What is an American?

The nationality of a person tells of the country a person is born and raised in. The ethnicity of a person tells of cultural background. My definition of nationality and ethnicity overlap each other in the case of America. While the word American describes a nation, it can also describe a culture. In the case of America, some groups of people, such as first generation immigrants, might feel more connected to their ancestral country rather than the country they are immigrating to. These groups of people when asked, "What are you," respond, "I am French, Italian, Mexican, Australian, etc." Others are eager to become part of a new culture and leave their old one behind. They smile proudly as they proclaim, "I am American." In my opinion, what makes you who you are is a combination of the nation you are born and raised in, and your ancestral/cultural background. If your ancestral/cultural background is a combination of European countries, and you are the third or fourth generation to be born and raised in America, you should technically refer to yourself as Euro-American. In the end, what you call yourself should be determined by which culture you feel most connected to. If you feel connected to a singular culture, you might say you are either Mexican or American. If you keep a close connection to your Mexican culture and are immersed in the American culture at the same time, you might split the title and say you are Mexican-American. If you live in America, it is hard to say that you aren't American, because the American culture is so easy to become attached to.