It’s nostalgic … warm sliced apples, sweet gooey filling, hints of cinnamon and a buttery, flaky crust. You can’t beat a good slice of apple pie. It’s about as American as it gets, falling within the ranks of hot dogs, hamburgers and fireworks. Or is it?

Actually, all of the above hail from anywhere but the United States, much like our ancestors did. Apple pie (British), hot dogs (German), fireworks (Chinese) and hamburgers (German/American) … not to mention French fries.

So who is American? I find myself asking that question as we approach the 250th birthday of the country we all make claim to. Am I American? Are you American? Are they American? Are my dogs American? As to the latter, I’m pretty sure my Labrador, Lucy, is a statesider, but Ollie, the Newfy-Poo, is anything but. I’m quite positive he’s not even related to this planet.

But who are we, really? I guess it depends on who you ask. Suddenly the masses become Irish when it’s time to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day each year. Cinco de Mayo makes way for us blue-blooded Americans to drink margaritas and order a No. 37 with a side of cheese dip at local Mexican restaurants. Never mind if we were born in Mississippi; their holiday is our holiday, right?

That being said, who are we on July 4? Are we all Americans? Are we united?

In theory, celebrating the Fourth of July should be as inclusive as having a Guinness in March. “The huddled masses,” whether Black, white, brown, purple or even Ollie, should feel a part of this country while in this country, especially on its birthday.

Like it or not, our country is a melting pot. America is about as American as, well … apple pie or hot dogs. Despite what I think or what you think, the truth stands that we’re all just a diverse group of people descended from a diverse group of people. How each of us got here is moot and, for that matter, small.

Just zoom out. One glance at the cosmos and everything falls into perspective. Relativity is a quick fix for bringing us back down to Earth. Pun intended.

America the free, yes. America the equal, sometimes. Once again, it depends on who you ask. The Declaration of Independence says, “All men are created equal.” George Orwell says (and I paraphrase), “Some are more equal than others.”

So what is an American to me? An American is a human being, an earthling, a person with a soul. A gritty, proud person that, in spite of themselves, just wants their slice of the pie too.

When I was younger, some 25 years ago, I held a firm set of beliefs. To me, my beliefs were the way to believe, and any other way of believing was not the way if it wasn’t my way. Albeit a tongue twister, it was just that, twisted. A twisted collection of baseless words devoid of maturity or intellect.

Back then, my hubris came readied with the “correct” way that you and I should live life. I even surrounded myself with an echo chamber because a closed mind opened space for others who shared my same beliefs.

So what changed? What became of my convictions?

For one, I turned my beliefs into curiosity. I made a valiant effort as I matured, traveled and opened my mind to try and allow my opinions to be replaced with observations. I learned that the only constant is change, and bad energy can’t hit a moving target.

That’s why I think it’s up to us, “Americans,” to embrace change and always keep moving. Keep moving toward decency and inclusion, move away from hate and judgment, and above all … change, fearlessly change.

I can’t imagine not being around different types of people or cultures. I never want to spend all of my time with people just like me. That’s what makes our country so special. You don’t have to look far for diversity, you just have to open your eyes.

We’re all responsible for one another. Like it or not, we are all in this thing together, so why not embrace the differences that actually make us the same? To quote Nietzsche: “The most dangerous form of blindness is believing that your perspective is the only reality.”

The chasm between all of us is wide. It’s a shame we’ve allowed it to happen. Although life seems to only make sense backward, it has to be lived forward, so it’s incumbent upon us to go forward together. We’ve done it for 2 1/2 centuries behind a multitude of leaders, with one thing remaining the same: We the people, the huddled masses, are what make an “American.”

So here’s to 250 years. May it be full of life, liberty and, above all … the pursuit of happiness!