What Is An American?

By a the standards of a dictionary, an American is simply one who lives in America. However, the term "American" has a much deeper meaning. An American is someone who embodies the values and ideas presented in the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. He pursues happiness and encourages others in their attempt to do the same. He obeys the law and sets a good example for everyone else in his community. An American does not discriminate by any means and welcomes new members of his community. Since this is a very simple description, many people could expand greatly on it. However, I feel these attributes are at the core of the idea of an American.