America's Identity Through Musical Perspectives and Presidential Speeches

“My dream is of a place and a time where America will once again be seen as the last best hope of earth.” (Abraham Lincoln) This quote is relevant to a dream from four directions: our 40th president, Ronald Reagan, solo singers Neil Diamond and Dierks Bentley, and a duo named Brooks and Dunn. They represent how great America is and how what they say relates to the time period, their backstory, purpose, style, and how they represent to us how we.

The time periods of America have made an effect on us today. Ronald Reagan announced his speech, “Miller Center,” to many young russian men and women. Neil Diamond said in “Coming to America” that we are the “eye of the storm” for the refugees that came here in 1991. In Brooks and Dunn’s “Only in America,” it was referring to the tragedy of 9/11 and all the people who had lost their lives. While Brooks and Dunn were expressing their emotion in 2001, Dierks Bentley contributed his thoughts in “Home” on the 10th anniversary of 9/11. All of their views have a background story behind them.

Their backstories are a reference to the American history. Reagan wanted the Cold War to end by speaking in “Miller Center.” Neil Diamond was separating the good and the bad in “Coming

to America” by reminding us of the many Cuban immigrants who came to America seeking refuge in 1991. Brooks and Dunn wrote “Only in America” in remembrance of those who passed away in 9/11. Bentley explained in “Home,” on the 10th anniversary of 9/11, that we are a country “with scars,” relating to our past catastrophic events. They also wanted to show the Americans their purpose of making America the best country it can be.

The reasons show the advantages and the disadvantages of America. In “Miller Center,” Reagan wanted young adults to have freedom, and they can offer a helping hand by stating that “every one of us put on this world has been put there for a reason and has something to offer.” Diamond in “Coming to America” vocalized that America is “home,” and people wanted to come here by voicing, “everywhere around the world they’re coming to America,” demonstrating that people all other people from other countries want what we have here. Brooks and Dunn articulated that the children are “the promise of the Promised Land,” which is America. Bentley reminded us in “Home” that we’ve had our ups and our downs by saying “it’s been a long hard ride.” They expressed emotions for America stylishly in an outstanding way.

Hope for America from these four views never fell into despondency. Reagan’s speech in “Miller Center” shows that he wouldn’t give up by being commanding and demanding the younglings to come to America and live large. Neil Diamond’s “Coming to America” reveals an upbeat attitude, and he is delighted to be in America. Brooks and Dunn’s style in “Only in America” was also upbeat and very fast paced. Bentley’s “Home,” on the other hand, was calm and peaceful with a lot of melody. They make a representation to us by giving us a lecture.

Reagan’s “Miller Center,” Diamond’s “Coming to America,” Brooks and Dunn’s “Only in America,” and Dierks Bentley’s “Home” shows us their lessons they attempted to instruct us on.

In “Miller Center,” Reagan wanted all young people all over the world to have freedom. Diamond’s “Coming to America” foretells us that America is free to everyone, despite race, religion, or anything else that segregates others by saying that “they only want to be free.” Brooks and Dunn said in “Only in America” that the children are the future, and they can marry anybody they desire, rich or poor, or by classes relating to “a welder’s son and a banker’s daughter.” Bentley shows in “Home” that he enjoys the beauty of America because of him saying it is a place “we all call

home.”

America is still standing to this day. Even though America has had its hard times before, we are still a country today. The founding fathers of America would be glad to see America today. Reagan, Diamond, Bentley, and Brooks and Dunn all showed us what America is about and what it means to be an American. They showed their thoughts by making a relating to the time periods, the backstories, purposes, styles, and explaining why they said what they said. America has been a country for 240 years and counting. God bless America.