Who is an American?

For the next six months, Midmorning will look at six key debates that define America. Using Howard Fineman'sbook "The Thirteen American Arguments" as our guide, we will look at key debates that every generation of Americans has had to answer. We invite you to share your ideas about those key debates by visiting our ideas page.

This month we look at the question: Who is an American?

We want to hear your ideas and responses to the question who is an American. Participate in the debate:

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Each month Midmorning will discuss a new topic. During the meantime, we invite you to continue the conversation on this topic and future debates.

Mike Reszler
Managing Editor, MPR.org News

Comments: 8

Don (don't blame me for Obama) H. Jun 26, 2008, 11:56pm UTC

Legal citizens are Americans. Some good, some bad.

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Julia Schrenkler Jun 27, 2008, 9:16am UTC

This is sure to be interesting, Mike. Beyond the hot issue of legal citizenship, there are the questions around the responsibilities and sensibilities of what it means to be an American. I plan to listen to the show and check back here for perspective points.

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Aida W. Jun 27, 2008, 10:54am UTC

There are some Americans who were born in this country and are less American than I who was born in Egypt and immigrated to this country in 1959. They do not believe in equality or social justice, and they do not believe that all rights, all opportunities and all protections apply to everyone. My father was a Pharmaceutical Chemist at the peak of his carreer as the founder and director of the largest Pharmaceutical company in the Middle East, Memphis Chemical Co. He made the enormous sacrifice to leave Egypt to provide education for his family, at a time when Nasser was nationalizing companies headed by Catholics and Christians. I feel that I am more American than some.

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Bill's Spirit Jun 27, 2008, 11:17am UTC

I'd like to suggest putting the time of the broadcast in your post; with the appropriate time zone designation attached.

Folks like me (those who are a few dollars short of a gallon) stumble wondering "Is that 9:06 my time, or theirs?"

I'm feeling sorry that I missed this show and discussion. Guess I'll go sign-up for some e-mail alerts.

I appreciate your work.

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Julia Schrenkler Jun 27, 2008, 3:04pm UTC

Hey Bill's Spirit, to be sure it will be included in the future. That said, you can still hear the program via the archived audio. Believe me, I wouldn't be able to catch half the interviews I can without that archived audio.

-Julia
Interactive Producer, MPR

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Jeff H. Jun 27, 2008, 6:12pm UTC

It doesn't require a law degree to know the American laws regarding citizenship.

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Kerry Dexter Jun 28, 2008, 8:18am UTC

it won't surprise you, Julia, to know that I think about this idea through the prism of music. the conversations on the program struck me as rather abstract, which I suppose they were meant to be. couple of songs which might provoke thought: Tish Hinojosa's Donde Voy and By the Rio Grande, and Cathie Ryan's In My Tribe. none are direct commentary on this, but they are on point. the aren't immgration songs, either, which is a whole other way of looking at the topic.

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Who is an American?

Comments: 8

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