Fatima Martinez
Ms. Lehmann
English 1-3
2 October 2019
Equality, Unity and Patriotism: What Makes the United States?
How important are equality, unity, and patriotism to you? Anna Quindlen and Abraham Lincoln both thought they were crucial to the success of our nation. This essay will explain that Quindlen and Lincoln agree that equality, unity and patriotism are important, yet they both see them differently in their works “A Quilt of a Country” and the “Gettysburg Address.” The first point to consider is equality.
Quindlen and Lincoln both talk about equality. Both authors agree that equality is worth striving for even though we don’t have it yet. Quindlen explains that our nation has held onto the value of unity 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 held our nation together. Although both authors value equality, Quindlen points to cultural inequalities while Lincoln faced the much more severe slavery issues of his time. 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. Quindlen and Lincoln both recognize the value of equality, but they saw it in different ways. Both recognized its potential and pitfalls as a national value, and both argue that it is something the United States needs to work for, just like unity.
Both authors agree that unity is tough, but Quindlen sees the change of uniting cultures while Lincoln fights to unite the government. Quindlen explains that our country is like a quilt that is discordant. She says, “Everyone knows that most men consider themselves better than someone else” (Quindlen#3). When Quindlen says someone is better than someone else, it means they don’t think of each other as equals, causing division. Quindlen’s focus is on uniting diverse cultures in our country in the social level, while Lincoln’s priority was on unifying America politically. Lincoln, unlike Quindlen who wrote an argument about cultural inequality, fought a civil war for the end of slavery and reuniting the government. He states, “Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure” (Lincoln#27). Lincoln wanted to unite the government, so our country would remain united. Unity, according to both authors, is difficult to achieve; the authors see unity differently because of the times in which they lived, but see its value, nonetheless. The problem with unity is that we can't truly have it unless we have patriotism for our country.
Both Lincoln and Quindlen agree that patriotism is having pride in America, flaws and all. They also see the importance of national pride in keeping the country unite. Quindlen that patriotism means being united. She writes, “But patriotism is partly taking pride in this unlike 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 recognizes that patriotism requires U.S. citizens to be proud that we are diverse but united. Lincoln was proud of America, too, but what he needed from citizens was devotion. Following the Battle of Gettysburg, Lincoln said, “We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live,” (Lincoln#27). Lincoln sees patriotism as being willing to sacrifice for your country. In both cases, patriotism was necessary for unity.
Quindlen’s essay “A Quilt of a Country” and Lincoln’s speech the “Gettysburg Address” address the topics of equality, unity, and patriotism in different ways that are similar and different. Both authors saw equality as an important ideal, but their struggle to attain it were different. Each of the author wanted unity for different reasons. Quindlen and Lincoln are both patriots, but they show their loyalty to America in their own ways. So, considering all of this, what do you think the role of equality, unity, and patriotism is in the U.S.?
Work cited page
Lincoln, Abraham. “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
1. Explain the process you went through to write this paper. Please be specific.
Any paper that has nothing to do with fiction is a bit more of a struggle for me especially compare and contrast. The first thing I did was find things they had in common and things they didn't have alike. Next I had to find quotes to support my evidence. If I didn't have those quotes my paper would have made no sense.
2. What qualifies this paper as a compare and contrast essay? What are the requirements for this genre and how did you meet them?
The requirements for a compare and contrast essay are to have similarities and differences between two things. In this case I compared what equality, unity, and patriotism meant to Anna Quindlen and Abraham Lincoln based on their speech and essay.
3. Tell me about one challenge you faced writing this paper and how you overcame it.
The biggest challenge I faced was finding things the had in common. The thing is I knew what they had in common but I didn't know how to put it into words. After a while I noticed that the quotes helped with what they had in common.
Ms. Lehmann
English 1-3
2 October 2019
Equality, Unity and Patriotism: What Makes the United States?
How important are equality, unity, and patriotism to you? Anna Quindlen and Abraham Lincoln both thought they were crucial to the success of our nation. This essay will explain that Quindlen and Lincoln agree that equality, unity and patriotism are important, yet they both see them differently in their works “A Quilt of a Country” and the “Gettysburg Address.” The first point to consider is equality.
Quindlen and Lincoln both talk about equality. Both authors agree that equality is worth striving for even though we don’t have it yet. Quindlen explains that our nation has held onto the value of unity 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 held our nation together. Although both authors value equality, Quindlen points to cultural inequalities while Lincoln faced the much more severe slavery issues of his time. 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. Quindlen and Lincoln both recognize the value of equality, but they saw it in different ways. Both recognized its potential and pitfalls as a national value, and both argue that it is something the United States needs to work for, just like unity.
Both authors agree that unity is tough, but Quindlen sees the change of uniting cultures while Lincoln fights to unite the government. Quindlen explains that our country is like a quilt that is discordant. She says, “Everyone knows that most men consider themselves better than someone else” (Quindlen#3). When Quindlen says someone is better than someone else, it means they don’t think of each other as equals, causing division. Quindlen’s focus is on uniting diverse cultures in our country in the social level, while Lincoln’s priority was on unifying America politically. Lincoln, unlike Quindlen who wrote an argument about cultural inequality, fought a civil war for the end of slavery and reuniting the government. He states, “Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure” (Lincoln#27). Lincoln wanted to unite the government, so our country would remain united. Unity, according to both authors, is difficult to achieve; the authors see unity differently because of the times in which they lived, but see its value, nonetheless. The problem with unity is that we can't truly have it unless we have patriotism for our country.
Both Lincoln and Quindlen agree that patriotism is having pride in America, flaws and all. They also see the importance of national pride in keeping the country unite. Quindlen that patriotism means being united. She writes, “But patriotism is partly taking pride in this unlike 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 recognizes that patriotism requires U.S. citizens to be proud that we are diverse but united. Lincoln was proud of America, too, but what he needed from citizens was devotion. Following the Battle of Gettysburg, Lincoln said, “We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live,” (Lincoln#27). Lincoln sees patriotism as being willing to sacrifice for your country. In both cases, patriotism was necessary for unity.
Quindlen’s essay “A Quilt of a Country” and Lincoln’s speech the “Gettysburg Address” address the topics of equality, unity, and patriotism in different ways that are similar and different. Both authors saw equality as an important ideal, but their struggle to attain it were different. Each of the author wanted unity for different reasons. Quindlen and Lincoln are both patriots, but they show their loyalty to America in their own ways. So, considering all of this, what do you think the role of equality, unity, and patriotism is in the U.S.?
Work cited page
Lincoln, Abraham. “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
1. Explain the process you went through to write this paper. Please be specific.
Any paper that has nothing to do with fiction is a bit more of a struggle for me especially compare and contrast. The first thing I did was find things they had in common and things they didn't have alike. Next I had to find quotes to support my evidence. If I didn't have those quotes my paper would have made no sense.
2. What qualifies this paper as a compare and contrast essay? What are the requirements for this genre and how did you meet them?
The requirements for a compare and contrast essay are to have similarities and differences between two things. In this case I compared what equality, unity, and patriotism meant to Anna Quindlen and Abraham Lincoln based on their speech and essay.
3. Tell me about one challenge you faced writing this paper and how you overcame it.
The biggest challenge I faced was finding things the had in common. The thing is I knew what they had in common but I didn't know how to put it into words. After a while I noticed that the quotes helped with what they had in common.