The most significant part of being an American has to do with the respect for the evolution of our Constitution which has been repeatedly violated by jingoists and many politicians.

Separation of Church and State is unique to our country and was what the founding Fathers intended. There were no prayers at the meeting of the writing of the Constitution.

Ben Franklin said that Democracy was great if we can keep it. (paraphrasing, here).

Those who accuse others of being unAmerican are often themselves the violators of the principles of the Constitution.

Freedom of thought and belief is one of the hallmarks of our Constitutional principles.
The right to dissent is built in from the Boston Tea Party to present times.

Saving the country from the tyranny of the majority is also declared.

Americans are best described as those who think the way they want and not given to
accept edicts handed down by so-called "rulers". We have no king or queen in this country.

The "Exceptionalists" that have emerged recently violate the principles of American Democracy. This notion of "Manifest Destiny" has to be re-evaluated as to its efficacy.
Democracy can never be forced on unwilling countries. That in itself is an American principle that needs to be underscored.

Americans have traditionally been advocates for public education. "Inalienable rights"
is a concept not to be taken lightly. We can be proud of the principles that were brought forth in the signing of the Constitution with the caveat that slavery was not addressed.
This is a terrible inconsistency.

The rise of corporate fascism in the US does not correlate with American basic principles.
Powerful lobbies have stolen these ideas to further their interests. (Greed).

Unfortunately, the mistreatment of Native Americans at the inception of our country
belies "all men our created equal" but that principle is not found in other documents
in other constitutions. It shows how inconsistent we are with our principles and how we have a long way to go to honor them.

Frank