The Fourth of July is all about celebrating America. I don't think one person could argue with that. We're here and we're proud and we're celebrating with fireworks, floats, cookouts, poolside chilling, or all of the above.

One of my friends works at a Chinese delivery establishment. I was joking around with him (read:annoying him) about whether or not he had to work on the Fourth of July, because who orders Chinese food when we're supposed to be eating "classic" American food, right? The harassment went on for quite some time, but when I got home later that day, I realized something: it is American food.

Sure, potato salads, barbecue, corn dogs, and apple pie make people think of the stereotypical American family eating out on their porch--but America isn't that stereotypical family, and that's one of the things that makes our country so great.

American cuisine has always been a hodgepodge of foods we've robbed from other countries and claimed as our own. But America itself is also this mix. We're so culturally diverse, yet we fail to recognize our diversity when we celebrate this American holiday in something as simple as the food we brand USA-approved. When I'm celebrating my freedom this Fourth of July, I'm also going to celebrate the other aspects that add to our American pride or diversity. If I decide I want to celebrate our citizens from Latino descent that brought us their delicious dining culture which inspired the great Chipotle, or our Chinese citizens for bestowing the gift of their tasty dishes, it will all be American food. Plus hey, who am I to say anything, I've been trying to convince my parents to have a sushi Thanksgiving for years!