The Role Of Universalism In American Culture
On page 68, we are told that "no culture is exclusively universalist or particularist, but cultures do tend to be more one than the other..." and that we are to understand that the reading is focusing specifically on culture as a whole. However, there are some interesting conversations to be had when you break it down further and look to see the smaller clusters of culture within the whole, especially when they are self-preserving.
For example, our own American culture as a whole, I would argue is Universalist, especially in the cases of the justice system, employment processes, and educational opportunities, at least according to the bylaws. Where our culture shifts dramatically to particularism and changes these outcomes for the situations above, is within the class structure.
Class structure and where you and your family are within tax brackets will ultimately program you to be either universalist or particularist. From my experiences, those within higher brackets tend to be more protective of their assets and their way of life, whereas those within the lower brackets are more giving of their time, energy, and money. Keep in mind, these too are over arching generalizations, but often those that have less to give, give more while those with more tend
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He discusses the top 20 percent of Americans (those who make six figures and higher a year) and how they are able to continue their way of life and set up their children through the hoarding of opportunities (essentially the "American Dream") through personal connections and affiliations. In the following quote, he (including himself in the top 20 percent of Americans) mentions a couple of ways that they are able to achieve this protective aspect of their lives and livelihoods, of which are almost reminiscent of the Particularism
Summary Of The Class America By Mantisos
851 Words | 4 PagesHe states that the top 20% of America’s rich population has accumulated 90% of our nations wealth. Mantises also says, that 1 in every 7 people live below the poverty line. My family is fortunately above the poverty line, but still struggles quite a bit. The American lifestyle in this article is portrayed by viewing many people, their jobs, income, family, what they do in their free time, etc. Many of the people who started off in higher class families, ending up having their own higher class family and vice versa when it comes to lower class families.
Cal Thomas And Brandon King Analysis
1479 Words | 6 PagesThe American Dream was once the idea of being able to come from poverty and take that and create something from nothing making a better life for one’s family than had in the past. In the book They Say, I say With Readings Cal Thomas and Brandon King have both written papers discussing the topic of the American dream each author using a different angle to exploit their views on the topic. This paper will analyze both author’s texts, creating three different points made by each and comparing them. The first point will be on the American Dream and how it is portrayed in both texts. The second point will cover any texts used in the essays in comparison to the other paper and how those writings improve the author’s argument.
Stuart Ewen Chosen People Summary
670 Words | 3 PagesThroughout the piece, Ewen uses quotes from historians and scholars to enhance his argument that americans strive to attain the dream life. Ewen quotes Alan Dawley, a well known historians who says, “There was a class of white-collar employees who earned only subsistence salaries and their sense of pride lay in the prestige of being close to the social elite. These white-collar employees anxiously strove to assemble a stylistic affinity to wealth” (Ewen 186). The white-collar employees did not have much, but they took great honor in knowing they were closer to the elite than others and continued to strive for the highest level. Alan Dawley was a professor of history who received his degree from Harvard University who also wrote three books.
Comparing The American Dream In Into The Wild, By Jon Krakauer
806 Words | 4 PagesThe author incorporates quotes such as that and others to show other ideologies of the American dream other than starting a family and working for success. While also showing the American dream most people think of isn't achievable for everyone, such as the character Chris McCandless who felt limited by living to work and settling down. Krakauer expresses the desire for something more than a pleasant home and coming home to a happy family, the feeling of absolute freedom and a nomadic life. Regardless of the difficulty of the steps it takes to achieve the goal, the strive to obtain appeasement lives
Summary Of Crazy Like Us The Globalization Of The American Psyche
1546 Words | 7 PagesIntroduction The homogenization of mental health in all aspects is a focus of Ethan Watters in his book Crazy Like Us: The Globalization of the American Psyche. Watters explores and explains his opinions on how America is globalizing mental health in a negative way. He sets the book up as a compilation of case studies that support his idea of mental health homogenization. The four case studies all occur in places outside of America, naturally, but all of the people involved are affected by America in some way.
The Lesson By Toni Cade Bambara
1329 Words | 6 PagesShe suggests that the American Dream means that everyone should have the same opportunities to make money. However, with the capitalist system equal opportunity to money is not the case as represented by the
The American Dream In Upton Sinclair's 'The Jungle'
901 Words | 4 PagesHe dedicates himself to achieving the American Dream and is convinced that through his own resolve and determination he can provide for his family and loved ones and rise through the system”
Summary Of The American Dream Dead Alive By Brandon King
659 Words | 3 PagesHe reinforces his theory that the American dream is changing by the statistics on housing. “More and more people now rent their homes instead of buying; a recent study showed a decrease in home ownership from 69% in 2005 to about 66.5% in 2010 and an increase in renter household of 1.1 million”
Disparate American Values
2860 Words | 12 PagesAmerican 's gained their independence because of a decision by its ' colonial citizens to pursue freedom through the legitimate use of armed force. Disparate American colonies fought on a unified front for a set of defining values and principles centered on their customs, traditions, and desired institutions. Americans ultimately prevailed because of a deep shared sense of patriotism and nationalism. American 's declared their independence from Britain 's control based on the defining principles of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. These values and principles have endured and transcended since 1776 through multiple wars which have challenged American values, principles, and institutions.
Democracy In America Summary
1448 Words | 6 PagesHis definition of individualism was that people are happiest when they ignore the outside world and they stay in their bubble of friends, family and domestic life. He compares egoism to individualism saying that: “Egoism is a preversity as old as the world and is scarcely peculiar to one form of society more than another. Individualism is democratic origin and threatens to grow as conditions become equal” (Page 588, Chapter 2, Democracy in America, Tocqueville). He is saying that egoism is only a few steps away from individualism and that a democracy causes men to focus more on themselves since everyone is already equal socially they want to be different within
The Coddling Of The American Mind Analysis
469 Words | 2 PagesIn “The Coddling of the American Mind”, Lukianoff and Haidt’s discuss how college students have demanded for trigger warnings, warnings issued before a sensitive topic is discussed. Students are asking for this because they want to be exempt when it comes time to discuss such topics. While the authors believe that, providing students with trigger warnings causes them to become safeguarded from controversial topics, and will not benefit them in the future because they will be not be able to constantly avoid sensitive topics. Lukianoff and Haidt describe something similar when they provide the example of a woman who is afraid of elevators. They indicate that if you want her to prolong her fear you should help her avoid them, but if you want to
Orchestra Symbolism In The Great Gatsby
832 Words | 4 PagesIt also emphasises that the pursuit of the American Dream is greater than actually achieving it, and that the constant chase is what is unique to American culture. Gannett Wells asserts that 'Americanism' is characterised by, “the fixed conviction that one man is the equivalent of another in capacity, and that his failure to
The American Dream In Into The Wild
529 Words | 3 PagesThe American Dream of wanting less material goods in order to live a more fulfilling life that is indulged in the natural beauty of the world was the American Dream that McCandless was seeking. Christopher McCandless rejected the American Dream, as it’s traditionally defined in pursuit of a more emotionally and spiritually fulfilling existence free from the social pressures of our materialistic society in the Alaskan wilderness. The irony of McCandless's rejection of the traditional American dream is that he lived such a perfect life. a life many would want to live and achieve as a part of their own American Dream and yet he wanted to remove himself from society's standards. An important part of the traditional American dream is the “perfect American family” which is essentially the family that McCandless grew up in.
Essay On Is The American Dream Still Alive
757 Words | 4 PagesHis believe in the American dream was strong enough to make him achieve something he want too. So he believe that the whole American dream falls is as a person you want to achieve something you work for it. Secondly, the American
Summary Of Equality Renewed
847 Words | 4 PagesOne of the major problems with supporting the protection of culture, as pointed out in chapter five of Equality Renewed, is the limitations that some members of certain cultures face. Although some cultures may seem to provide a range of options, they also tend to limit the options available by discouraging individuals from their freedom of choice, acting mostly with the goal of restricting choice (Sypnowich, 94). This I believe to be wrong, because making an individual feel trapped inside a culture can lead to resentment and an identity crisis. Inhibiting choice is essentially inhibiting one’s autonomy, which is moving in the wrong direction toward human flourishing.
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