Camden Central High School
Camden, Tennessee
Teacher: Wanda Allen
From Many, One
By Elizabeth Beasley
11th grade
Our country has come a long way since declaring its independence back in 1776. When most people think of America , they more than likely think of a predominately white country. The term “American” does not really have a specific race or ethnic group attached to it, though. It is only an adjective for those of us who live in the United States of America . When our Founding Fathers got together to create our Declaration of Independence, they established a country for people, no matter what their race or skin color is, to live in a free country where everyone was equal. How can you put an ethnic or racial label on a country that is very diverse?
The American identity began with the European settlers who came to America seeking freedom from religious persecution. With them they brought European culture and way of life. They also used their craftsmanship to start building America. Without their desire to live in a place where they didn’t have to worry about what religion they should believe in, America might not have turned out the way it is today.
All throughout American history, there have always been immigrants coming into America. Most immigrants come here for educational opportunities and to have a better life. Recently, I got to see an immigrant get elected as the Tennessee Beta Club President. He came to America with his mother wanting a better life and to get a good education. He is living proof of how America has changed his life and how he has influenced America by becoming a leader, even if it is a small influence. John F. Kennedy is another good example of how immigrants have shaped and influence the identity of America. John F. Kennedy is of Irish- Catholic descent and was elected President of the United States in 1960.
Further
proof
of
the
impact
that
immigrants
have
left
on
America
is
the
celebration
of
the
holiday,
St.
Patrick’s
Day.
I
believe
that
by
celebrating
this
holiday
as
well
as
many
others,
we
are
telling
immigrants
that
we
take
pride
in
the
cultures
that
they
have
brought
to
our
country.
Another
way
we
honor
the
immigrants
is
by
giving
them
the
choice
to
be
a
“hyphenated”
American.
Many
immigrants
choose
to
be
hyphenated
such
as,
Irish-
Americans,
Jewish-
Americans,
Italian-
Americans,
etc.
to
keep
their
roots
as
a
part
of
their
lives
in
America.
Letting
them
make
the
decision
on
whether
or
not
to
be
“hyphenated”
is
our
way
of
showing
respect
to
them
and
their
culture.
The
American
identity
has
also
changed
in
terms
of
race.
Like
I
mentioned
earlier,
many
people
think
America
is
predominately
white.
That’s
not
the
case,
though.
America
is
full
of
various
races
like,
African-
Americans,
Latinos,
Asians,
etc.
Like
the
immigrants,
race
has
played
a
big
role
in
the
development
of
the
American
culture
and
identity.
One
of
the
biggest
and
most
important
impacts
race
had
on
America
was
during
the
civil
rights
movement
of
the
late
50’s
and
early
60’s.
This
was
a
low
point
for
America,
but
we
did
eventually
pull
through
it.
Civil
rights
leaders
like
Martin
Luther
King,
Jr.
and
Rosa
Parks
took
a
stand
on
segregation
and
racial
discrimination.
They
showed
America
through
their
dreams
and
refusal
to
get
up
from
a
seat
that
segregation
and
racial
discrimination
are
wrong.
They
shaped
the
American
identity
into
one
that
accepts
every
one
of
all
races.
We
now
pay
homage
to
them
by
celebrating
Martin
Luther
King,
Jr.
Day
and
Black
History
Month.
I
am
proud
to
say
that
I
live
in
a
country
full
of
so
many
walks
of
life.
Our
Founding
Fathers
had
the
right
idea
when
they
said
in
the
Declaration
of
Independence,”…that
they
are
endowed
by
their
creator
with
inherent
and
inalienable
rights;
that
among
these
are
life,
liberty,
and
the
pursuit
of
happiness.”
These
are
the
reasons
that
so
many
diverse
people
live
in
our
country.
They
committed
themselves
to
the
ideals
of
America
like
freedom,
equality,
tolerance,
etc.
We
should
be
honored
to
live
in
a
country
where
people
from
other
countries
want
to
come
and
commit
themselves
to
our
ideals.
A
big
part
of
the
American
identity
and
culture
is
the
people
who
live
here.
Without
the
immigrants
and
different
races,
our
country
would
be
kind
of
boring.
Our
movies,
music,
books,
clothing,
food,
accents,
etc.
would
be
different
without
the
cultural
influence
of
the
different
races
and
immigrants
here.
The
seal
of
our
government
says,
“E
pluribus
unum”
which
means
“From
many,
one.”
I
think
that
is
a
great
way
to
sum
up
our
country,
because
there
are
many
people
from
various
walks
of
life
who
come
together
in
America
to
unite
as
one.
Technology
has
brought
the
American
people
closer
with
e-mail
and
cell
phones.
Through
these
things,
we
can
communicate
with
each
other
and
understand
each
other’s
background.
Hopefully, all of those people out there who still think of America as mostly white will see the America I see. Being American means coming together as one, embracing diversity, and communicating with one another so that we understand each other.
Answers to Required Reading Questions
Q1- Explain, in your own words, the three developments in our culture that have contributed to the disorder Professor Huntington senses in the USA today.
Multiculturalism is the belief that all cultures are on the same level; they may be different, but one is not better than another. Transnationalism is taking a viewpoint above a nation, meaning that they do not claim a culture of any nation. Hispanization of America is the fact that America has many Hispanic immigrants spilling into it.
Q2- Define and discuss the American creed, the ideology that Professor Huntington cites as one of the historic sources of our national identity.
The American creed is the rights and government of our country. The creed is like a guideline for our country’s identity. The Declaration of Independence, which is included in this, established our country and the Constitution contains the rights for the people in our country.
Q3- Explain the difference between culture and creed, according to the Professor.
Culture contains race, religion, ethnicity, and ideology. Creed is the rights and government of our country.
Q4- Professor Huntington thinks culture is more important than creed. Do you? Explain.
I think that culture and creed are equally important. Without culture, our nation wouldn’t have an identity. And without a creed, or nation wouldn’t have rights or a government, and things would be chaotic.
Q5- Discuss “founding” as expressed by Aristotle’s Politics.
Founding is figuring out what type of government the country wants, laying out rules, creating offices for those who will be running the country, and so on. Founding is the first stepping stone to getting a country established.
Q6- Complete the sentence attributed to Aristotle’s thinking: “We are just free enough to____________________.” (Fill in the blank.)
“We are just free enough to govern ourselves.”
Q7- Which took precedence in the founding of America ; natural law and rights or the British Constitution?
Natural law and rights took precedence in the founding of America .
Q8- What was the reason for the traditional conservatives’ opposition to the rationalism that fueled the French Revolution?
The reason that traditional conservatives opposed rationalism, which fueled the French Revolution, was that they believed each nation should emerge and evolve from itself rather than other nations and their cultures.
Current Events
Q9-American Intelligence efforts uncovered a group of Taliban leaders attending a funeral. By current military terms of engagement no action could be taken against these “sitting duck” enemies. Why? Is this, in your opinion, a good or bad outcome? Defend your position.
American action could not be taken against Taliban leaders at a funeral, because they were not, at that time, harming America . I think that this is a good outcome for that situation. We have a military to defend our country, but those leaders were not harming our country by attending a funeral.
Q10- The Geneva Convention requires signatories, (the USA is one of a multitude of signatories) to enact their own laws in keeping with the ban against torture. Currently U.S. law prohibits conduct denigrating the dignity and rights of foreign prisoners that is so narrowly defined as to be codling in the opinion of many Americans. The military acknowledges that this conduct would not be reciprocated by Al Queda and Taliban terrorists.
Does this military code of conduct make you proud to be an American? Why or why not. If not, what should be done to correct the situation?
This conduct makes me proud to be an American, because it shows that we are not willing to torture another human, even if they are our prisoners. It shows that we are compassionate and want to work things out in a torture-free way.
Q-11 Can or should America impose its form of government on other nations?
I do not think that America should or has the right to impose its government on another country. It is fine if we are helping a country establish a government they way they want. When we do this (imposing) we are taking away that nation’s identity and even our own.