"One nation...in liberty and justice for all"

     When was the moment I first knew I was an American? That answer can hardly be said in written form. It is more easily implied. In class, we have defined being an American as being a free person who has the right to choose what he or she wants to do for a living, where he or she wants to live, what kind of name, social status, and rank he is to have in society, and, ultimately, what she wants to do with her life. And American is someone under rather new rules, compared to the rest of the world, which offer a broader spectrum and give more "wiggle-room" to citizens. Based on this definition of an American, I can't say that I am yet an "American"--only on paper am I referred to as such. However, I have definitely felt some of these defining characteristics at some points in my life, such as the right to choose my own fate. Most of these types of characteristics I learned merely from reciting "The Pledge of Allegiance" in class.
     When we were required to recite "The Pledge of Allegiance", I would always pay attention to the words I was saying. I didn't want it to be some essay or chant that was mindlessly regurgitated solely to avoid wasting time and in order to move on with the day. No, I wanted it to be something special to me--something that had figurative value and meant something unique. This was when I knew I was an American. Of course, I knew I was my whole life, but up until then, it was just a word used to classify me. Then, it suddenly became a word used to describe me. It meant that I, Simon Black/Toby, could not be specifically defined as an American, but it could be used as a word to shape my image to others.
     Specifically, the lines "One nation...in liberty and justice for all" help prove my definition of an American as being correct. This quote from "The Pledge of Allegiance" shows that an American has the right to be free, not just physically, but mentally as well. One can have freedom of choice, expression, and social mentality. This once-boring chant in class now opened itself to reveal to me that I truly was, and I still am, and American. It made me realize I was an American because I found myself fitting into the categories of the words in the pledge. I know I am a free-thinker, and I act on my own beliefs, meaning that I choose my own paths, making me a true American thinker as well as an American citizen.