Greenwood also expresses his love through his language that he keeps repeat “ Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land… and I’m proud to be an American” These line in his song represent his love to America that he loves America no matter what and he also proud of it. He believes that if he represent these line into his song, people who listen to it may inspired them and spread out the loving for America. “I’d thank my lucky stars, to be living here today” He uses the word “lucky” represent that how thankful he is to be living in America; he thinks it’s luck but nothing else. He shows us that if everything goes wrong, he still has chances to start his life again with his wife and his children here in America “ And I had to start again, with
just my children and my wife”. People who living in America work hard, family that love each other; moreover, Americans support each other and together build up a freedom land nowhere else has. “Where at least I know I’m free” This line shows us that freedom is the most important thing that everyone wants whenever they looking for new home. Who else doesn’t want freedom? The answer probably no one. This is one of the reason that why everyone wants to live in America. The freedom in the U.S also affect the world that the government helps Asia after World War and people also donate millions of dollar to help people everywhere it needed. The government doesn't force them to do so, people do it because they want to. People have freedom to do whatever they want as long as it not illegal. “And I won’t forget the man who died, who gave the right to me” Greenwood puts these line in his song as a reminder to people that freedom is not come from nowhere, there’s a cost of freedom that is blood, tears and life. Everyone who living in the U.S needs to remember all the sacrifices from the men and women who fight for their freedom in World War.
Hayes made a tribute to James Brown using the song, “Please Please Please”. This poem actually made me feel like I was in the reader’s shoes and I could just imagine me being in the room with him as he is saying “please please please”. I feel like it was more of him crying out for help and asking god please please please take me out of my misery or why am I never good enough? I could the feel the pain as I was reading this poem and over again because the language that Hayes used was so strong and very deep. “Like Mercy” he speaks about his relationship that he has with God.
Jon Butler, a William Robertson Coe Professor of American Studies and History and Professor of Religious Studies at Yale University, wrote the book, Becoming American: The Revolution Before 1776, which was published in 2000 by the Harvard University Press. Butler is an accomplished and respected historian who has won multiple awards as a professor and a writer. In Becoming American, Butler analyzes the impacts the colonists had on the New World during the years 1680 to 1770. Butler argues that in the British Mainland Colonies, colonists went through many changes during the 1680’s to 1770’s to form a “modern” and uniquely America.
During the process of reading this compilation of works, Portrait of America, many different point of views were aired. The opinion or attitude on the subject was too tainted. The authors were very biased to their perception of the "story". This book could have been much more beneficial if the facts would have stayed to the straight and narrow. Only the detrimental facts needed to be applied to these chapters. For a history class, as broad as this, this book opened too many doors that could not be explained in as much detail as would be liked. Many of the authors enjoyed mentioning the most scandalous moments of the people's lives then dropped the fact without much support or follow through as to what happened to cause or end these events. Brief summaries only tease the mind, and with the course load of most students, there is hardly extra time to investigate the matter further in detail. For a class such as History 152, biographies and/or documentary style books are more worth the while of the student. For instance make a list of a selection of novels that could be read for the class, so that every student can then explore in depth what that student thinks is interesting. Although the book was teasing in nature the chapters did flow well and were easy to read. The procession of the chapters had wonderful transition as to not loose the student. While proceeding through this book there were several different reoccurring topics that appeared. This paper will discuss these two reoccurring topics: the civil rights movement and former presidents.
The tone of the short story “America and I” changed dramatically over the course of the narrative. The author, Anzia Yezierska, started the story with a hopeful and anxious tone. She was so enthusiastic about arriving in America and finding her dream. Yezierska felt her “heart and soul pregnant with the unlived lives of generations clamouring for expression.” Her dream was to be free from the monotonous work for living that she experienced back in her homeland. As a first step, she started to work for an “Americanized” family. She was well welcomed by the family she was working for. They provided the shelter Yezierska need. She has her own bed and provided her with three meals a day, but after a month of working, she didn’t receive the wage she was so
William Domhoff’s investigation into America’s ruling class is an eye-opening and poignant reading experience, even for enlightened individuals regarding the US social class system. His book, Who Rules America, exploits the fundamental failures in America’s governing bodies to provide adequate resources for class mobility and shared power. He identifies history, corporate and social hierarchy, money-driven politics, a two-party system, and a policy-making process orchestrated by American elites amongst a vast array of causes leading to an ultimate effect of class-domination theory pervading American society. In articulating his thesis and supporting assertions, Domhoff appeals rhetorically toward an audience with prior knowledge of America’s
What is the Common Good for All Americans? What was the common good for all Americans in 1776? Thomas Paine, a political activist during America’s struggle for independence from England, argues in Common Sense, a pamphlet published in the Pennsylvania Magazine, with the American colonists, demanding a revolt against the British crown (Thomas Paine). He passionately believes that the answer to the “.benefit of all people in [American] society” (Thomas Paine) will result from the freedom of oppression for the thirteen American colonies. Common Sense, “the most incendiary and popular pamphlet of the entire revolutionary era”, remains noted by historians as one of the most influential pieces of literature during the era of the American Revolution that opened the gates to the ratification of the Declaration of Independence that 56 delegates signed on July 4, 1776, granting America’s freedoms from England (Thomas Paine).
As Carter opens the poem, he tells how at this point in his life, he still has this essential want for things his own father presented him growing up. In the beginning, he expresses he has this “…pain [he] mostly hide[s], / but [that] ties of blood, or seed, endure” (lines 1-2). These lines voice how he longs for his father and just how painful it is without him at his side. In addition, he still feels “the hunger for his outstretched hand” (4) and a man’s embrace to take [him] in” (5). Furthermore, Carter explains how this “pain” he “feel[s] inside” (3) are also due to his “need for just a word of pr...
Poems are forms of communication that give an applicable view of the past, present and future events. Reading the poem titled “America”, written by Richard Blanco brought me memories from my childhood in my parent’s house and also what is happening now in my house as a parent. The poem explains how one person doesn’t have all the knowledge about something. It also, describes the daily life struggles I experienced during my childhood, when my parent 's and I moved from our hometown to live in another town becuase of their work and it brings to light the conflict of cultures I and my children are going through since we moved to United State of America .
The film “The Birth of a Nation” presents the perspective of the civil war, slavery, and reconstruction from the two different viewpoints of the Stoneman and the Cameron families. The Northern Stoneman family consists of two sons, Ted and Phil Stoneman, alongside their sister Elsie Stoneman, and their abolitionist father Austin Stoneman. The Camerons which are a southern slave holding family is made up of two sisters, Flora and Margaret Cameron, two sons, Wade Cameron and Colonel Ben Cameron, and their mother and father, Mrs. Cameron and Dr. Cameron (IMDb). As tensions between the north and south turns into full on war the Cameron and Stoneman boys prepare for the gruesome war to come ultimately leading to all of their deaths with the exception
In the book “They Say I Say”, Brandon King writes an essay bringing multiple perspectives on what Americans golden way of living is. The “American dream” is what most American citizens all strive for. Early settlers came in to try to achieve “the dream”. Those who already lived in America choose to stay because of its grand possibilities. The United States of America is the only place in the world where you have the rights to freedom of speech. What is the American dream? It used to be said that you could come to America and go from rags to riches; you could come with nothing and achieve everything you ever wanted. Take a second and think. We all ponder upon, is the so called “American dream” dead or alive? This has been a steamy topic
Rereading America: Cultural Contexts for Critical Thinking and Writing written by; Gary Colombo, Robert Cullen, and Bonnie Lisle, Eighth Edition, published April, 2007 by Bedford/St. Martin’s, is a textbook about writing and critical thinking. In the first chapter of Rereading America: Cultural Contexts for Critical Thinking and Writing, “Thinking Critically, Challenging Cultural Myths”, the Authors begin by setting a relatable scene of what it’s like for a college student. How a new found independence can be overwhelming, especially with regards to critical thinking, showing that what we have learned, needs to be re-evaluated and that an open mind in essential. "What Is Critical Thinking" In this section of the chapter the editors explain what it means to be a critical thinker. They explain that critical thinking is not just studying dates and facts, but rather taking those facts and examining them. The editors then proceed by explaining how having an open mind, and taking others' perspectives into account when formulating our own opinions on what the author is trying to say to us is important. A critical thinker takes all aspects into account and reflects on personal experience as well. The editors also point out that different cultural experiences bring different opinions. They suggest that we need to become active learners, continuously questioning the meaning behind everything, testing not only the theories of others but also our own experiences and analyzing the text rather than going for the obvious. They show that thinking outside the box is the epitome of critical thinking. Basically, we need to step outside our comfort zones and what we have always been taught. The editors also suggest that we need to re-evaluate our per...
In Alan Paton's novel Cry, the Beloved Country two characters, Absalom's girl and Gertrude, show the how society in Johannesburg is as a whole. Absalom's girl symbolizes how girls her age are mothers and have even become divorced several times before. On the other hand Gertrude, Kumalo's sister, illustrates the qualities of a young woman who becomes corrupt from Johannesburg's filthy system of stealing, lying, and prostitution. Both of them show the ways of Johannesburg as a whole.
The poem “America” by Tony Hoagland reflects on how peoples’ minds are clouded by small-scale items, money, and the unimportance of those items. Metaphors and imagery are utilized to emphasize the unimportance of materialistic items in America. How America is being flooded with unnecessary goods. The poem uses examples of people to create an example and connection to the overall meaning.
The movie I decided to analyze for this course was American History X (1998), which stars Edward Norton. Though this movie isn’t widely known, it is one of the more interesting movies I have seen. It’s probably one of the best films that depict the Neo Nazi plague on American culture. The film takes place from the mid to late 1990’s during the Internet boom, and touches on subjects from affirmative action to Rodney King. One of the highlights of this movie that really relates to one of the key aspects of this course is the deterrence of capital punishment. Edward Norton’s portrayal as the grief stricken older brother who turns to racist ideologies and violence to cope with his fathers death, completely disregards the consequences of his actions as he brutally murders someone in front of his family for trying to steal his car. The unstable mentality that he developed after his father’s death really goes hand-to-hand specifically with Isaac Ehrlich’s study of capital punishment and deterrence. Although this movie is entirely fictional, a lot of the central themes (racism, crime punishment, gang pervasiveness, and one’s own vulnerability) are accurate representations of the very problems that essentially afflict us as a society.
In chapter one of the book, America Ways, Gary Althen (2011) enlighten people about the concepts of value and assumption in U.S. American culture. the author's clarification of values and assumptions is related to cover a certain criteria customarily to U.S. American culture. However, the author admitted that every culture has a different view in categorizing values and assumption.