When You Think About It. 6/3/2015

Photo F LoBuono

One of the earliest written descriptions of what defines being an American is from the French-born J. Hector St. John de Cre'vecooeur in his "Letters from an American Farmer", published in 1782:

What then is the American, this new man? He is either an European, or the descendant of an European, hence that strange mixture of blood, which you will find in no other country. I could point out to you a family whose grandfather was an Englishman, whose wife was Dutch, whose son married a French woman, and whose present four sons have now four wives of different nations. HE is an American, who, leaving behind him all his ancient prejudices and manners, receives new ones from the new mode of life he has embraced, the new government he obeys, and the new rank he holds. He becomes an American by being received the broad lap of our great ALMA MATER. Here individuals are melted into a new race of men, whose labours and posterity will one day cause great changes in the world.

Although written over 230 years ago, it still rings true today.