Is America a melting pot?

America has long been referred to as a melting pot. Comprised of ethnic, racial, and cultural diversity, America is home to almost every walk of life. Some would argue that because of the different view points and the prejudice that exists in the country today, the United States can no longer be considered a melting pot of individuals. It is my opinion, however, that despite today’s chauvinism and racial and ethnic discrimination, America is still, indeed, a melting pot.

A melting pot of individuals is a group of those who live in the same place, and share a common bond that unites them as an entity. And while Americans may represent diverse backgrounds and cultures, all citizens share the same country and its foundational rights. Until Sept 11, my mom worked in the World Trade Center in New York City. The city itself is the epitome of a melting pot. So many people live in the city, and yet, they thrive and coexist despite their differences. And after the tragedies that took place in 2001, the people of New York, and the nation as whole, came together as one. 

Prejudice exists in the United States. However prejudice alone cannot break the common bond that all Americans share. America will forever be the melting pot

Waiting for Superman

America’s public education system needs reform. The film Waiting for Superman, directed by Davis Guggenheim, discusses how education can drastically affect the lifes of children in low income neighborhoods. However because of lack of adequate funding, these children are not receiving the education needed to excel.

I used to volunteer with a school that was located in a low income neighborhood. Classes were overcrowded, the building was in disrepair and the majority of the children received federally subsidized meals. In schools like these how are children able to learn? At a school that reflects the poverty and brokenness of the homes they come from, it is no wonder that children that who attend schools in low income neighborhoods have no motivation to pursue education. The schools reinforce the idea that there is no way out of the poverty cycle.

We need reform. However the answer to this growing issue may be coming. President Obama’s Blueprint for Reform of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act pushes to ensure that there would be equal funding for schools. This is the change we need.

The Accessibility of Education

Education and its accessibility are the underlying themes in Professor X’s essay, “In the Basement of the Ivory Tower”. In his essay Professor X discusses his carrier as a college professor and the varying abilities of his students. He has students who are only pursuing a college degree to advance in their carrier and even some students whose only goal is to receive a certain number of required credits to ability for a carrier in law enforcement. While many vocations in today’s society require some sort of higher education, Professor X states that not all people are cut out to attend college. He uses the example of a student in his class named Ms. L. Ms. L struggled throughout Professor X’s entire course. She had never used the internet, was unable to put a clear sentence together and did not have the ability to grasp the concepts needed to write her assignments. While Professor X would have loved to pass Ms. L out of compassion, he had to fail her in the course. Ms. L was a smart women, however she was simply not fit to take a college level course. Like many Americans, she struggled to find work in a society that so highly values education. The truth of the matter is, not everyone is suited for college. Their age, maturity, comprehension level and their former education all play huge roles in their ability to achieve success in higher academia.

Expectations

 

 

In today’s culture, there exists a clear distinction between the sexes. Individuals are expected to take on specific roles and dress and act in accordance to their sex. Women are expected to stay in the home, clean and raise children. Men, on the other hand, are expected to be the bread winners and take on masculine responsibilities. These expectations, however, place limits on individuals and make it difficult for one to pursue dreams that lie outside of social expectations.

In Rosin’s essay “A Boy’s Life”, she tells the story of a boy named Brandon who enjoyed dressing up and doing activities that are typically associated with girls. Society look upon Brandon as damaged, simply because he liked doing things that were outside of what society has deemed as a boys activity. Society limited Brandon’s opportunity to pursue because of the limits it placed on the male sex. Similar stories exist for girls who want to play football, women who want a career in a male dominated field, or husbands who want to stay at home and take care of the children. Society has placed boundaries on genders which hinder ones ability to pursue dreams outside of the expected norms.

It is important to note that roles that society deems as masculine usually require strength that typically women do not posses. And roles that society deems as feminine typically require nurture. However society needs to step past this, and accept that women can take on male responsibilities, just as men can take on responsibilities of the opposite sex.

The Media's Representation of Class

         Class can be defined as a social group with similar opportunities. While class roles paly a large role in society today, the media has largely influenced our perception of the upper, middle, and lower classes. In Diana Kendall’s essay, Framing Class, Vicarious Living, and Conspicuous Consumption, Kendall explores the theme of class and how it has been affected by media representation.

            In Kendall’s essay, Kendal uses the example of the once popular television show The Simple Life. The show followed Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie as they struggled to do minimum wage jobs and faced the struggles of the every man. This Simple Life is a perfect example of how the media trivializes class relationships and gives a false perception of the class system. Hilton and Richie are presented as superior to the “substandard and low level” middle and lower class people that occupy the jobs that they are attempting in each episode. The media plays huge role in how we view individuals and their social standing. It can, however, unfortunately be incredibly misleading. Media has the power to destroy the social divisions that exist and cultivate a culture of understanding. The media ought to strive to reflect social classes in a positive light and accurately portray the struggles of the upper, lower, and middle classes. This would give society a true impression of class and enable us to better understand those in classes’ different classes.

The Myth of the American Dream

            In Daltons essay, Horatio Alger, Dalton explores the topic of the American dream and how that dream can be socially destructive. Many of Alger’s stories are about individuals who rise from rags to riches. Dalton argues, however, that these stories, of heroes beating to odds to achieve measurable success, mask significant social realities like class and race and promote a false view of success. He states that Alger’s stories encourage the idea that individuals can reach their true potential no matter their nationality, gender or skin colour, as long as they work hard.

            While I am a believer in the fact that hard work can help anyone achieve some level of success, it would be foolish to say that ones race plays no role in their upward rise or fall. Success does come through work, however work doesn’t always bring success, and ones social standing has a lot to do with that. It is sad that the society we live in today continues to judge peoples merit solely based on their skin colour. But, it is a social reality that is not easily changed. I believe that the only way to resolve this dissonance that exists is to “start with ourselves”. In order to bring about this change individuals must begin to stop judging others based on their race. If just one person chooses to see individuals for their true value instead of their skin colour, then they can influence those around them to do the same. 

The Right to Marriage

As an American citizen, one is guaranteed certain inalienable rights: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. In Evan Wolfson’s essay, What is Marriage?, he addresses the right to marriage, specifically the right for homosexuals to marry. He argues that because homosexual marriage is not legal in all fifty states, homosexual couples are not receiving many of the perceptible rights of marriage. By denying homosexual couples the privilege to marry, they are missing out on the benefits of marriage and, perhaps, their right to happiness.

            One point that Wolfson makes is that unmarried same-sex couples, who have children together,  are not entitled to  receive family health insurance through whom they are employed. Is it really just to deny a family from being insured, just because of the parent’s sexual orientation? I do not believe so. Another point that Wolfson makes is that marriage is a universal representation of a couple’s love and dedication to each other. Is it really appropriate to refuse a couple the privileges to be recognized in this way? The emotional toll it would take on a couple is unfathomable to me! Whether you support homosexual unions or are against homosexuality completely, I think that everyone can agree that all persons should be given equal rights. This includes the right to marriage.

            Homosexual couples are not guaranteed the same rights as married heterosexual couples; homosexual couples, in most states, are denied the right to marry, and therefore, do not receive the benefits that marriage brings. While I would never choose to participate in the homosexual lifestyle and do not condone the lifestyle itself, I believe that all Americans should be given the same rights. All couples deserve the right to marry.

 

Misperceptions About the 1950's

         The 1950’s are fondly remembered as a time of financial stability and incorruptibility. Television shows of the time portray perfect families who are the embodiment of happiness and ethical behavior. However, as Stephanie Coontz reveals in her essay, What We Really Miss About the 1950’s, this nostalgic period is misperceived. The 1950’s were plagued by domestic problems, spurring from post war sentiments, and high teenage birthrates.

Statistics show that in the early 1950’s many marriages ended in divorce. This divorce rate contradicts the widely held view that this time period was one of family stability. This could likely be attributed to the ending of World War II. World War II ended on May 7, 1945; solders came home to find wives whom were resistant to give up their new found authority and many dealt with depression.  These factors played a large role in the surprisingly high divorce rates.  At this time, there was also an increase of non-marital birth rates. This shows a complete departure from the widely held view that the 1950’s were a time of teenage abstinence.

            In her essay, What We Really Miss About the 1950’s, Coontz argues that the 1950’s were a time plagued by domestic problems spurred from post war sentiments and high teenage birthrates. The facts she provides to support her perspectives are startling; this nostalgic period was struck by many of the same demons afflicting today’s society.

Bibliography

Colombo, Gary, Robert Cullen, and Bonnie Lisle. “What We Really Miss About the

            1950’s.” Ed. Stephanie Coontz. Rereading America: Cultural contexts for critical thinking and writing. Boston: Bedford Books of St. Martin’s P, 1995. 32-48

Who am I?

Who am I?

Staring into the blinding lights that veiled the audience before me, I reminisced on my year. In June 2011, I had been crowned Miss Teen Oklahoma, and for an entire year, that title had been my identity. And now a year later, as I was relinquishing my crown, I began to wonder who I was as a person. However as the pageant ended and days passed, I realized that it wasn’t the title that defined me. The people in my life, my experiences and my faith have shaped who I am.

            Born to successful parents, I was always pushed to succeed. From school, to pageants, and even relationships, my parents continually urged me to be my best. I am a hard worker and an achiever because of my parents influence. My life experiences have also had a major impact on who I am. When I graduated middle school, I was left with a diminished self-confidence. After I entered a beauty pageant however, I gained new confidence in myself. The pageant forced me to grow out of my shy tendencies, see myself in a new light, and helped cultivate confidence in myself and my abilities. While people and experiences helped form me, my faith has molded my life beyond comprehension. Before I became a Christian, my life had revolved around winning mans approval. After my salvation, I realized that my life had a purpose beyond worldly achievements; my faith has transformed me and my outlook on the future.

The people in my life, my life experiences and my faith have molded me into the person I am today. I am goal oriented and secure in who I am. However my faith in Christ is what truly defines me.