Alice Smith
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 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 obtaining 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 are 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 saw a rough time in American history, and they both value unity. Quindlen says unity is a value in our nation, but it's hard to maintain. It is at odds with other values. “With the end of the Cold War there was the creeping concern that without a focus for hatred and distrust, a sense of a national identity would evaporate” (Quindlen 5). Quindlen is saying that the U.S. values unity, but we also value individualism, which doesn’t always align with unity. She urges readers to keep trying for unity anyways. Both authors saw conflict, but Quindlen wanted social unity, and Lincoln wanted the country united politically. Quindlen notices that the nation came together after 9-11, but Lincoln saw the country divide over the issue of slavery. Lincoln strongly urges people to make sure “The government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not parish from the earth” (Lincoln 28). Lincoln wanted to reunite the government so we would remain one united nation. Both authors were patriotic.
Both authors had different ideas about patriotism yet share the same meaning. Quindlen thinks patriotism is taking pride in our 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 stay together despite our differences. Lincoln needed more than pride. He needed devotion to the nation. He's says patriotism is people who fought for our country. At the dedication of the National Cemetery, Lincoln said “We found in are here to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live” (Lincoln27). Lincoln’s definition of patriotism was being devoted enough to fight for, or even die for, your nation. The authors agree that patriotism requires pride.
Equality, unity and patriotism are the main ideals that Lincoln and Quindlen value throughout their writings and speeches, yet they value different parts of these themes. Both authors recognize the value of equality, in different ways. Lincoln wants to end slavery, and Quindlen wants everyone to see each other equally. Another point they both talk about and value is unity. Lincoln wanted governmental unity and Quindlen wanted social unity throughout our nation. The last main value is patriotism. To Quindlen, patriotism is having pride in the diversity and different cultures in our nation; to Lincoln, patriotism is fighting, and maybe even dying, for our nation. Castro’s ideas about the American dream are proved by Lincoln and Quindlen; the American dream is not a sprint or a marathon, but a relay.
Works Cited Page
Lincoln, Abraham. “The Gettysburg Address.” Collections, edited by Kylene Beers, Martha Hougen, Carol 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, Carol Jago, William L. McBride, Erik Palmer, & Lydia Stack, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2017, pp. 3-6.
Compare and Contrast Reflection
Please answer all questions in complete, grammatically correct sentences.
2. What qualifies this paper as a compare and contrast essay? What are the requirements for this genre and how did you meet them?
To meet the requirements we need to show similarities and differences in the two subjects. This qualifies as a compare and contrast essay because it shows how Lincoln and Quindlen are similar and different. I met this requirement by reading other compare and contrast essays.
3. Tell me about one challenge you faced writing this paper and how you overcame it.
One challenge was showing similarities and I overcame that by reading the stories numerous times and deciding what was the best evidence.
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 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 obtaining 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 are 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 saw a rough time in American history, and they both value unity. Quindlen says unity is a value in our nation, but it's hard to maintain. It is at odds with other values. “With the end of the Cold War there was the creeping concern that without a focus for hatred and distrust, a sense of a national identity would evaporate” (Quindlen 5). Quindlen is saying that the U.S. values unity, but we also value individualism, which doesn’t always align with unity. She urges readers to keep trying for unity anyways. Both authors saw conflict, but Quindlen wanted social unity, and Lincoln wanted the country united politically. Quindlen notices that the nation came together after 9-11, but Lincoln saw the country divide over the issue of slavery. Lincoln strongly urges people to make sure “The government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not parish from the earth” (Lincoln 28). Lincoln wanted to reunite the government so we would remain one united nation. Both authors were patriotic.
Both authors had different ideas about patriotism yet share the same meaning. Quindlen thinks patriotism is taking pride in our 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 stay together despite our differences. Lincoln needed more than pride. He needed devotion to the nation. He's says patriotism is people who fought for our country. At the dedication of the National Cemetery, Lincoln said “We found in are here to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live” (Lincoln27). Lincoln’s definition of patriotism was being devoted enough to fight for, or even die for, your nation. The authors agree that patriotism requires pride.
Equality, unity and patriotism are the main ideals that Lincoln and Quindlen value throughout their writings and speeches, yet they value different parts of these themes. Both authors recognize the value of equality, in different ways. Lincoln wants to end slavery, and Quindlen wants everyone to see each other equally. Another point they both talk about and value is unity. Lincoln wanted governmental unity and Quindlen wanted social unity throughout our nation. The last main value is patriotism. To Quindlen, patriotism is having pride in the diversity and different cultures in our nation; to Lincoln, patriotism is fighting, and maybe even dying, for our nation. Castro’s ideas about the American dream are proved by Lincoln and Quindlen; the American dream is not a sprint or a marathon, but a relay.
Works Cited Page
Lincoln, Abraham. “The Gettysburg Address.” Collections, edited by Kylene Beers, Martha Hougen, Carol 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, Carol Jago, William L. McBride, Erik Palmer, & Lydia Stack, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2017, pp. 3-6.
Compare and Contrast Reflection
Please answer all questions in complete, grammatically correct sentences.
- Explain the process you went through to write this paper. Please be specific.
2. What qualifies this paper as a compare and contrast essay? What are the requirements for this genre and how did you meet them?
To meet the requirements we need to show similarities and differences in the two subjects. This qualifies as a compare and contrast essay because it shows how Lincoln and Quindlen are similar and different. I met this requirement by reading other compare and contrast essays.
3. Tell me about one challenge you faced writing this paper and how you overcame it.
One challenge was showing similarities and I overcame that by reading the stories numerous times and deciding what was the best evidence.