Alan Damian
Ms. Lehmann
English 1-1A
10 October 2019
The American Dream
Julian Castro once said, “In the end, the American dream is not a sprint, or even a marathon, but a relay. Our families don’t always cross the finish line in the span of one generation. But each generation passes on to the next the fruits of their labor.” Throughout American history, the struggles to attain an equal, united nation have been passed on. This essay will compare and contrast how Anna Quindlen’s “A Quilt of a Country” and Abraham Lincoln's “Gettysburg Address” treat the issues of equality, unity, and patriotism in their visions of the American dream. Equality is the first ideal both authors discuss.
Quindlen and Lincoln both discuss equality in their works. Both authors agree that equality is an ideal worth striving for even though we have not yet achieved it in our nation. Quindlen explains that our nation has held onto the value of equality since its creation. She writes, “America...is held together by the nation that all men are created equal” (Quindlen 3). Here, Quindlen highlights the value of equality, not only as something we should fight for, but also as a value that has held our nation together. Quindlen also saw the difficulty in attaining equality, thought. Quindlen points to cultural inequalities in our nation, but Lincoln faced much more severe issues surrounding slavery. Lincoln, like Quindlen, saw the inequalities in the way people in our nation, but Lincoln faced much more severe issues surrounding slavery. Lincoln, like Quindlen, saw the inequalities in the way people in our country were treated, but he fought a civil war to free slaves. In his speech, he says “We here highly resolve that... this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom” (Lincoln 28). Lincoln wanted equality to keep our nation together, but he didn’t see the fruits of his labor. Both authors value unity as well as equality.
Both authors discuss unity with the whole US. While unity is important to both authors, they also recognize that it is difficult to put into practice. Quindlen knows unity is important and that we often fail to achieve it. She writes, “this is a nation founded on a conundrum, what Mario Cuomo has characterized as ‘community added to individualism.’ These two are our defining ideas; they are also in constant conflict” (Quindlen 4). Quindlen is saying that the U.S. values unity, but we also value individualism, which doesn't always align with unity. Quindlen urges readers to keep trying for unity anyway. While Quindlen Wanted the country to be more united socially, Lincoln was trying to put the U.S. back together after the south seceded during the civil war. Lincoln was trying to put the U.S. back together, but it was going to be hard. Both Quindlen and Lincoln wanted to unite the US, but they sought for different kinds of unity. Not only do Quindlen and Lincoln agree with unity, but they also agree on patriotism.
Quindlen and Lincoln are trying to get unity and patriotism from the whole US. For both Quindlen and Lincoln, patriotism requires pride in America. Quindlen explains that her definition of patriotism is putting such a variety of cultures together in one place and keeping that place together as one nation. She writes, “But 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 6). Quindlen defines patriotism as pride in our struggle to say together despite our differences. Quindlen’s definition of patriotism doesn't require as much sacrifice as Lincoln’s. Lincoln needs more than pride. He needed devotion to the nation. At the dedication of the National Cemetery, Lincoln said, “We have come together to dedicate a portion of that field as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live” (Lincoln 27). Lincoln’s definition of patriotism is being devoted enough to fight for, or even die for, your nation. Both authors agree that patriotism requires pride, though Lincoln also wanted devotion.
Equality, unity, and patriotism are all ideals that Quindlen and Lincoln share, though they value them in different ways. Quindlen and Lincoln see equality as a good thing to have, but they have different ways of achieving it. Quindlen wanted to achieve unity, but we fail to achieve it in our nation; Lincoln wanted to unite the countries to make one again. Quindlen said patriotism is to be proud that we are all together in one country while Lincoln said giving your life to fight for your nation is patriotism. So, Julian Castor’s ideas about the American dream are proved by Lincoln and Quindlen; it’s a relay, not a sprint.
Compare and Contrast Reflection
Please answer all questions in complete, grammatically correct sentences.
1. Explain the process you went through to write this paper. Please be specific.
Read it, took notes, make an essay, revised it, make corrections.
2. What qualifies this paper as a compare and contrast essay? What are the requirements for this genre and how did you meet them?
The two stories’ make a compare and contrast paper because both of the authors are wanting to have equality and unity in the US.
3. Tell me about one challenge you faced writing this paper and how you overcame it.
One challenge I faced was taking notes but I overcame it by getting help in Directed Study's.
Ms. Lehmann
English 1-1A
10 October 2019
The American Dream
Julian Castro once said, “In the end, the American dream is not a sprint, or even a marathon, but a relay. Our families don’t always cross the finish line in the span of one generation. But each generation passes on to the next the fruits of their labor.” Throughout American history, the struggles to attain an equal, united nation have been passed on. This essay will compare and contrast how Anna Quindlen’s “A Quilt of a Country” and Abraham Lincoln's “Gettysburg Address” treat the issues of equality, unity, and patriotism in their visions of the American dream. Equality is the first ideal both authors discuss.
Quindlen and Lincoln both discuss equality in their works. Both authors agree that equality is an ideal worth striving for even though we have not yet achieved it in our nation. Quindlen explains that our nation has held onto the value of equality since its creation. She writes, “America...is held together by the nation that all men are created equal” (Quindlen 3). Here, Quindlen highlights the value of equality, not only as something we should fight for, but also as a value that has held our nation together. Quindlen also saw the difficulty in attaining equality, thought. Quindlen points to cultural inequalities in our nation, but Lincoln faced much more severe issues surrounding slavery. Lincoln, like Quindlen, saw the inequalities in the way people in our nation, but Lincoln faced much more severe issues surrounding slavery. Lincoln, like Quindlen, saw the inequalities in the way people in our country were treated, but he fought a civil war to free slaves. In his speech, he says “We here highly resolve that... this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom” (Lincoln 28). Lincoln wanted equality to keep our nation together, but he didn’t see the fruits of his labor. Both authors value unity as well as equality.
Both authors discuss unity with the whole US. While unity is important to both authors, they also recognize that it is difficult to put into practice. Quindlen knows unity is important and that we often fail to achieve it. She writes, “this is a nation founded on a conundrum, what Mario Cuomo has characterized as ‘community added to individualism.’ These two are our defining ideas; they are also in constant conflict” (Quindlen 4). Quindlen is saying that the U.S. values unity, but we also value individualism, which doesn't always align with unity. Quindlen urges readers to keep trying for unity anyway. While Quindlen Wanted the country to be more united socially, Lincoln was trying to put the U.S. back together after the south seceded during the civil war. Lincoln was trying to put the U.S. back together, but it was going to be hard. Both Quindlen and Lincoln wanted to unite the US, but they sought for different kinds of unity. Not only do Quindlen and Lincoln agree with unity, but they also agree on patriotism.
Quindlen and Lincoln are trying to get unity and patriotism from the whole US. For both Quindlen and Lincoln, patriotism requires pride in America. Quindlen explains that her definition of patriotism is putting such a variety of cultures together in one place and keeping that place together as one nation. She writes, “But 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 6). Quindlen defines patriotism as pride in our struggle to say together despite our differences. Quindlen’s definition of patriotism doesn't require as much sacrifice as Lincoln’s. Lincoln needs more than pride. He needed devotion to the nation. At the dedication of the National Cemetery, Lincoln said, “We have come together to dedicate a portion of that field as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live” (Lincoln 27). Lincoln’s definition of patriotism is being devoted enough to fight for, or even die for, your nation. Both authors agree that patriotism requires pride, though Lincoln also wanted devotion.
Equality, unity, and patriotism are all ideals that Quindlen and Lincoln share, though they value them in different ways. Quindlen and Lincoln see equality as a good thing to have, but they have different ways of achieving it. Quindlen wanted to achieve unity, but we fail to achieve it in our nation; Lincoln wanted to unite the countries to make one again. Quindlen said patriotism is to be proud that we are all together in one country while Lincoln said giving your life to fight for your nation is patriotism. So, Julian Castor’s ideas about the American dream are proved by Lincoln and Quindlen; it’s a relay, not a sprint.
Compare and Contrast Reflection
Please answer all questions in complete, grammatically correct sentences.
1. Explain the process you went through to write this paper. Please be specific.
Read it, took notes, make an essay, revised it, make corrections.
2. What qualifies this paper as a compare and contrast essay? What are the requirements for this genre and how did you meet them?
The two stories’ make a compare and contrast paper because both of the authors are wanting to have equality and unity in the US.
3. Tell me about one challenge you faced writing this paper and how you overcame it.
One challenge I faced was taking notes but I overcame it by getting help in Directed Study's.