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What It Means To Be An American An examination of Walzer’s views of American pluralism and exceptionalism. As one might deduce from the writings of Michael Walzer in his text What it means to be an American, the American identity – in political, social, historical and cultural regards – is a highly complex and almost mystifying phenomenon. The character of the United States of America is one of diversity; a multiplicity of cultures abound in its cities, interact in communities, exchange values and beliefs and work side by side. Though the populist notion of America as the metaphorical melting pot remains a rigourously argued point of contention, Walzer believes in the plurality of America. It is not a single homogeneity; it represents something far greater and vastly more unique than most people, academics included, wish to attribute it. Walzer seems to believe strongly in the compatibility of pluralism with national unity. Despite the presence of hundreds of diverse ethnic groups, accounting for the general and voting public, the likelihood of a state maintaining its internal and territorial integrity is nevertheless very high. Reflecting on the experience of past decades, according to Walzer, “one can reasonably