I Am an American NOT of Caucasian Descent :: Personal Narrative Writing

I Am an the Statesn NOT of Caucasian Descent What does it mean to be American? What does the word American mean? If I say I am American, does that mean I am obligated to fight for America in a war? Does that mean I would not do anything against this country? How permanent is my status of being an American? When asked, I continuously say I am American, based on the fact that I was born here and that is what my put up certificate is supposed to prove. But hence why dont I also say that I am also Mexican and Indian, as my upbringings and family have been more of these cultures than of American culture? Until college, I had lived in Michigan all my life. Visiting Canadian friends the twenty-minute drive away was a regular family outing. My mother usually had the projection of driving through Customs, as she, though the child of Mexican immigrants, utter without an accent. Citizenship? The customs official would ask. U.S. My moth er would reply. All four of you? Was the typical response, as the official would look directly at my dad, whose physical features do not hide the fact that he was born in India. Yes, My mother would reply, as she handed over the proper paperwork. It was not until the age of eight that I wondered enough to ask my mom why she did not reply American to the customs officials question. She responded that the term American is vague. A soul from Canada has an equal right to identify himself or herself with the term that reflects the name of our share continent. Using the term U.S. is both true and specific. My mothers vox populi is just one of the many views that exist on the term.As I grew up, I began with a very chauvinistic pride in my birth country.