are repeated consistently, and in America, we have a lot that defined us. Such as the Fourth of July, a day where we come together as one to celebrate our independence. Veterans Day, a day where we honor people who have served our country and fought for us. Memorial Day, where we honor military members who have died for our freedom. In sports like Basketball, Football, Baseball, and others, we always make sure to sing the National Anthem to honor the flag and those who have died while serving our country. Our rituals are what shapes us as a whole.
Conclusion
America is about many things, hopes, and dreams. It wasn’t always like this though; we had to fight for our freedom, gain our independence and establish a country that embodies liberty. This land has provided many opportunities for everyone; no matter where you come from, you can make it here. Although we have a lot of good things, we still have plenty of things to fix as we move forward every day; I love this land, and that is the American Creed.
Works cited:
History of the American Flag | A Capitol Fourth | PBS. A Capitol Fourth, www.pbs.org/a-capitol-fourth/history/old-glory. Accessed 14 Jun. 2021