What's an American?

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\"WHAT does it mean to be an American?\"

When a Purdue University professor asked that question of 1,500 adult US citizens nationwide, he was surprised by the answers he got.

Despite heated debate over illegal immigration, there is more uniting the country on the issue of national identity than dividing it, says Jeremy Straughn. The sociology professor oversaw the telephone survey.

The survey found that there is a wider acceptance of multiculturalism than in the 1920s.

Also, it found that behaviour is more important than background in defining who is an American.

Some of those behaviours may seem obvious; 94 per cent say that having US citizenship makes someone \"truly American\". Also more than 9 out of 10 people report that speaking English well and a willingness to pledge allegiance to the flag are important in defining an American. And 76 per cent said that having an education and training matters.

But those answers do not include what has been central in the past. For example, 70 per cent said it was not important that one's ancestors came mostly from Europe.

In survey responses, Straughn says that America is different from other nations, which are defined by common language, homogenous people, or geography. By contrast, Americans generally see the US as defined by ideas and philosophies, which can change over time.

Besides, about 86 per cent of Americans believe immigration improves America with new ideas from different cultures. Roughly the same percentage say groups should adapt to the larger US community.

\"We are more open and tolerant than we were in previous decades,\" says Richard Greenwald, a cultural historian at Drew University in New Jersey.

\"The category of 'American' is fluid. It is revealed rather then defined. And it tells us as much about ourselves - our values and our fears - as it does about who is an American.\"