Bradley Project 2008-Bradley Project On America_s National ...

the Bradley projeCt on ameriCa’s national identity I e pluribus unum I 11What does it mean to be an American?when asked in the harris survey, “whatdoes it mean to you to be an american?”respondents, in their own words, reiteratedthe elements of the american foundingidea, stressing above all freedom: freespeech, free enterprise, free movement,freedom of religion, freedom of opportunity,political freedom, freedom from fearand tyranny, freedom to own property,freedom to get a good education, andfreedom to pursue happiness. speakingfor many, one respondent wrote, “i am amember of the only country founded onan ideal.”in addition to freedom, respondents inthe harris survey stressed the importanceof the Constitution, the rule of law, fairness,patriotism, a common language, andthe american way of life. many mentionedpride and gratitude. one wrote, “i cannotdescribe what emotions i feel when thenational anthem is sung and to say thepledge of allegiance.”since their beginnings in the eighteenthcentury, american democraticideals gradually gained acceptance, thenswept through the world in the late twentiethcentury, allowing some scholars todesignate america as the first universalnation. in 1910, ten nations were democracies;by 2005, one hundred nineteen ofthe world’s one hundred ninety countrieshad become democracies. 8 as commentatorfareed Zakaria notes, “democracy hasgone from being a form of government toa way of life.” 9 the democratic ethos iscritical to american identity and, since noamerican is a born democrat, democracymust be taught in families, schools,universities, communities, and theworkplace.