Accordingly, the ideals of America used to be we were many ethnicities, all blended into one, but now we are a bunch of discordant ethnicities living in one country under one name just with different groups. Two essays on this topic are A Quilt of a Country by Anna Quindlen and The Immigrant Contribution by John F. Kennedy. JFK regarded that “everybody is an immigrant or the descendant of an immigrant” (JFK page 23). Quindlen characterized that “America was held together by a notion that all men are created equal and that America is made up of bits and pieces” (Quindlen page 13-14). America transpired a unique nation made up of different parts. Nevertheless, America is a very unique country because of it being a nation of immigrants mashed into one country under one name. Consequently, other nations acquired division because of having more than one ethnicity in the nation. Moreover, according to Quindlen “one of the things our nation stands for being this vexing notion that a great nation consists of entirely of refugees from other nations, that people of ethnicities can live together or on opposite sides of the street” (Quindlen page 15). JFK culminated out that “every ethnic …show more content…
Leo Castillo culminated this as “Their kids are doing well in school. There making it. Sound familiar?” (Leo Castillo page 15). This is a defining ideal, all immigrants are still able to moving up in the social chain and their kids are blending in. JFK reluctantly said, “The continuous immigration of the 19th and 20th centuries was thus… that American society is a process, not a conclusion” (JFK page 28). For that reason the immigration has changed our country into the modern age. The immigrants are US history. Conversely, the US would not be the same without the actions of a brave few and will never be the same as it was yesterday with the immigrants who have molded are
“Melting pot” is a common term used to describe the culture of the United States, as the country blends the values and ideologies of an abundance of different groups of people and individuals. As a result, there are a variety of possible positions on what it truly means to be an American. Some may argue that American identity depends on ethnic origin, religious background, or other personal characteristics. Others might claim that being American depends on whether one believes in liberty, equality, individualism, and justice. Nevertheless, Dwight Okita and Sandra Cisneros demonstrate that some perceptions about American identity can induce more harm than others.
Immigration, a huge debate always ensues when that word comes up. There are multitudes of different opinions and many people feel strongly about their position. John F. Kennedy, for instance, wrote many of opinion essays about immigration while in a governmental position, such as senator and president. “The Immigrant Contribution” from his posthumous book A Nation of Immigrants, is an essay concerning the beneficial effect of immigrants on America and their direct effect on its evolution. Another author, Anna Quindlen, composed a short essay called “A Quilt of a Country” about two weeks after the tragedy of 9/11 about a nation of diversity and unity after horrifying events.
Sanders makes the point that by pursuing this level of nationalism, one is treading down a dark path of racism and greed. Sanders goes on to say, “But who would pretend that a history of migration has immunized the United States against bigotry? And even if, by uprooting ourselves, we shed our chauvinism, is that all we lose?” (Sanders 40). Through this quote, Sanders proclaims how Americans abuse their multicultural descent to justify acts of racism and deceit.
Finally, the author concludes, “... patriotism is partly taking pride in this unlikely ability to throw all of us together in a country that across its length and breadth is as different as a dozen countries, and still be able to call it by one name” (Quindlen, pg.6). This quote reinforces the idea that Americans are united against all odds because all of the Unites States is about as diverse as twelve countries and still, all these people show great patriotism in the United States. A close examination of this quote ultimately reveals the argument that Americans support each other against the odds since a country with such great racial barriers
Many nationalities came to America in hopes of a better life for them and their families. However, it was not easy time for them after arriving in America. Each nationality encountered obstacles, some more difficult than others, but in the end they each persevered. One nationality that experienced a considerable amount of difficulties were the Native Americans. There may have been over 2 million Indian people living in what is now the United States (Olson & Beal p.18).
The Civil War and the Gettysburg Address are two of the most major events in American history regarding slavery/racism which are constantly used as a reference to look back at how the country has developed and changed since then. The Civil War and the Gettysburg Address represent an old America with flaws, and although we have undoubtedly changed since then, many people have differing beliefs on how we have changed (either for the better or for the worse). For example, the excerpt by Robert Hicks, from Why the Civil War Still Matters, reflects on America's past attitudes in the War and the Gettysburg Address to emphasize how we have become a more accepting, united, and multiethnic country. On the other hand, the excerpt by Charles M. Blow,
While A Quilt of a Country concerns the diversity of America after the tragedy of September 11, 2001, The Immigrant Contribution revolves around the idea that immigrants are American history and isn’t specifically about the diversity of America. A few quotes may explain some confusions:”When photographs of the faces of all those who died in the World Trade Center destruction are assembled in one place, it will be possible to trace in the skin color, the shape of the eyes and the noses, the texture of the hair, a map of the world”(Quindlen 16). This quote is about how when the World Trade Center came crashing down, viewers can recognize how diverse America is just by examining the photos of those who died; to put it in plain English, they can trace features from every part of the world in those photos. “Oscar Handlin has said, ‘Once I thought to write a history of the immigrants in America. Then I discovered that the immigrants were American history.
In this essay we will attempt to explain what is an American. We will compare two different pieces of literature. We will analyze "In Response to Executive Order 9066" and "Mericans" to see how the authors define what it means to be an American. In my opinion cultural heritage and physical appearance do not determine what is an American. America is a melting pot.
As of the year 2016, there are an estimated 324,118,787 people living in America. 324,118,787 people consider themselves to be Americans and 324,118,787 people have decided that America really is worthy enough to be called home. These people, whether they were born within the country or emigrated from another country, comingle in this melting pot of a nation, sharing grocery stores and hospitals and neighborhoods and all the ideologies that make up American society, and each of these people have their own lives and opinions and personal beliefs. All of these people, all (roughly) 324,118,787 of them, fall under the definition of an American – a person who lives in America, because there is simply no other way to define what an American is when
The video introduces the idea of “in between people. These in between people were of European Decent and could be transformed into Americans by Americanizing them into the White American. They would be apart of a term known as the “melting pot”. A melting of all European Descent to mold them into Americans. Italians, Germans and other European could be apart of the American way of life by being taught the language and customs.
America’s Diverse Population In the nineteenth century, rates of immigration across the world increased. Within thirty years, over eleven million immigrants came to the United States. There were new types of people migrating than what the United States were used to seeing as well. Which made people from different backgrounds and of different race work and live in tight spaces together; causing them to be unified.
The United States of America, is known to be one of the richest and most powerful countries in the world. It has often been referred to by many as a global melting pot or as locals may say callaloo, due to the amassing of diverse ethnicities, cultures and nationalities. Within its borders, resides immigrants or descendants of immigrants from almost every region in the world, and each has in some way added to the American culture and way of life. America is known for its stance on freedom, it is a nation that values equality and justice, this can be noted in the last few words of their national anthem ‘indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.’ However, for many, high levels of economic and social inequalities are daily struggles, a battle that has been fought for decades to claim the most basic rights, in the pursuit of achieving the American Dream.
“The American story is a story of immigration. I would be the last person who would say immigrants are not important to America.” — Phil Graham, circa 1960. This quote may be from the mid-20th century, but it keeps its significance with the everlasting controversy on immigration and immigration laws. However, this is not the only time that the United States has experienced immigration controversies.
Cohen’s fourth thesis talks about the differences among groups of people in areas of race, gender, etc. and how those differences can create monsters in society. Unauthorized immigrants often get placed into a “different” or “unwanted” group and that causes them to face unfairness in society. “How Immigrants Become ‘Other’” correlates to Cohen’s thesis because unauthorized immigrants can be made into monsters due to differences in race and legal status. The group of unauthorized immigrants can become alienated in society, and the people themselves are sometimes referred to as “illegal aliens.”
The United States of America is recognized around the world as the land of the free. America was founded by immigrants prior to it becoming a nation in 1776. Current American citizens at one point in their family’s history have a family member that immigrated from another country. America has become what it is today because of the different ethnic and cultural backgrounds the various immigrant groups bring to America’s society. Americans should not forget where their ancestors came from.