A true American doesn't just have a passport — they exhibit these core values

The other day, I was sitting in a café in Saigon when I overheard two American expats arguing about politics. One guy was going on about how his passport made him "more American" than naturalized citizens. The whole conversation made me cringe.

Growing up in Melbourne and now living between Vietnam and Singapore, I've met Americans from all walks of life. Some born there, some who earned their citizenship after years of hard work. And you know what I've learned?

Being American has nothing to do with where you were born or what paperwork you carry. It's about the values you embody and how you show up in the world.

After years of observing, befriending, and working with Americans abroad, I've noticed that the ones who truly represent their country share certain core values that go way beyond documentation.

Embracing individual freedom while respecting others

Americans love their freedom. It's practically branded into the national DNA. But here's what separates truly American values from simple selfishness: understanding that your freedom ends where someone else's begins.

I remember meeting a retired teacher from Texas in a Vietnamese market. When a vendor tried to overcharge her, she didn't throw a fit or pull the "I'm American" card. Instead, she negotiated respectfully, acknowledged the vendor's hustle, and found a fair middle ground.

That's real American freedom in action. Not bulldozing through life demanding your rights, but recognizing that everyone deserves dignity and respect while pursuing their own path.

This balance is something I explore deeply in my book Hidden Secrets of Buddhism: How To Live With Maximum Impact and Minimum Ego. The Buddhist concept of interdependence teaches us that our actions ripple outward, affecting everyone around us.

Working hard without losing sight of humanity

Americans have this incredible work ethic that honestly puts most of us to shame. But the ones who truly embody American values know that success without compassion is hollow.

Living in Southeast Asia, I've watched American entrepreneurs build businesses that don't just make money but lift up entire communities. They hire locally, train extensively, and create opportunities for growth.

One American business owner I know in Singapore told me something that stuck: "Making it in America taught me that hard work pays off. But making it as an American means making sure others can climb the ladder behind you."

That's the difference between grinding for personal gain and working toward something bigger. True American values include pulling others up, not climbing over them.

Standing up for what's right, even when it's uncomfortable

You ever notice how Americans are often the first to speak up when something's wrong? Not in an obnoxious way, but with genuine conviction?

My Vietnamese wife often points this out. She says Americans have this unique willingness to challenge authority and question systems that many cultures don't encourage. And she's right.

But here's the key: it's not about being loud or confrontational. The Americans who best represent their values know how to stand firm while remaining respectful. They understand that courage isn't about winning arguments on social media. It's about having difficult conversations, advocating for those without voices, and being willing to admit when you're wrong.

I've seen this play out countless times in international settings. When workplace discrimination happens, when someone's being mistreated, when systems are unfair, Americans who truly embody their national values step up. Not with aggression, but with determined resolve to make things better.

Celebrating diversity as strength, not threat

Want to know what makes America genuinely exceptional? It's not military might or economic power. It's the radical idea that people from anywhere can become American and contribute to the national story.

The Americans I respect most understand this in their bones. They don't gatekeep American identity based on ancestry or appearance. They recognize that their country's strength comes from its diversity of thought, background, and experience.

Living in multicultural Singapore has reinforced this for me. The most successful societies aren't homogeneous echo chambers. They're places where different perspectives collide, combine, and create something new.

Americans who truly represent their values celebrate this mixing. They're curious about other cultures, eager to learn, and secure enough in their identity to appreciate differences without feeling threatened.

Pursuing dreams while staying grounded

The American Dream gets a lot of flak these days, and sure, it's been twisted into some toxic hustle culture nonsense. But at its core, the idea that anyone can build something meaningful through effort and determination? That's beautiful.

The Americans who best embody this value understand something crucial though: dreams without ethics are nightmares. They pursue success but not at any cost. They remain ambitious while staying connected to their communities and values.

Giving back because you can, not because you have to

Americans give more to charity per capita than citizens of any other country. That's not an accident. It's a value system in action.

But true American generosity goes beyond writing checks. It's about recognizing that success comes with responsibility. The Americans who best represent their country understand that privilege should be used to lift others, not to build higher walls.

I've witnessed this firsthand in Vietnam, where American veterans return decades after the war to build schools and hospitals. They're not doing it for recognition or to ease guilt. They're doing it because they believe in making things better, in healing rather than harboring resentment.

This spirit of generosity without expectation, of helping because you can rather than because someone's watching, that's quintessentially American when done right.

Final words

After living abroad for years and observing Americans from an outside perspective, I've realized something important: American values aren't about birthright or documentation. They're about choices we make every day.

The entrepreneur who pays fair wages when they could exploit workers. The tourist who learns basic phrases in the local language. The expat who contributes to their adopted community rather than just taking from it. These are the Americans who make their country proud, passport or not.

Being truly American means embodying freedom with responsibility, strength with compassion, ambition with integrity. It means standing up for others, celebrating differences, and using whatever privilege you have to make the world slightly better.

Your passport might get you through immigration, but it's your values that determine whether you're truly representing what America aspires to be. And honestly? Those values are available to anyone willing to embrace them, regardless of where they were born or what papers they carry.

That's the real American dream. Not just the freedom to succeed, but the responsibility to help others do the same.