Define American

I don't define American by a bloodline that reaches back to the Mayflower. The way that I define American is by being aware of the hard work that people have done to make this country great, understanding that I have not achieved success on my own, that the highways that I drive on, the house that I live in, the food that I eat is brought to me by people who are often here in this country without papers, but with every intention of being american and taking part in our society, and not having to stay in the shadows.