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Consider the audiences of great speeches, their historical context and art of execution. Look closely at the structural format behind speech writing and the emotional inspiration of speech making. Furthermore, Examine the practical and politicized purposes of speeches, the differences between speeches that are spoken and read, and the ways we can implement public speaking techniques in our daily lives.
Blogs are due on or before Friday by 2pm. Blogs should be posted on the net by the end of the day on Friday. A blog should assert some thesis regarding the author’s style or literary choices throughout or in a section of text, or answer the question posed. You may challenge or defend a characterization, moral explanation, description/depiction, word choice, or the absence of some other necessary component. Attempt to raise your own question or challenge and answer it. You must read the other submissions before your own in order not to duplicate or repeat the same argument. Be sure to write what you mean; you will be held accountable for your words. Blogs should be at least 300-400 words long. Spelling, grammar and syntax count.
posted by Ms. Jefferson @ 9:16 PM
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4 Comments:
America used to be called a melting pot – a giant pot of stew where the carrots taste like potatoes, and the potatoes taste like carrots. You started out with a variety of distinct ingredients but ended up with one giant brown uniform mush (like the soups in the cafeteria). The melting pot symbolized the assimilation of various cultures into one– the American culture.
Somewhere along the line, this idea of a melting pot became taboo and assimilation became evil. You had to respect everyone’s differences, even celebrate them. An assembly on Christianity had to be followed by an assembly on Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Wicca. People stopped simply being American, but became Japanese-American, Indian-American, African-American, etc. America became a salad bowl, where everything is distinct and retains their original tastes and textures.
Today, we believe in this salad bowl America. We recognize black history month and Hispanic history month. We respect each other’s cultural differences and encourage children to learn their parent’s languages. We encourage people to retain their cultural identity.
But is this what we want? Do we want an America of countless ethnic minorities that focus on their differences rather than their similarities? Do we want a country of hyphenated Americans?
I would argue no. We do not want diversity in America. Look at the ancient Greeks. They were a nation of many cultures –a conglomeration of city states each with their unique identity. And what happened to them? They fell because they could not unite together against the Persians. There are other examples too – the Balkans, the Soviet Union, Ireland. An America of divided cultures would follow the path of previous mutli-cultural nations into downfall and ruin.
Instead of celebrating diversity and the salad bowl version of America, we should celebrate the similarities that exist among us, like our belief in hope and prosperity. Instead of trying to maintain our different cultural heritages, we should be focused on creating and maintaining the American culture. And as for our separate cultures, we will not forget them; they will add another layer of flavor to the melting pot.
And if you still think that celebrating diversity is more important than celebrating similarities, then I ask you this: would you really take a bland and unsatisfying salad (think school salad bar with those Crayola colored dressings) over a hearty, warm, and filling stew (fat free of course and available with or without meat)?
The American Dream. This ideal has been ingrained in every child in America hoping for success in life. It claims that every American has the chance to rise up from the depths of poverty to great wealth. It is the reason that so many foreigners want to immigrate to the Land of Opportunity. In reality, however, not many people are fortunate enough to accomplish this goal; for most, the idea of rags-to-riches is no more than a “dream.”
The “Dream” began before the States of America were even United, during a time when British entrepreneurs who had run out of luck in their homeland looked to the New World as a chance to grow their fortunes. After the independence of the colonies, the perception of the dream continued because of the revolutionary freedoms America offered. What was unique to the United States was its democratic society, as there were no laws preventing citizens from improving their class status, laws which were prevalent in many contemporary nations. These freedoms encouraged massive numbers of immigrants to leave their poverty-stricken lands in order to seek their own American Dream. Many people realized that dream; however, most have been unsuccessful in their quest.
Someone who achieved the American Dream is Chris Gardener, the man portrayed in the movie The Pursuit of Happyness. Through hard work, intelligence, and great luck, Gardener was able to rise from a homeless man to a wealthy executive. This is an inspiring success story, but it is the kind of story you make a movie out of, not a typical experience. In the world today, there are hundreds of people with high intellect and a strong work ethic, but there are not enough opportunities for all of them to succeed. In order to achieve the “Dream,” individuals need to have some luck in order for them to be recognized for their abilities, and stand out from the rest. The harsh reality is that people with money have more chances to demonstrate their skills, and therefore have an easier time distinguishing themselves. Whether it is through personal “connections” or graduation from an elite university, wealthy people tend to have an easier time getting noticed. And every time a rich person is hired, there is usually someone who is equally if not more qualified left chasing their American Dream.
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The “Wild West” is a myth that remains true today. When the term was coined during the nineteenth century, it signified a West (that is now considered the mid-West) that was wild, as in unmarked. Pioneers following the construction of the transcontinental railroad braved the frontier and established homes where wilderness and/or Native Americans had reigned. The Wild West accommodated the more progressive Americans who welcomed the challenges of the unexplored territory. The Wild West also referred to the rowdy cowboys who set up “sinful” brothels, where pleasure was the guiding force for people’s lives. The West, especially California, continues to represent many of these “wild” sketches.
Western states are making wild, unprecedented political decisions. California is the poster child for direct democracy, a status that does not readily appear to be wild, but certainly is. California braved the frontier of democracy and established itself as one of the more radical (in a liberal sense) states in the country. California has divided the power of the government among the general public to the extreme that only 15% of the state budget lies within the legislature or the governor’s control. The California school system, which used to be one of the most respected educational institutions in the country, has fallen due to the limits placed on its budget. The people of California took the principle of democracy, and ran wild with it.
The West still holds “wild,” progressive and rowdy Americans. Citizens of the west coast are notorious for their innovative environmental attitude. While the rest of the country accepts the federal government’s approach to the environment, the western states mark a unique path to environmental action. Los Angeles can easily be compared to old western towns that beckoned the term “Wild West.” The local law enforcement handles the rampant crime poorly. The media exploits the pleasure-seeking celebrities for their many sins. Despite the negative characteristics of the “Wild West,” the West will continue to lure people. Perhaps it is the “wild” aspect of the West that most entices.
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