Angel Cervantes
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 4) 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 severe issues surrounding slavery. Lincoln, like, Quindlen saw the inequalities in the way people in our country were treated. He fought a civil war to free slaves. In his speech he says, “ We where 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 examine and discuss the value of unity. 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 fail to achieve it. She writes, “This is a nation founded on 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 put the U.S. back together after the south seceded during the civil war. Both Quindlen and Lincoln was trying to put the U.S. back together after the south seceded during the civil war. Lincoln and Quindlen explain patriotism differently from each other.
For both Lincoln and Quindlen, 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 that across its length and breadth is a 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 definition of patriotism isn’t 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 the field as a final resting place for those who here gave thier live that that nation might live” (Lincoln 27). Lincolns definition of patriotism is being devoted enough to fight for, or even die for, your nation. Both authors agree that patriotism required 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. Both authors agree that equality should stay in the country, but they both value equality in a different way. Both of the authors agree that unity is difficult to achive , but Anna Quindlen saw the country come together after 9-11 and Lincoln saw the country divide over slavery. Both authors agree in patriotism in a different way, Lincoln says you have to fight in a war to be a patriot but Anna Quindlen says being a patriot is having pride in your country. So, Julian Castor’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, 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.
1. Explain the process you went through to write this paper. Please be specific.
I was looking on both sides to see what was of the story and see which one was the best, I read the book, I was looking around for quotes, I had a work cited page.
2. What qualifies this paper as a compare and contrast essay? What are the requirements for this genre and how did you meet them?
There were two sides of the story, there were quotes, there was a work cited page, I had to see what was the same.
3. Tell me about one challenge you faced writing this paper and how you overcame it.
For me it was the quotes and trying to find the write quote to go with the story and I found it because I read the book slowly.
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 4) 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 severe issues surrounding slavery. Lincoln, like, Quindlen saw the inequalities in the way people in our country were treated. He fought a civil war to free slaves. In his speech he says, “ We where 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 examine and discuss the value of unity. 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 fail to achieve it. She writes, “This is a nation founded on 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 put the U.S. back together after the south seceded during the civil war. Both Quindlen and Lincoln was trying to put the U.S. back together after the south seceded during the civil war. Lincoln and Quindlen explain patriotism differently from each other.
For both Lincoln and Quindlen, 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 that across its length and breadth is a 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 definition of patriotism isn’t 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 the field as a final resting place for those who here gave thier live that that nation might live” (Lincoln 27). Lincolns definition of patriotism is being devoted enough to fight for, or even die for, your nation. Both authors agree that patriotism required 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. Both authors agree that equality should stay in the country, but they both value equality in a different way. Both of the authors agree that unity is difficult to achive , but Anna Quindlen saw the country come together after 9-11 and Lincoln saw the country divide over slavery. Both authors agree in patriotism in a different way, Lincoln says you have to fight in a war to be a patriot but Anna Quindlen says being a patriot is having pride in your country. So, Julian Castor’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, 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.
1. Explain the process you went through to write this paper. Please be specific.
I was looking on both sides to see what was of the story and see which one was the best, I read the book, I was looking around for quotes, I had a work cited page.
2. What qualifies this paper as a compare and contrast essay? What are the requirements for this genre and how did you meet them?
There were two sides of the story, there were quotes, there was a work cited page, I had to see what was the same.
3. Tell me about one challenge you faced writing this paper and how you overcame it.
For me it was the quotes and trying to find the write quote to go with the story and I found it because I read the book slowly.