What is your definition of an American? This is mine.

[shockey80]

An American is a person who is a fiercely independent island on to themselves. Who has the courage, the will, the ability to leave their island when called upon to defend their country and the common good.

[Eliot Rosewater]

1. Yeah, kinda hard to separate American from human...should be simple, do no harm, try

and help others when you can, believe in science not conspiracy theories and above all, dont be a racist bigot.

[Newest Reality]

2. Not bad.

I would amend:

"...person who imagines they are an fiercely independent island.."

Independence is relative and imagined. In reality, it's a delusion. Send one into outer space in a space suit and tell them to take it off. That will settle the matter.

[shockey80]

5. We have always been an independent people. We don't like to be told what to do.

We have strong views, beliefs. We have always been that way. However, we have also been a people who will listen if you earn our respect. Don't lie to us, tell us the truth, show leadership and then American people will set aside their independent views and do what is right, even if they do not completely agree with it.

That is the definition of the American revolution.

[totodeinhere]

3. I define an American as anyone who lives in the Western Hemisphere. n/t

[Newest Reality]

7. Ah, good one.

The USA did co-opt a more general term, huh? North America and South America are the Americas.

We are United Statesians.

[Glorfindel]

4. Mine?

An American is a person who:

A. Was born within the borders of the USA because of the actions of his or her ancestors

B. Came to the USA for reasons of his or her own, asked to become a citizen, and did so

I lost any illusions I had about "the courage, the will, and the ability," etc., when my sweet young ass was drafted in 1966 and shipped unceremoniously to Vietnam.

[shockey80]

6. You were not wrong during Vietnam, your leaders were.

I am also a veteran. We follow orders, period. Soldiers count on their leaders to do the right thing.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

8. Beyond citizenship, it's not useful to define, for me.

[shockey80]

10. If we can't define ourselves, then who the hell are we?

We are all Americans by name, by citizenship. There is more to it than that. How American is a Trump voter who blindly follows Trump?

[WhiskeyGrinder]

13. For that person, very American.

[world wide wally]

9. Maybe in the old days this would have been accurate.

[shockey80]

11. We need to get back to the old days.

[Solomon]

12. Americans are the greediest, most selfish assholes on the planet.