Many of us have, at one point, heard someone describe something or someone to be the “face of America.” I recently read an article in The Wall Street Journal that explained how manufacturers of work-safety equipment, such as gas masks and respirators, have found a problem with this modern “face of America,” namely that it has changed and greatly varies.
Throughout a majority of history, the term “American” referred to the demographic of Caucasian Americans. Much has changed since such times as immigration and social reform has greatly diversified the population both in physical appearance and personal values.
Presently, there are many different types of Americans: African-Americans, Mexican-Americans, tattooed-Americans, pierced-Americans, tall-Americans, stout-Americans, blonde-Americans, redheaded-Americans, violent-Americans, passive-Americans, intelligent-Americans and ignorant-Americans.
Irrespective of the prefix attached to any label, one thing remains: We are all Americans and we must redefine exactly what that means. It is not a person’s physical characteristics and cannot solely be nationality or place of birth. It is much more than what the eye can discern or a document that bestows technical citizenship unto a person.
To be an American is to share beliefs and to have the freedom to hold some independence and differing from others, free from fear or consequence. Being an American means that we are given the opportunity to be who we want to be, attain a good education and express ourselves in innumerable ways of our own choosing. We are able to elect our governing officials, to protest and to speak out against things we do not agree with.
Ultimately, being an American means we have been given rights, freedoms and opportunities many are deprived of. That fact alone should shock masses of people out of apathy, but that is obviously not the case.
It seems that more people are interested in voting for American Idol contestants than they are in voting for people who are making decisions that affect them.
As time presses on, one generation slowly loses its power to shape social values as another generation gains more influence in the social and political arena. Whether through voter turnout, volunteering for political campaigns or being generally involved in the community, we are becoming the new face of America. This is a face lacking specific features other than that of a person who must exercise and understand fully the opportunities and freedoms we have been awarded.
I am the last person to randomly spout nationalistic “America-is-the-greatest country-on-the-planet” type commentary. I am well aware of the many socio-political issues that affect the nation and the world as a whole, flawed foreign and domestic policy, the Patriot Act being something that instantly comes to mind.
Some believe that open and vocal disagreement with and criticism of the government or the president is unpatriotic, essentially, un-American. I, instead, insist that it is the epitome of being an American. A person is given the constitutional right to free speech, a staple to our way of life and should value and exercise this protected right.
President George W. Bush believes that someday humans and fish may peacefully coexist and I agree – certain kinds of fish are becoming endangered due to commercial fishing. However, I had to stretch my imagination to give his statement meaning and found it to be completely nonsensical. Irrespective, I deeply value the opportunity to criticize his ridiculous statement without fear of incarceration or consequence.
Though many disagree with the consumer/capitalistic society we live in, political policy or elected officials, we shouldn’t look through cynical eyes when judging what the country was intended to be, what we can ensure it is and the type of power it eventually evolves into.
Just as the “American face” has physically evolved, the definition of that term and all that accompanies it must change accordingly.
We are a generation that is swiftly approaching a time for national responsibility, if we have not already reached this point. It should be our first priority to realize this new “American face” is a testament to the elimination of a common physical thread.
It is my hope that such a realization will force us to find unity in something beyond physical differences and shallow standings, instead in our beliefs, freedoms and mutual respect and value for such blessings.
Sarah Al-Mulla is a junior journalism major.
