There are things in American culture that want to wipe the class distinction. Blue-Jeans. Ready-made clothes. Coca-Cola.

Well it's that time of year again: Bbq's, bonfires, and pyros (my husband) coming out of the woodwork. But for those that choose to go deeper the question rises, "What does it mean to be an American?"

When I think of our history, our culture- I'm consistently torn between pride and shame. In high school I thought...what is American culture? I wondered if there was any more to cling to than McDonald's greasy fries and Britney Spears. Even now, I have to ask...is it all about food and pop stars? (i.e. fiber commercials and Michael Jackson)
Despite the opacity, I believe writers like Cooper, Irving, and James still have a relevant commentary on what it means to be an American- even hundreds of years later. They understood that the heart of being American involves 'adventure'. It means we have the power to 're-create' our identities daily. We aren't bound to an archetype.

As Leslie Fiedler said:

"To be an American (unlike being English or French or whatever) is precisely to imagine a destiny rather than to inherit one; since we have always been, insofar as we are Americans at all, inhabitants of myth rather than history."

So whatever today means for you...have a blast. (Just please don't catch yourself on fire.)