Paper 5

American Universalism
Globalization and American Universalism are two different subjects. American Universalism is most common and it is the U.S. influencing other countries around the world. In fact, American Universalism has led countries to become more like us and adopt our ways of life. We are dispersing our technology and beliefs on other countries frequently. Koreans celebrating Christmas would be a good example of our American culture spreading around the world. The United States influences many other countries politically, culturally, and economically.
Countries around the world require that their children learn English in grade school. Citizens of Korea, Mexico, and Russia embark on English lessons in elementary school. The American language is becoming the common language throughout the world. Most countries are beginning to realize that it is necessary to speak English when it comes to business. “Each year more of the world’s people learn English, consume American popular culture products, and more of its nations adopt democratic Institutions” (121), Salins, the author of Assimilation, American Style stated.
The technology in The United States is crucial for the rest of the world to function properly. A great deal of the world’s most essential items were first invented in America, and later extended to different countries. Airplanes were created right here in America by the Wright Brothers in 1903. Planes are extremely important in the world’s daily routine. Vehicles are also a huge invention that is utilized around the world. Our very own Ford first established widespread car usage in America. From then on, cars expanded and are now a vital item that cannot be replaced. Most countries have grown accustomed to using cars every day. Telephones could also be included in our list of contributions to the rest of the world. These American items are just as common in foreign countries as they are here at home.
American Culture is also a huge area that influences people around the world. Our English
movies are played in countries that speak different languages. In America, we rarely have movies where the script is in another language. The best movies are produced in the United States, which is why our Hollywood celebrities are being watched in other countries. Artists and other American entertainers are always just as popular in England and China as they are here. Unlike in the U.S., we generally don’t listen to foreign music. Foreigners are also familiar with our American television shows such as Saturday Night Live and MTV. If you asked me about a foreign show or network, I wouldn’t know of any;most Americans watch American shows the majority of the time.
Another aspect of our culture that has spread to many other countries is the fast food industry. McDonald’s, Burger King, and Dairy Queen can all be found on any street in Japan just like here in the United States. Often, our fast food places offer many benefits to smaller countries because we boost their economy by giving them these food chains. Although some countries have the same exact menus as we do, others like India have special selections to fit their population. For instance, the McDonald’s there provides mostly vegetarian food, and they serve no hamburgers. Generally speaking, American food presence in other countries is accepted and liked by the citizens.
The majority of Koreans are Buddhists, but America has such an impact across the world that they join us in celebrating Christmas. Now that I am working with two Korean interns, I’ve learned that they have no idea why their country celebrates this American holiday, but they do. This is very strange to our American society because we don’t participate in foreign countries’ holidays. If the Koreans are joining in on the fun, they probably aren’t the only country to follow our American holidays and traditions.
Economically, we have a huge impact on other countries around the world. We have the power to impose sanctions on their people. Yes, some Middle Eastern countries can raise our oil prices, but there are only a few. On the other hand, we can impose taxes on many countries including Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, and England if we wanted to. Our sway around the world is strong and present, much different from the influence other countries have on us.
Our democratic government is also something that is sought after by other countries. Australia, Taiwan, France, and Finland have followed the U.S. in adopting a democratic government. Our government has proved to be the most successful around the world, which is why countries are striving to switch so often. The American government is viewed as superior to other nations’.
American universalism is more common around the world, compared to globalization. Many
countries know more about our foreign policy than majority of Americans do. The Korean interns that I work with have told me a lot about the Bush Administration that I didn’t know. I’m sure if their country is informed, then other countries are as well. Other countries are so affected by us that they know exactly what’s going on. I was surprised that they knew so much. I can’t even name the president of Korea.
The examples I have listed above prove that America is influencing other countries more than they are influencing us. An example that I have that proves that the U.S. is not as influenced by the rest of the world is the metric system situation. All but three of the countries around the world have converted to the new metric system. One of those countries is the U.S., and the other two are so much influenced by us that they choose not to adjust either. America does not just follow other countries, we usually set the standards; but when we aren’t able to, we don’t conform to whatever the rest of the world is doing. "Speak in English, and Measure in Metric," is a common saying written on the U.S. Metric Association website.
America’s influence throughout the world is undeniable. American Universalism has been
occurring since we claimed our independence from Britain and began exploring inventions. TV, cars, music, politics, and even our diet are being copied in foreign countries across the globe. The political, economic, and cultural influence that we have on other countries will eventually lead them to live their life identical to Americans.
Works Cited
Liebes, Tamar. American Dreams, Hebrew Subtitles Globilization From the Receiving End. Cresskill: Hampton P, 2003. 165-89.
O'Donnell, Kathleen P. "Made in Democracies." Made in Democracies-List of Democratic Countries. 26 Nov. 2007 .
Salins, Peter D. Assimilation, American Style. New York: Basic Books, 1997.
"U.S. Metric Association." U.S. Metric Association. 26 Oct. 2006. Colorado State University. 20 Nov. 2007 .

Paper 4

Christian Based Laws?
Have you ever noticed how many of the United States laws have a Christian background? Many times laws are passed or vetoed depending on Christian morals. Although our nation was
founded on religious tolerance, occasionally the court system may refer to the Bible when
deciding a case. Religious persons make up 87% percent of the American population. Can
Americans expect our constitution to not be biased towards the nation’s leading religion?
In Christianity, modesty is the best policy. Christians frown upon showing too much skin
in public. The law prohibiting indecent exposure is based on this policy. My best friend Pamela
is a Mormon, and every Sunday they are allowed to take the bread and water if they have not
sinned that week. She was not able to take the bread and water one Sunday because the shirt
that she was wearing was considered to be too revealing. Right now, there is a case in court
about a man that flashed a hotel clerk, and now she is filing charges against him. Her Christian
parents said that he has ruined her purity. He was arrested and will be tried soon.
Embryonic Stem cell research is an issue that often leads to Christian protests. President
Bush just vetoed a bill stating that embryonic stem cell research “crossed a moral
boundary”(CNN). Bush, along with most Christians, believes that destroying embryos is
equivalent to destroying a child’s life. Many Christian activists were present at the Whitehouse,
protesting the passage of that particular bill. Christians consider this type of research murder.
The fact that this law was denied because of the Christian protest demonstrates how huge of an
influence Christianity has on our government.
Another law that has been derived from Christian beliefs is the law that prohibits gay
marriage. Just last year, it was legal for two people of the same sex to marry in certain states.
The law was too controversial because of Christian morals, so they revoked that right. Christians
say that in the Bible it states that homosexuality is a sin. They believe that some people may be
born attracted to someone of the same sex but, that the sin occurs when they give into those
desires. Laws regarding gay rights are struck down because of the large amount of Christians
that make up this country. For example, in 2000, the Supreme Court ruled that a man could be
fired from his job as a Boy Scout Leader because he was homosexual. He wasn’t considered a
suitable role model once they found out he was gay.
It is a common Christian belief that God should decide when we die. Humans are not
supposed to control when they die. When someone does plan their death, it is considered suicide, which is a sin. They believe that suicidal people will go to hell. It is no surprise that the Christian
population protests against assisted suicide. Doctors are often held accountable for their patient’s death if they fulfill their wish to help them die. Assisted suicide is legal in Oregon and the law has very strict conditions. Christians have caused the Bush Administration to appeal this law and they expect a response in early 2008.
Another controversial law that Christians have openly protested is the law prohibiting
cloning. They are struggling to make cloning against the law. They have proved victorious on
other similar issues and are hoping for the same outcome. President Bush is supporting the
Christians and their proposal to ban cloning. So far, the House has passed the bill, but they are
still waiting on the Senate (CNN). This is an example of how the Christian religion is persuading
our secular U.S. government.
It is against the Ten Commandments to commit adultery. In some states across our
nation, it is also against the law to commit adultery. Colorado, Alabama, Florida, Georgia,
Massachusetts, Michigan, and Oklahoma all have laws against adultery (Wikipedia.com). These
laws are a product of Christian values. Different state laws have consequences that include
tickets, jail time, and divorce if there is evidence. Some of these states may choose not to enforce these laws but they are still considered valid. Again, the enactment of these laws, is proof that
Christianity influences the laws of our religiously tolerant nation.
The contentious laws that I have mentioned are examples of the Christian
sway on our government. Gay rights, adultery, indecent exposure, and embryonic stem cell
research are all issues that have resulted in laws favoring Christianity. The United States was
not established as a Christian based nation, yet my examples confirm that some of our laws
have a Christian background. Our founding fathers wrote the constitution with hopes that
America would be religiously tolerant. If they were alive now, would they consider these laws to
be constitutional?

The Oblivious Empire

I agree with what Mark Hertsgaard is saying in his essay. I know very little about what is going on in different countries. I do read the paper and watch the news but they can only tell me the governments side of the story. I try and stay updated with the news so that I can form my own opinions, but if I only hear what the government is saying then of course I end up siding with America. I truly beleived that the Middle Eastern countries hated us because of our power and our freedom. I never once stopped to think that that was exactly what I was being fed by the news. In the essay it describes the amount of economic sanctuations that we inflict on other countries and then it states how many of us, Americans, are aware of this. It just proves that I am very uneducated about our foreign policy. It is freightening to read about the problems that we are causing around the world.

Under th Sign of Mickey Mouse & Co.

The essay reinterated what Babel proved. It showed how a single situation can affect people throughout the world. In Babel, the American getting shot was displayed on the news in three different countries. Somehow that surprises me. I wouldn't think people from another country would care about what is going on in America. The essay describes how many of the items that we consider to be American, aren't so American afterall. Examples include: levi jeans, coca cola products, and Disney characters. These items are often manufactured in other countries like France, China, and Mexico. I know that whenever I talk to a foreigner, I ask questions like: "Do you'll have TGI Fridays?" It turns out that other countries are not so different afterall. In the essay Gitlin makes a point that Americans get rap, dance, and a lot of other entertainment from Africa. Our countries are alike in many ways. Across the globe we all have a demand for the same things. No matter what country we might be from people from the same age group probably value similar items. In other words no matter where you are from we all speak the same language when it comes to economics.

Is the Death Penalty ok?

A Kansas court just ruled death on Lisa Montgomery, for stealing an unborn baby from a woman's womb and then murdering her. In 2004 Montgomery met Bobbie Jo Stinett at a dog show and planned from then to kidnapp her child. Montgomery kept in touch with Stinett online and planned to meet with her again to purchase a puppy. The prosecutor proved that Motgomery planned this attack because she had been researching on how to perform a c-section. She had been in trouble before for faking pregnancies to reap financial benefits. This premeditated murder is a result of Montgomery's ex-husband threatening to expose those lies to her work. She broke into Stinett's home, tied her up and tried to perform a c-section. She was able to retrieve the baby and then killed Stinett. Montogomery was seen showing off the baby as if it was hers in her town Melvern, Kansas. The baby was born 4 weeks premature, yet Montgomery did not try to get medical attention for the baby. The baby, Victoria Jo , is three years old now and lives with her father. As for Montgomery, she is now on death row awaiting her fate for this heinous crime. I am personally against death row because i don't think that anyone has the right to kill someone else, but I don't know what the proper sentencing is for someone like this. Yes, I think she is mentally ill however, that seems too easy to let her sit in a mental institution. What do you'll think?

Religion

Religion has never been a big part of my home life. Yes, we pray before every meal and before bed, but we don't go to church every Sunday. At my dad's house I do go to church most of the time because my younger brother is religious and I go to support him. Like I said in class, I was randomly put in the Bible Literature class my sophomore year. I tried to get out of it but my counselor refused. By the end of the year, I loved that class because I had learned so much. At first though, I was really embarrased because every other student was a junior or senior and some kind of Youth Quake leader. We had random "basic" quizzes over imfomation that we were expected to know just from our knowledge prior to the class. I was the only one that would fail them. It was extremely difficult for me since I wasn't as educated on religion as everyone else. I received a B in the class but I could have done better if the teacher taught, instead of discussing issues in the Bible.

Being Branded

In the painting there are four men; one of them has his foot on the thigh of a brown bull. The men and the bull are centered in the painting. Two men are pulling the bull's head down and he is laying on his side. I can tell that he is struggling to get up because his head is jerked up and the bulls legs are in the air. The man that has his foot on his thigh, is branding his thigh. It's not clear what the brand is. In front of the bull there is a fire pit and there are sticks to the right of the pit. One man is standing in front of the pit. Also there is a tainted silver pale adjacent to the man.In the background there are many bulls grazing. There is also a large cactus plant to the left side of the painting. Very faint in the distance, there are five birds flying around. In the very back of the painting there are two horses in between all the bulls, with men riding there backs. The sky is gloomy and gray; there are no clouds either. Al l men in the painting have brown hats on. The painting is very interesting and you can easily tell the emotions surrounding the painting, which is stern.

Prejudice

I agree with Ken Hamblin I think that minorities sometimes segregate themselves. I do think that race can count against you though. But at the same time other things can count against you as well, such as clothing, age, sex and religion. However, I believe that no matter what obstacles people are faced with, they can overcome them. We have many examples of Americans that have risen above prejudice including: Ben Franklin, Malcom X, and Martin Luther King. Minorities might have to work a little harder but they can definately do it. The separate graduation at Texas State for minority students is a perfect example of minorities separating themselves. Some students brought up in class that if white students did that it would be a huge deal. It is true white students would be called racist. Minorities get away with seapareting themselves from the majority and it is not fair that they can get away with it.

My Definition of Beauty

Typically, the word beauty is used to describe physical characteristics. To me, beauty is the perfect word to describe Jacob Benn. At the tender age of fifteen, he has already accomplished so much. From participating in sports, to making “A’s” in all honors classes, to choosing to devote himself to Catholicism without anyone’s guidance, Jake truly defines the term beauty in all aspects. We have a unique relationship that no other brother and sister share. I can honestly say that I admire him and he is three years younger than I am.
Jake ran his first marathon last year when he was fourteen, and he placed sixth in his division. This was remarkable since all of his competitors were much older than he was. He has already earned an abundant amount of medals and ribbons solely from his freshman year. In middle school, he was inducted into The National Junior Honor Society, and last year, as a freshman he was inducted into The National Honor Society. During sport season, he maintains “A’s” in all his AP classes and has managed to obtain many academic awards along the way. He also makes time to volunteer at his school and assist any teachers with various tasks. This summer, he helped his vice principal stack books and label them. He also went to New Orleans the summer before to aid in the Katrina Relief Project.
I am extremely fortunate to have such a mature brother that is able to give me advice. When I started high school, I remember telling my brother about all the fun I was having going to parties. He was never too afraid to let me know that he disliked me going out all the time. His caring advice was straight forward and the best advice for me. We both have been through so much, but it’s hard to tell because he has never allowed these problems to faze him. It’s amazing how he has managed to stay focused this whole time through my parents’ divorce, and moving so often. Any other teenage boy would use these dilemmas as an excuse to get off track but my brother never has. I love how determined he is to succeed and help everyone else on the way.
We never grew up with a religion. My mom was Baptist and my dad Catholic but we didn’t practice either of these faiths as a family. My brother decided when he was fourteen to go to church to find his religion. He turned to Catholicism. Every Sunday he attended mass alone, and he realized that that was what he wanted in his life. He began to attend classes so that he could complete his first communion, which is something that most children finish at the age of eight. He told me he felt very lucky to experience this process at a more mature age because he knew that the kids that were completing these classes with him could not comprehend the purpose for being there. At his ceremony, Jake was the oldest kid out there, and I was so proud to see him, just knowing that he was up there by choice.
Did I mention how lucky I am to be related to him? On my 16th birthday he gave me $116.00 to spend on myself, which was all the money he received for his birthday a week before mine. He really is the type of person that would give anyone the shirt off his back. The qualities that he possesses and his maturity level are what make him beautiful to me. He has already begun to conquer life academically, physically, and spiritually. He is ready to take on the world and make a huge difference. Jacob Benn has proved to not only me but everyone who is a part of his life that he is a distinct person that will someday change the world.

The Flaws in America's Compulsory Education

Compulsory Education in America can be disempowering to the American population in many ways. The seven long hours each day that students have to attend school can bore a child and cause them to lose focus. The standardized tests that students have to take every year can cause a lot of stress on students and make them not want to attend school. Embarrassment that teachers can put students through when they call on them for answers and make them present their work to the class can cause some students to loathe school. Also the fact that we can attend thirteen years of school for free but once we graduate we have to come up with our own resources to pay thousands of dollars for college.
If the government didn’t mandate every single thing that a teacher had to teach maybe the classes would be interesting. It is difficult for a child to stay focused for seven hours a day especially if they are learning the names of cooking utensils that most students already know. Family Development is an elective class that is supposed to teach us how to safely use kitchen utensils at home. Instead they teach us what a spatula is and where it came from. I know plenty of intelligent students that got so bored with reiterating the cycle of classes each day. In high school we have to pick elective classes that are supposed to be fun and give us a break, but Child Development, Cooking, and Sewing are just wastes of time. School wouldn’t be as dreadful if we didn’t have to take these types of classes or Physical Education. Yes, I think it’s great that the government wants us all to be a healthy weight, but the 35 minutes of slowly walking the perimeter of the gym doesn’t help shed pounds. After all we don’t have to pass a standardized test on walking.
A huge disempowerment for many students is the standardized tests that we all have to take. Aren’t our grades enough proof that we are learning? These tests are lengthy, strenuous, and not always accurate. Students that have test phobia don’t have a fair chance to prove their intelligence. We can’t even study for these types of tests. Much of the material that students are supposed to know is taken from material that they covered from up to three years before. Students are expected to remember and master the material from so long before. Many teenagers have so many other problems to worry about, and these tests just add to them. For example, one of my friend’s grandparents passed away two days before the TAKS test, and she had to try and take it anyway. The test was the last thing on her mind, but if she wouldn’t have taken it then she would have had to go to school on the weekend or during the summer. Actually three of my friends weren’t able to graduate because they failed the test. They all made good grades but they just couldn’t tackle the test. The test doesn’t give an accurate measure of any student’s knowledge. The law preventing students from graduating if they don’t pass the test is unfair.
Since America is such a free country, students are allowed to drop out once they turn eighteen. I know we are adults, but if the government insists on making us attend school until we are seventeen, why don’t they just make us attend until we graduate high school? They waste a lot of money trying to keep us in school to just let us fail our senior year. Teenagers take education for granted and assume it will always be available. If school wasn’t required, maybe people would realize its importance.
Mandated school is thirteen years long; if you manage to overcome the boredom and pass the tests you graduate. But then it’s still not over: you can’t do much with a high school diploma. It’s not easy getting your dream job with a high school education. So, you have to go to college. Well, college happens to cost thousands of dollars, so many people don’t continue going to school. Scholarships are available, and you can try to win them, but if you are not picked, you’re out of luck. Loans are always available, but students are often reluctant to accept them. These large amounts of money tend to scare students away because they know they will eventually have to pay them back with interest, especially students that come from poor families. In Germany, all education is free. The government really wants their citizens to become productive in their community. As a result, there are a large number of educated people in Germany. Their plan doesn’t seem like a bad idea. What would happen if America paid for everyone’s schooling? We too would have more intelligent citizens.
Many Americans can survive the long hours of boredom and stressful tests, but the economic issue isn’t something that everyone can find a solution to. A potential answer to the problem would consist of our government funding our college education too. The dropout rate would probably decrease because the students would know they still have more opportunity to better themselves. I believe attendance in schools would increase and the number of productive citizens would increase also. Some people might say that the working class is necessary to fill the minimum wage jobs, but high school and college students would do those jobs. There will always be a generation of teenagers willing to work for those wages.
The United States’ compulsory education is disempowering to the American population because the government prepares students for college but then informs us that it is not free. Grumpy teachers, long lectures, unnecessary classes and standardized tests are all disempowering issues that the government could fix. However they are not situations that citizens can’t overcome. Funding our education would be a necessary fix to our education systems disempowerment issues.

Question 1

It seems as if the mother is pushing her son to school but he doesn't want to go. His face looks sour and upset. Her expression is excited and anxious. You can tell that he isn't enjoying school and that he knows he has to go. Rockwell is trying to show that students the general attitude of students is that they dislike school. He has the mom encouraging the son in the background because maybe that's what her parents did for her. She probably remembers how much she ldreaded school. It seems as if Rockwell knows that students don't like school but we need someone there to push us through it. The way education is portrayed in this picture is that it isn't enjoyable but it is a neccessity.

No Space

I'm not pleased with the limited amount of parking available for the students. The other night I had to park at Strahan and it took me twenty minutes to walk all the way home. There was plenty of parking available but only for students with the red parking permit!

Education in America

I do agree with the statement that the government is spending too much money on other things less important than education such as war. However I think that Kozol and Moore are extremists. Although they do state true facts, when stating their opinions they tend to go overboard. Kozol says that the schools that are falling apart are mostly occupied by minority students due to racism, but in actuality one or two white students have to attend these same schools. Racism is not the case I think that the condition of the school is largely dependent upon the surrounding neighborhoods and residents. Also at these types of school the teachers may give up which make it worse for the students and more difficult for them to obtain an education.

High School

In high school I played basketball for two years. During those two years I became really close to my coach. She cared so much for all her players and tried to be there for us during basketball season and during off-season.She took us out to eat every time we received a great progress report; which would consist of all "A's". She devoted all her time to us since she was single and only had a cute dog named Tango. She continued to keep close contact with me even when I stopped playing basketball for my school. Coach Alvarado was a huge influence on my grades throughout high school. She often tutored me if I was struggling in any class. Antoher great thing about her was that she communicated with all of our parents on a regular basis. Her presence made my high school years much easier because I knew she was always there to help.