What is an American?

Well. Being American can mean different things to different people. Of course it has the literal definition of one who's nationality is American, or one who lives in America. But it can also mean someone who fights for America's rights, or believes in what America is and what it can become in more time. To me, mostly i just feel like and American is someone who lives in America, is American in nationality, and identifies with the majority of the rest of them out there. A "true" American takes part in things like voting for who should lead the country, or trying to make it a better place to live.
I also believe that an American is someone who takes part in American culture. To some, stereotypically that means "eating hamburgers" and "watching television". But to be honest, I don't consider either of those things American culture; I think American culture is experiencing the mix of cultures that immigrants and people from other countries have brought here. America is such a diverse place in some parts, and experiencing the diversity as it is now- all combined, it becomes its own ultimate culture. America is also one of the most industrialized and advanced countries (besides some in Europe), and that has become part of what it is too. 
The last thing i think plays a part in being American is the generations of people it has raised. America, at least in the parts i know, is (like i stated before), a diverse place, and there are many different types of people here. When i think American, though, i think of a young person finding their way or someone trying to make a living. Then again, sometimes when i think American i think of the epitome of the word "republican"- a relatively old white man with lots of money. It goes both ways, really.