Thomas L. Friedman, in his column Where Did ‘We the People’ Go? (2017), claims that America is having a challenging time fighting against the sectarianism that is happening now a days. He supports his claim by first explaining America is no longer being truthful, and then explaining that fake social media news is dividing America, and finally explaining that there is a crisis of authority. Friedman’s purpose is to figure out where the once united and strong nation community has gone in order to figure what can be done to save our United Nation. He creates a admonitory tone for any person who has the desire to help America be united together again. Response: After analyzing the column, Where Did ‘We the People’ Go? Thomas L. Friedman I would
With America being as diverse as it is, people would think everyone is united, but is that completely true? Thomas Paine shows his view of America as being a harmonious country with no problems. Even though over the years America has become a lot more diverse, that does not signify, all of the sudden, we have become a problem-free nation, comparable to what Thomas Paine thinks. Every nation has difficulties, and that includes America. America is nowhere close to being a perfect nation, but some nations have a lot more conflicts than America; and we have been trying, over the years, to become closer as a stronger country. Even with diversity growing in America, supporting Paine's argument, the United States is not a complete, harmonious nation,
In the beginnings of the United States there was a unity called Federalism. Although legislators had serious differences of opinions, political unity was considered absolutely essential for the stability of the nation; factions. If others were to enter in to this great country they should also become intertwined in our "ways". This opinion is seen in President George Washington's' letter to John Adams. He stated that people coming into our government should be "...Assimilated to our customs, measures and laws.become one people". But he also said "they retain the Language, habits and principle (good or bad) which they bring with them" They could not only keep there religions and other customs; but have a freedom of their pursuit of happiness: first amendment right; something that was violated in the Alien and Sedition Acts. Public perceptions of factions were not related to British excesses and thought to be "the moral diseases under which popular governments have everywhere perished". James Madison wrote in the most popular Federalist Paper number ten where he described his definition of a faction "by a faction, I understand a number of citize...
America is a façade hidden behind its notorious past, with an even more troubling present. The land of the free, home of the brave, and one nation claimed to be united under the presence of an omnipotent power, but is it really? America profits off of the so-called dream that is sold to the hopeful and broken. This nation has been riddled with violence, persecution, hatred, and a false sense of togetherness. Racism was not the beginning, it was the ending result of a power struggle between those who wanted control and those who had it. The systematic enslavement and dehumanization of blacks resulted in the concept of a racial caste division, creating the idea of us vs. them (Wacquant, 2002). The Jim Crow laws, prisons, and the creation of ghettos
“The United States emerged from a virulent, intense, and inhumane civil war and evolved into a new nation during this period. This transition was the culmination of political, economic, social, and cultural movements which transformed the nation. E Pluribus Unum - out of many United States, one nation; the United States was forged in the cauldron of these revolutions." -Arnold Toynbee, A Study of History
In his address, Obama claims that a “robust democracy” demands contentious debate in which people fight for their beliefs. In some respects, he is correct. However, if he includes dissent in this robust democracy, he is gravely mistaken. Dissent ostracizes and condemns individuals because of what they believe in, which is clearly not something a robust democracy demands. “We are part of the American family,” the president said. In order to be a part of this family, we cannot exclude its members from their freedom to speak and express their ideas. Dissent hinders those capabilities, and thus truly can be considered the cancer of democracy.
Does being American mean working together or is it everyone for themselves? Unification will solve the issues troubling America, like privileges, education, and healthcare. The so called white privilege that all other races blame as the reason they get passed up for jobs or use as a way to hide their insecurities , the crumbling education system that is separating the rich from the poor during childhood, and the horrible healthcare system that causes the poor to remain uninsured. The speech given by Senator Barack Obama in 2008 called “A More Perfect Union” as a response to Reverend Wright’s preaches about racism. Using the comments as a platform, Senator Obama addresses other issues in the country. This speech
Rust, M. (1998, August 3). "Public Welfare for Billionaires." Insight on the News. v14 n28.
Hudson, William E. American Democracy in Peril: Eight Challenges to America’s Future – Fourth Edition. Washington, D.C.: CQ Press, 2004.
In the Argumentative essay “A Quilt of a Country” By Anna Quindlen, she argues that people in America seem to be united and become connected when something such as attacks from enemies hurt not just one specific race but all. After Quindlen and many others felt pity towards the ones who suffered from the 911 Quindlen wrote “A Quilt of a Country” in which she stated,“Today the citizens of the United States have come together once more because of armed conflict and enemy attacks, Terrorism has led to devastation-and unity”. According to Quindlen, the United States has once again come together because of attacks/ armed conflicts demonstrating that this has happened before which reveals that one of the ways that have worked for people to be brought
... the United Stated is still together today. No matter how many corrupt politicians or non-virtuous men take office, the men who created the Constitution created a document that would keep the people unified enough to fight through it and the people would prevail. Hamilton defended the small thought of republicanism even though there was no sure was that it would prevail. Burr was a threat to the republic and was corrupt enough to break the small unity that America had.
In the first article, “Hiding from Reality”, Bob Herbert talks about the reality of the state of the United States. He feels that America is in sad shape. Herbert states that from the economy, jobs, and public schools, the country is definitely in a decline. Herbert also feels that our country is in denial about how bad things really are. Unemployment rates are at their highest and that with our country going to war with no money to fund them, it is just another reason American’s are in a downward spiral. No one is sure if we can ever recover from the recession of 2009, and Herbert makes it very clear he doesn’t see an end to the suffering American’s are feeling anytime soon. Everyone from service employees, to state and local government agencies are feeling the effects of the recession. Every program and employee is feeling the cut backs. Taxes are being raised and employee’s benefits are being cut...
In “People Like Us”, the writer talks about tolerance and diversity in the United States. America has for a long time been cited as one of the most diverse countries. Upon investigation of that statement, one will find that it is a fact, for the country is filled with millions of individuals from different ethnic extractions, political affiliations, religion, socioeconomic status, personalities, interests, etc. However, according to “People Like Us”, instead of the population of the country uniting in its diversity and using that as a strength, individuals are trying really hard to distance themselves from others who are not like themselves, and to band themselves together with those who are like them. David
Zorn, Eric. “One thing polls show accurately: Changed minds." Chicago Tribune Nov 9, 2004: 1.
The United States of America plays a crucial role, foreign or domestic, with the potential to shape the future. The citizens of the nation have a pivotal role in shaping the future. In order for this to occur citizens must have clarity to be able to comprehend their roles. The clarity comes from influential figures and their deliverance of guiding words. The figures range in time periods from the founding of the nation to the Cold War era. Those who understand their role often guide others on their path to clarity.
However, it is losing its integrity in every action is taking. Additionally, according to him the America government can bend to the will of one man (Perkins 250). It is a wooden gun that the people have been given to protect themselves but according to the people expectation of how a government should be, instead of a wooden gun it should be more complex machinery.