Being an American is not determined by race, religion, gender, or age. Being an American is decided by how hard a person works to succeed in a goal, by helping others when they are in need of help, by always pushing forward even when odds are against them, and by giving to others that don’t have the luxuries some Americans do. Being an American also requires being brave, sacrificing for the greater good and mercy to those who ask for forgiveness. These are just a few of the many characteristics of being an American. What values evident in the assigned texts provide the basis of the character of an American. When presented with a task or mission Americans always seem to complete it with the best of their ability. They never give up and never back down from a challenge, no matter how difficult. They always seem to “Press through and through” (Morrison 120) to complete the mission, no matter how difficult the task …show more content…
An American does all of this for those they know or don’t know. They give opportunity to those who need help so “by their labor they may live exceedingly well” (Smith 3). In the story Reading Between The Lines, by Captain John Smith the reader understands that men who have wealth will share that wealth with others. The wealthy give opportunities to the people that need it, so they can make a sort of wealth for themselves and their families. The reader can also see this characteristic in A Mercy, by Toni Morrison. When Florens' mother gives her away, it wasn't because she didn't love her daughter. She did it to give Florens to another, better slave owner. Florens’ Mother made a sacrifice, to help her daughter achieve a better life with another family. Both created opportunities for those who are in need of it. America owes its success to the people who gave and took these