de Crevecoeur observed the potential greatness that existed in America. The term melting pot is especially relevant today, but at that time it was a new concept. As a modern day American, it is hard to imagine living in a culture so indiverse, but every society before the United States was this way.
Today, equality is an entirely different matter. We have taken our true freedom and equality for granted. These days equality means making sure exactly as many men are given scholarships as women, making sure that a commercial has a person from every race, and not keeping score in children's little league games (because winners are better than losers - not equals). When you take a step back and look at the strides this country has made in terms of civil rights, women's rights, etc., it seems petty to argue about some of the things we do today. But I guess this is just the American spirit still at work. Americans want to see this country become the best it possibly can. Even if our equality is unrivaled anywhere else in the world, it may still be able to be improved.
I'm a little confused about On Being Brought from Africa to America. I understand that the author is grateful for some of the opportunities given to her in America, and appreciative of the apparent equality she has been given, but it seems like she identifies more with being Christian than being an African American. Maybe she has been convinced that Christianity can separate her from the discrimination she probably receives, but doesn't it seem like she has gone a little too far? She still does identify with her ethnicity, but not in the same nationalistic way as her contemporaries. Also, she is not resentful at all, but rather pleased to be shown (at least some) equality.
Didn't even think about how ridiculous some of the equalities people strive for in little things is today. Like that you brought this up because it's present all around us today. First thing I thought of when reading those lines was church league basketball. Every person had to play for an allotted amount of time regardless of whether they actually helped the team or were any good (which sometimes really ticked me off). This equality we have makes a lot of people happy so I'd have to agree with you that it's "just the American spirit still at work".
ReplyDeleteNot that you really have time for more reading, but Charles and Tanner, there's a great short story by Kurt Vonnegut called "Harrison Bergeron" (http://www.tnellen.com/cybereng/harrison.html) that touches on this issue of "over-equality" in America. It's a commentary on the problems inherent in Communism, mainly, but there are many connections one can make to contemporary American society as well.
ReplyDeleteYou guys are definitely right- I didn't even think about those things when righting my response. It's almost as if equality is being forced upon us so everybody has equal opportunities.
ReplyDeleteAnd in response to your last paragraph- Christianity crosses all national boundaries and color barriers. It wouldn't surprise me if she identifies more with Christians than African Americans. I myself identify more with Christians I have met across the globe than some of my own countrymen!