I Am an American

This was written by a twenty-one-year-old college student from Rockaway, New Jersey, Danielle M. Giodano.

I am an American. I am free.
I am an American. I am strong. Like our nation's
foundation, built by our founding fathers over
two hundred years ago, I will not buckle. I will not
be broken. I will endure.

I am an American. I have faith. I have looked into
the eyes of fear, but I am not afraid. I weep
because I am human, not because I am weak. My
beliefs cannot be taken from me. I will never give up
hope.

I am an American. I have a voice. I speak my feelings
freely because I am free to do so. I will voice my
anger because I am angry. I will shout my frustration
because I am confused. I will say my piece. I
cannot be silenced.

I am an American. I am proud. The colors red, white
and blue flow through my veins. Like the torch
that welcomed my ancestors, my sould radiates
freedom and liberty. The flag is my beacon.
Brotherhood and love are what I believe in,
truthand justice are what I stand for.

I am an American. And I am everyone - never just
one. I am everything. I am untied. I am the
businessman on Wall Street, the farmer in
Nebraska, the movie star in Los Angeles. I am the
rolling waves of Miami Beach, the blowing wind of
Chicago, the snow-capped mountains of
Boulder and tthe desert sun of Phoenix. I am not
weakened by cowardly acts of malice; I am
strengthened. I cannot be divded. I will not be
conquered.

I am an American. I will survive. I will stand up and
I will fight and I will defend. I will not sit back and
do nothing when I can do something. I will
not back down. I will overcome. I will prevail.

I am an American. I am free.