To be “American”

Born in New England, I have lived and worked here, in Japan, China, Wales — a nation of the U.K., and India. Wherever I go, I have often been asked: “what does it mean to be an American?”

First, what it does not mean to me. It is not “place,” it is not a hometown and memories of growing up. These are important parts of me, but they are not what I think of when I think of myself as an American. It is not the Red Sox; it is not the Flag and flag waving; it is not emotion of “USA USA” cheers (which, by the way, make me cringe).

Then, what is it? It is the ideas and ideals that I carry with me, embodied in our contract with our fellows, that living and evolving document that is the U.S. Constitution.

It is belief that we humans aspire to live and leave this world in a better place for all humanity, for nature, for life. It is the commitment to “we the people” and to the tenets and institutions that both sustain and protect this commitment. It is a commitment to protect and foster these ideals. It is a “welcome” to others to join in being part of something bigger than our single selves.

It is the commitment to think, consider, and to act to ensure that we strive to include, not exclude. It is understanding that as our society and culture continue to evolve, we are protecting those ideals, and never stopping from aspiring to be better.

And it is a commitment to act, to be accountable, accountable to those ideals and ideas that are the “American Experiment.”