Nationalism is extreme loyalty and devotion to a particular nation, and many Americans are nationalistic about their own country. But even if they are loyal to America, defining what it means to be a true American is complicated. Being American is a complex thing, but the concept of being American cannot be fully understood. What it means to be American may in fact be one of the greatest mysteries of all time. Indeed, discovering what it means to be a true American could take a lifetime. One thing, however, about all true Americans is certain: We are all similar in the sense that each of us is different from Americans in important ways. We are diverse in backgrounds, races and religions. Yet we are exactly the same in how we feel about our country, even though we express our pride in a million different ways. For starters, Americans show their pride in their country by loyally defending it at all costs. American territory is something others avoid at all costs. If someone hurts an American, rest assured that patriots will do everything necessary to achieve justice. For example, when pirates attempted to seize an American ship and take command of it, the Americans responded with speed and force. “Pirates bombed the American-flagged Liberty Sun with automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenades on Wednesday, April 15, but the American crew of approximately 20 successfully locked themselves in the engine room and repelled the attack with evasive maneuvers …. The United States intends to send an envoy to the piracy conference in Brussels on April 23." (MSNBC News). The pirates, abandoned and in some cases even committed suicide by the overwhelming force of America. Some say the US Navy was at the center of the card, but others may see us as the antichrist himself. For those who think we are "the arrogant rich people" we claim to be, how could it be when we are so tolerant of other cultures and you are not? These two things are fickle and come together as a compromise that is understood only by us, fellow Americans. American, there are so many words to describe this one person. The diversity, love and compassion of everyone in this country. No other country in the world can compare to ours; we are Americans. We are tolerant, diverse and both value each other. It all began on July 4, 1776, the day we declared our independence, and this ground you stand on has never been the same. The truth about this nation is revealed through the acts we Americans do every day and will continue to do in the future.