A.m.e.r.i.c.a.

My opinion on being an American has changed over the years. As a young girl I was always told how lucky I was to be a girl in this day and age and in this country. I was never limited in my hopes and dreams and what I could become. I didn't have a real gasp of why I was so lucky and why other girls in other countries weren't in the same boat as me. Around the age of 14 I was exposed to literature about other people, cultures, and nations. One book really stuck out to me about a girl from India who had an arranged marriage. This story and others made me appreciate being an American citizen.

Today, my oldest brother is preparing to leave to Iraq in April. This experience for my family has also changed my opinion on being an American citizen. We have freedoms that many countries don't have. And on top of that we have citizens in this country that want to be able to liberate others and give them the same freedoms they enjoy.

This book is different from any other English book I've had. I believe it was written in order to challenge typical and comfortable thinking. I believe critical thinking helps open the mind to new ideas and concepts that might not be widely accepted. However, there are many benefits to having an open mind. For example, having tolerance for other cultures and religions.