Adrian Velazquez
Mrs. 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 notion 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, though. 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 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.
Lincoln and Quindlen both value unity in their own ways, but both want to accomplish it. 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 ideals; 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 keep the government together. Quindlen notices that the nation came together after 9-11, but Lincoln saw the country divide over the issue of slavery. Lincoln urges people to make sure the’’ government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth’’ (Lincoln 28). Lincoln wanted to reunite the government so we would remain one united nation. Both Quindlen and Lincoln wanted to unite the US, but they sought for different kinds of unity.
Quindlen and Lincoln both want patriotism for their country. Lincoln fought so he could reunite his country. Quindlen wants to make everyone get along and help each other. For both Quindlen and Lincoln, patriotism requires pride in America. Quindlen says patriotism means that people who love their country are taking pride in our diversity and unity.’’ 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 stay together despite our differences. Quindlen’s definition of patriotism doesn’t require as much sacrifice as Lincoln’s. Lincoln needed 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 and patriotism are all ideals that Quindlen and Lincoln share, though they value them in different ways. Both authors agree that is something we should work for, but we aren’t there yet. They both value unity in their own ways; they also recognize that it is difficult to put into practice. Both Lincoln and Quindlen want patriotism; they both fought for their country in their own ways and they agree that patriotism requires pride in America. So, Julian Castro’s ideas about the American dream are proved by Lincoln and Quindlen; it’s a relay, not a sprint.
Works Cited Page
Lincoln, Abraham “The Gettysburg Address.’’ Collections, edited by Kylene Beers, Martha Hougen, Carl Jago, William L. Mcbride, Erik Palmer, Lydia Stack, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2017, pp. 27-28.
Quindlen, Anna. “A Quilt of a Country.’’ Collections, edited by Kylene Beers, Martha Hougen, Carl Jago, William L. Mcbride, Erik Palmer, Lydia Stack, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2017, pp. 3-6.
Compare and Contrast Reflection
1. Explain the process you went through to write this paper. Please be specific.
We first read the two books then we took notes on them, after we started writing the essay about the two books.
2. What qualifies this paper as a compare and contrast essay? What are the requirements for this genre and how did you meet them?
This qualifies as a compare and contrast essay because we read both stories and we wrote how they are the same and how they are different.
3. Tell me about one challenge you faced writing this paper and how you overcame it.
One challenge that I went through was that ran out of time and had to write my paper in hurry.
Mrs. 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 notion 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, though. 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 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.
Lincoln and Quindlen both value unity in their own ways, but both want to accomplish it. 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 ideals; 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 keep the government together. Quindlen notices that the nation came together after 9-11, but Lincoln saw the country divide over the issue of slavery. Lincoln urges people to make sure the’’ government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth’’ (Lincoln 28). Lincoln wanted to reunite the government so we would remain one united nation. Both Quindlen and Lincoln wanted to unite the US, but they sought for different kinds of unity.
Quindlen and Lincoln both want patriotism for their country. Lincoln fought so he could reunite his country. Quindlen wants to make everyone get along and help each other. For both Quindlen and Lincoln, patriotism requires pride in America. Quindlen says patriotism means that people who love their country are taking pride in our diversity and unity.’’ 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 stay together despite our differences. Quindlen’s definition of patriotism doesn’t require as much sacrifice as Lincoln’s. Lincoln needed 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 and patriotism are all ideals that Quindlen and Lincoln share, though they value them in different ways. Both authors agree that is something we should work for, but we aren’t there yet. They both value unity in their own ways; they also recognize that it is difficult to put into practice. Both Lincoln and Quindlen want patriotism; they both fought for their country in their own ways and they agree that patriotism requires pride in America. So, Julian Castro’s ideas about the American dream are proved by Lincoln and Quindlen; it’s a relay, not a sprint.
Works Cited Page
Lincoln, Abraham “The Gettysburg Address.’’ Collections, edited by Kylene Beers, Martha Hougen, Carl Jago, William L. Mcbride, Erik Palmer, Lydia Stack, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2017, pp. 27-28.
Quindlen, Anna. “A Quilt of a Country.’’ Collections, edited by Kylene Beers, Martha Hougen, Carl Jago, William L. Mcbride, Erik Palmer, Lydia Stack, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2017, pp. 3-6.
Compare and Contrast Reflection
1. Explain the process you went through to write this paper. Please be specific.
We first read the two books then we took notes on them, after we started writing the essay about the two books.
2. What qualifies this paper as a compare and contrast essay? What are the requirements for this genre and how did you meet them?
This qualifies as a compare and contrast essay because we read both stories and we wrote how they are the same and how they are different.
3. Tell me about one challenge you faced writing this paper and how you overcame it.
One challenge that I went through was that ran out of time and had to write my paper in hurry.