Jonathan R Smith
Professor Brown
English 1050
August 5, 2015
Essay Two: “Diversity Issue Reflection”
The cultural diversity in the United States has Change over time. Today the United States has diversity that is becoming more intertwined and separated then ever before. With cultural, social and economic issues all working to bring people together and divide them apart. Creating diversity in the United States that is very different from those of 50 or even 100 years ago while remaining just as diverse.
The cultural and ethnic diversity in the in recent generations has become more intertwined today then in past generations. Today there are more interracial relationships then there has been in the past. Resulting in more people being multicultural and having more then one ethnic background. This in effect, affects the social makeup and the stereotypes that we create in the country. Creating a new degree of intercultural mixing bowl in the United States and the world, while widening the cultural divide.
Today I feel that the Cultural divide has both become more pronounced and less distinct in the cultural mixing pot of the United States. More people today are involved in multiracial relationships; this includes Hispanic, Caucasian, Black and Asian. People today are associating more with their heritage today then they have in almost any other time in the United States. In many instances this means that people choose to associate with one heritage. Adopted Black children being raised in a Scottish heritage then taking on that culture. Interracial or Intercultural people speaking two different languages that blend together into a single type of language. President Obama himself is a testament to that. He states In a More Perfect Union that “I am the son of a Black man from Kenya and a White Women from Kansas” “Was raised with the help of a White grandfather”” and grandmother”. With people choosing one culture to associate with or picking particular parts, the divide between the cultures becomes more pronounced. Since they chose to associate with certain cultures they are also more vocal and strongly associated with that heritage.
This affects others people in the way they interact in some cases. Hispanics in the South for instance choose to relate to the Mexican society even though they are in reality American. America is however several cultures blended together. Cinco de mayo is a holiday that celebrates Mexican independence that is celebrated by many Hispanics. Some even feel that the western United States should become part of Mexico again. Since many of the current Hispanic immigrants are Illegal it has created political tension. Many people feel that all Hispanics are illegal and that they create more problems for the United States then help, resulting in social hatred. I used the term social hatred because it includes more then just race. This includes more then just Hispanics. This can also be found in racial, social, and cultural differences. People being called White trash because of their standard of living, Rednecks due to their lifestyle and common beliefs about them, creating stereotypes that taint the view of many people. This has feeds the clash of language and how those of different origins and some of the discontent associated with others using languages other then English.
Language is a hot topic in society, many people of European origin feel that it is polite to learn the language and speak in the common tongue of those around you. This allows them to understand the conversations that are going around them. People tend to say things that are not appropriate when they feel that others don’t understand. In fact it is encourage for a person to learn as many languages as possible. Some colleges won’t even consider a person that has not learned a second language in high school and some require more. The understanding of this seems to be blurred more today then ever. Different Dialects have formed all over the country, each with differences and origins. Marsela Murillo States “Every language has different dialects. People speak English differently in Jersey then they do in the south. Same with Spanish, my Grandma is from the country part of El Salvador and her dialect is different then that of my parents. Most countries all know two languages, and our country one in which is full of immigrants still struggles with the acceptance of learning two languages.” I don’t necessarily think that is true. It is true that speaking a different language can be frowned upon, but it more about how appropriate it is. I don’t have a problem with people speaking other languages, it when they use that language as a shield that I find offense. I have seen many Hispanics say they don’t know English to try to get out of doing their job or ignoring supervisors, or speaking about them under their breath. My Stepfather has encountered many Chinese immigrants that will speak poorly about their customers in Cantonese. The mixing of language can make a greater confusion, though it has become a part of the Hispanic culture of the Southern United states and elsewhere in the country. This is even looked down upon by people of their own culture. Gloria Anzaldua States that Pocho, cultural traitor, you’re speaking the oppressor’s language by speaking English, you’re ruining the Spanish language”. The writing I think is a testament to culture. Though it doesn’t make it any less confusing for those who don’t understand it. This includes what it says. Language is about communication, if it not understood or spoken it does disappear and the culture and heritage that goes with it.
The reality is that over time the culture and language of a people will change. In the United State it already has changed. There are 8 distinct cultures that have evolved in the United States and each with two or more subcultures. Four that are in the North East alone, these cultures are not based on race but primarily language dialect and accents. Creating a nation that is less about race and more about heritage, language and adopted culture.
One of the greatest problems in the culture of the United States is that of Industry. We the people of the United State in order to form a less perfect Union, give the right to pollute and be suppressed by big business. This was the beginning to a paper I wrote four years ago. A paper on the issues that big business has on the economy and how being apart of the world economy has brought down the United States economy. The testament that I feel is still true today as I see more and more people struggle as the poverty line and those in it increase. Corporation throughout the United States have been in the business of making money. This in many cases means that they do as much as they can to create gains for the primary stockholders and those at the top of the company. This also includes how they deal with pollution, interfering with government, or paying out as little as they can to make gains. One article that I read for that report was about how executives look at people no differently then cattle. This was on the pharmaceutical company Pfizer Corp and how they base the distribution of products.
Today pollution is becoming a major topic not only here in the United States, but World Wide. The United States is the top of the list for polluters, from the report made by the World Health Organization. The Essay Cancer Alley demonstrates the extent that pollution has evolved, “Huey P Long erected the new capitol, a thirty-four story Art Deco tower near the Standard Plant. Today that political temple stands out in high relief from the expanded grid of pumping stacks and smoke clouds where Exxon functions like a city within a city (Exxon being one of the Companies that standard Oil was broken into).” Today the bigger issue is that we have not required industry to eliminate putting more gasses and particles that create the pollution. I was always been taught that you clean up after yourself or find a way to keep it clean. We as a nation and a member of the Industrial World have made little effort to reduce the pollution of the Air. In May 1955 Scientific America’s Frits W Went wrote the article Air Pollution “Although it is acute in some large cities, it is also found far from human habitations. An interesting example is the blue haze that sometimes hangs over forests and fields during the summer “ Showing exactly how far back this issue was really known. Politicians are again pushing the arguments made by politicians, in the past. That climate change isn’t real, and pollution doesn’t harm people. October 1961 Scientific America Walsh McDermott wrote, “New investigations are confirming the suspicion that over a period of time the accumulated products of combustion have a subtly harmful effect on the health of city dwellers”. These are based on evidence collected over a period of two years and based on evidence from over a decade. Regulation from this study didn’t get fully put in place until the mid 1980’s and 1990’s to control air quality and remove harmful chemicals. Lead and aerosol being the biggest two, lead being one of the substances listed in the article from 1961. That is over twenty years before enough people and protests convinced politician to ignore contributors and lobbyist. Today we have over six decade of data, from air samples, hundreds of bodies studied from autopsies, and over 100 years of meteorological data to show what is happening. Utah is not immune either “Schyler Orton wrote ”There is an area between salt lake and bountiful that is so full of factories and power plants, that, when you drive through the area, there is a permanent stink. I would show the areas that are falling apart, the ripped up mountains and the abandoned area.” Businesses wont change until you make them change and those that create policies are in those contributor’s pockets. How can we the people make changes when the influence on politicians start at the time they go into office?
Big Businesses and the Middle class influence most political policy today. It is why most politicians create policies that alienate people that are unwanted by those with large capital and influence. This is the primary reason the homeless in LA are being pushed into the Skid Row district. The people in the area that have the most power and influence live in Hollywood, Beverly Hills and the surrounding area. This includes the middle class that makes up the majority of voters in LA. Most of the lower classes don’t have the availability to thoroughly look into candidates and make choices that best fit their needs. (Why Voting matters and Effects of Media on Voting) Many low-income people vote purely on the statement made by the candidates, if they have been in office before and the media exposure that they receive. This means that most politicians only need to keep the middle class happy in order to stay in office. This in turn means that the lower incomes people pay the price and the lower the more they are at the mercy of others. The statement “Law enforcement agencies have abolished the last informal safety-net separating misery from catastrophe” (The Militarization of Urban spaces pg 291). Showing how far these policies go even though there may not be any formal law. Even our own Orin Hatch is driven by Big Business and the middle class “ John Oliver showed in a sketch, how Orin Hatch pushed for deregulation of vitamin companies.” Companies that are less regulated then the drugs industry, but have some of the same effects. Keep in mind that USANA and DolTerra are two of his largest contributors. They are also two of the largest vitamin companies is the world; both have put their headquarters here in Utah. Coincidence not really, Orin Hatch was one of the key people that bought both companies to Utah. Both companies have also created a high target market here locally. Those who want natural remedies to cure aliments. Targeted marketing isn’t just for the masses. Politicians have even stopped regulations that would prevent politician and businesses from benefiting from this type of support. Though we can change this by being more involved and taking action again such injustice. A study on political reform showed how media exposure, low-income voter turn out and removal of corrupt politicians in the government, could often bring about dramatic change. Change that often helps protect everyone. One of the greatest ways of doing this is media and press exposure of issues bringing it to the surface and shining a bright light on it.
Media and money push policy today in America. Most media that is presented to the public is industry driven. Movies and Television shows gain sponsors that advertise in subtle ways. For instance you may have seen many product shown in a movies, Mountain Dew in Transformers. Products are advertised everywhere, in commercials, television shows, movies, billboards and stores. Targeted marketing is becoming the biggest market in the world today. Movies are even created in a formula that Hollywood feels creates ticket sales. One of the places that this is most evident is the selling of water. Bottled water is one of the fastest growing industries in the country and it is all about marketing. “Why choose bottled water at all when much of it is simple tap water.” (Reading Labels, Selling Water PG 249) The target market of bottled water sellers is the upper middle class, twenty and thirty something’s. Showing how just about anything can be sold to anyone as long as you market it in the correct way and to the right people.
The problem is that the politicians create their own regulations and can reject anything that does not benefit them. They can create media campaigns to distribute any information they want to the American public. Swaying the public opinion using bad information against their competition or in favor of their supporters. Businesses use media in the same way to sway people to buy products. Until this changes or we remove politicians that do this from office, those at the bottom will continue to be exploited. Industries will use everything they can to their advantage. Antitrust laws were originally formed to prevent corporation from influencing the economy. I feel that businesses that are so large that if they fail that they cause the economy to collapse qualify. This I feel would extend to those that use that power to political favor and persuade policy. Under the current regulation they don’t quite qualify, they sit just under the radar and in the past three decades restriction loosened allowing several major banking merger to occur. In order for the Federal Trade Commission to take action a conspiracy to influence the economy must occur. Creating Social issues that will at some point bring down this nation as it did Rome.
Social diversity tends to be a complex issue. How personal beliefs conflict with those of others and how it affects them. The social issue of what is allowed on public spaces; painting of Artwork or graffiti created on public property, the homeless using public facilities and being suppressed from areas by city policies. The social issues in America have many different forms.
The paintings created by Bansky are a testament to this, his images both mock the government and strive to bring social attention to issues. “For Bansky the peoples right to claim public walls as open space for free expression is inherent in a free society”. (The most Honest Art Form Available) Public spaces are in reality available to any citizen that live in that area. Even though this is what is written into many state and federal laws. Bansky is a rebel that is admired by both the middle and upper class and the poor. His Art is good enough to stand up in nearly any gallery. Though the truth is that without the political message and how he displays his art he himself would not be noticed. He like many modern artist bring social issue to the surface.
This is the intent of the Documentary waiting for Superman. To bring to the attention of the public the issues that exists with the current public school system. How it is failing our children. The documentary places the primary blame on the Teachers Union and how it is one of the biggest supporters of policy in public education. My grandfather who was a teacher for over thirty years agrees. It also is one of the biggest opponents of Charter Schools creating misconception. That Charter schools take money away from public schools. The truth is that Charter schools are public schools; they just less regulated by Unions. Diane Ravitch writes that the most important thing “ is we improve our teacher force, like Finland, Singapore, Korea and Japan”. Finland has completely changed their education from what it was twenty years ago. It faced a similar crisis that the United States has been facing. Instead of ignoring the issues they looked on how to best help students and how to make the greatest impact of kids. It took two years of research by over 100 individuals and creating a comprehensive system, that focused on teacher development and how effective they are at reaching children, in some case eliminating the need for degrees. Adapting many systems and styles in to a single system that worked for every student. The kids are divided into groups based on performance and daily test scores given by the teacher. (Not the standardized test given by the United States) Most kids attend classes with kids both younger and older and receive specialized attention on certain skills. The greatest impact is the change in how long they contribute to their education. Most of these countries pay for students to attend colleges and Universities; this actually reduced the education expenses of the country. Increased the standard of living of the people in the country, and boosted the economy. Changing the influence and position that they maintain in the world economy.
The social issues in the United States are never going to go away, but we can make changes that benefit us all. This doesn’t mean that it will be easy and in some cases it requires dissolving institutions that have large influences and political power. Then again that is one of the reason the United States was built on the foundation that politician needed to change and could be replaced. With the growing diversity of the United States, change is bound to happen. Soon this country must face the World, with it pollution and how it plans to deal with it. Cleaning up its mess of over one hundred years. We can make changes if we use the media to our advantage like so many businesses and politician do to sway public opinion. Create better education systems that will push forward industry, while allowing the economy to grow.
Why voting Matters
http://www.demos.org/publication/why-voting-gap-matters, October 23, 2014,
Effects of media on Voting behavior and political opinions in the United States
http://www.poverty-action.org/project/0065
Schyler Orton Discussion Post July 14, 2015 Berry Cancer Ally response
Marsela Murillo Discussion post Anzaldua response post How to tame a wild tongue
A More Perfect Union, Barack Obama, PG 476-483
Cancer Alley: The poisoning of Americas South, Jason Berry 313-319
Bansky The most honest art form Available 310-313
Los Angeles: The militarization of urban spaces, Mike Davis 287-292
How To Tame A Wild Tongue, Gloria Anzaldua, 521-527
Reading Labels, Selling Water, Maureen Hall Advertising Age Online Post, September 24, 2007, pg248-250
The Myth of Charter Schools, Diane Ravitch 124-130
Waiting for Superman, Movie Documentary
Jonathan R Smith
Professor Brown
English 1050
July 6, 2015
Essay One: “Othering”
“Othering” is a term that is often used to describe people of minority, ethnic, racial or even social background. The dictionary defines “Othering” as a slang term used to refer to people of ethnic, racial or social standing that is different or alien to those of commonplace in society. The description goes on to state that the term originated in Colonial Britain where the term “Othered” was used to reference “people of lower social or ethnic standing from those of the Aristocracy. To those who married or bought their way up the social ladder.”(Oxford Dictionary 1997 edition) The term was also used in reference to foreigners of Asian or African heritage. Most notable to describe those who were of India, Pakistan or Equatorial Africa origin. I feel this is a view that has changed little in the modern world. Though we have made great strides in providing equality “othering” has changed little. There are two main factors I feel equate to this view, ethnic background and economics each has it’s own unique part in this issue from the past, to present and future.
Modern society has not changed some of these views, there are still people of different class and ethnics backgrounds that are treated differently just because of certain stereotypes or backgrounds. Even though people of the United States come from various background and laws have been passed to make changes. Today many of the issues that occurred over fifty years ago still plague our country.
In the history of the United State many people of different ethnic background could have been considered as being othered or othering been used against them. These include Blacks, Native American, Irish, and Hispanics and in some form nearly every ethnic group. In the history of the nation this also included the social standing of many American as well. Often in the past these people would segregate to maintain control or oppress those that were treated unfairly.
Black Americans, many who were or had been slaves, were often considered of a lower status to those of British heritage. Native American would be considered othered and were remove from land and resources based on the color of their skin and the culture that they practiced. Fredrick Douglas states” there are seventy-two crimes in the State of Virginia, which, if committed by a black man, (no matter how ignorant he be) subject him to the punishment of death; while only two of the same crimes will subject a white man to the like punishment.” (What to a Slave is the fourth of July pg 466) Showing the prejudice that took place in the United States and how the treatment of blacks compared to whites.
Similar laws also were for Native American. Laws that pushed them form their native lands, homes and way of life. Custards last stand is a great example of what happens when a people are force to live in a way that they feel is bias. Many Indians left their homes because they didn’t have the resources to fight off the Army. Other tribes tried to fight often leading to various stereotypes, and ultimately many paid with their lives.
The Irish in the past were considered less then human by the British, and were the first victims of the slave trade by the British and America. Techniques that were used on Black slaves were first practice and perfected on the Irish. “From 1641 to 1652, over 500,000 Irish were killed by the English and over 300,000were sold as slaves. Ireland's population fell from about 1,500,000 to 600,000 in one single decade.” (They were White they were Slaves pg 25) These White slave were treated worse then those of the Black often getting little food or water and being worked to death in the first few months. Northern Ireland is a remnant of this past when the British conquered the northern part with the newly acquired territories of Scotland.
Hispanics in the past weren’t considered in the same way as they are today. In Southern Nevada where many Hispanic and Native Americans lived, some for several generations, there was very little prejudice to most of them. Then again it is one of the most dissolute and driest places in the country and planet. This is the area that the government pushed many of the Native Americans after the expansion west. Culturally they are a mix of language and heritage from Spanish/English speaking Hispanics, Native Americans and Caucasians. Probably the only place in the United States where discrimination seems to be at a minimum in my view.
In the present day many laws have been passed to protect the right of Black and others from being “othered”. We have passed the civil rights act, protecting people from physical harm due to discrimination. Though we often still segregate ourselves and look to our heritage for a connection to the past. This has lead to discrimination in different ways through media, or striving to be more like another culture. Others however look to the past and make themselves almost martyrs to keep what they feel are their heritage and values.
Blacks have been limited in resources until recently from the resource that are available to Whites. The Repel of the Jim Crow laws changed how the country was allowed to segregate those of different background. This included Several views changed and still those of the older generation discriminate feeling that blacks are of lower status then younger generations. This seems to be the case in most of the country, but there seems to be a large disparity in treatment in various ways. Since the end of slavery blacks have been segregated and oppressed indirectly. The issue is that many haven’t had the resources available to make something of them selves. Leading to many of the disparities that we see, This was addressed by requiring schools and other universities to allow a larger percentage of black students that for entrance, into the school.
I’ve seen Native American hold on to values to the point that they live in huts or adobe houses like they did One hundred to Two hundred years ago. Things that they feel define them as a culture even though there could be more conveniences in their life. Some Native Americans have even tried to live from the land that inevitably leads to some form of poverty or subsidized living. Many of the Native Indian in Southern Nevada had parents that had just made it through Middle school, around two dozen or so made it through High School a few, about five that a knew, had made it through college. This in some cases stemmed from the substandard living that occurred on the reservations and a distain that they have developed culturally of the government and in extreme cases White people in general. Often I’ve seen this lead to people calling them freeloaders and government squatters. Would you consider them “othering” us or us “othering” them.
Hispanic the I spent time around would often be very hard on them selves. At the time I thought that it was about being mannerly. Since reading several texts of the Hispanic communities of the southwest. I think that it may be more of them trying to assimilate into American culture. As stated by Gloria Anzaldua in How to Tame a Wild Tongue, “Even our own people, other Spanish speaking nos quieren poner canddados en la boco. (People want to put locks on our mouths) They would hold us back with their bag of reglas de academia (academic regulation)(How to Tame a Wild Tongue p 522). This is due to parents wanting their children to be integrated into the American culture. Isn’t that in a way its own discrimination and prejudice, discriminating against your children for practicing the culture and heritage that they have grown up. How different is this from the discrimination of other, races, and ethnic people, limiting their speech, and chastising them and slandering their character.
Many people look to their heritage as a way of connecting to their ancestors. Something that my grandparents say is more common now then even fifty years ago. Even I look to my Scottish heritage as connecting to my ancestors. My grandparents connected to their heritage by reading diaries and telling stories of their parents and Grandparents. Many who crossed the country in various means. Some traveled in covered wagons while other came across by train. My grandparents will sometimes use these stories to connect with people that live around them. Many common stories told come from diaries of my grandparents, great grandparents, is working to provide a better life for their children. Each generation working hard to produce a life for their children, that was better then their own.
Today many look to the places of their forefathers to connect culturally. Dividing us culturally from others even though we are all American. People of Greek Origin, Scottish, English, Danish, Ukraine, Russia, Japan, Korea, China, Mayan, Indian, Egypt, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe or any other County. Some of these differences even equate to prejudice. For example what is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of a White poor family living in a trailer house, most people think white trash. The truth is that most people that live in trailer homes are young couple, single men and women in transition after getting divorced or losing a spouse or retired couples. A vast majority of them live very different form the stereotype that started in the 1930’s. (BBC.com) I use this example because in a worldview Whites are the minority, and it shows how economics plays a role in othering. So why do we hold on to our heritage so much and stereotypes. Creating more othering to occur. Even President Obama is not immune from prejudice, someone who is neither black nor white culturally. We like Obama cannot disown our own background or cultural diversity within the Country. Obama stated, ”I can no more disown him than I can my black community. I can no more disown him than I can my white grandmother” So the question I think we all need to ask ourselves is can we let go of othering in society, and what things can we do to change.
My grandmother on my mom’s side was born in 1917 and was one of the most racist people I knew. It was common if a Black person came into a room she would leave or move as far to the other side as possible. She refused to shake a black persons hand and would put gloves on to interact with any person of black descent. My grandfather on my fathers’ side born in 1936 was very outspoken about how he dislike for black Americans and often would disassociate from them, and ignore them in a conversation. My grandmother’s views never changed. She died having the same feeling towards blacks in the retirement home where she spent the last few years, where some of the workers were black. My grandfather slowly change his view, but still was reluctant to interact with blacks until the birth of my cousin’s daughter Skylar who is half-black half Caucasian. This was one of the first times I saw how different someone acts after they have family of different cultural background. That in reality we are all Americans and that until we look at our selves as just Americans that we will continue to have these issues.
Social classes, the idea that some person’s time is more valuable then an others, or some person’s experience, education or heritage is more superior. Socially people have always created different standing, in England there was the Aristocracy, the United States it was originally that of the Slave Owners. Creating a social ladder where the wealthy took advantage of the poor or horded the wealth of those that worked for them. . The thing about this is with wealth comes power and political influence. This is true even in the United States. This is ultimately one of the reasons why Rome fell. This I feel is the primary flaw that has plagued our society and corrupted it and caused it to rise out of the shadows in the world.
Plantation owners persuaded Parliament early in the history of America to allow for slavery, where indentured servants where the norm. Working off the debt that they owed to society and passage to America. Later slave owners would push to keep their workers eliminating their ability to become free. This then also included their children and started the cycle that led to slavery in the history books. Very few Slave owners, during the time of the civil war, even lived by the laws that were passed to create this Social status. Only about 4.8 percent of whites in slave holding states owned slaves of more then 2 to 3, and about 3% held slave in a captive state where they would never be able to gain freedom (Dixie Censored subject Black Slave Owners pg1 and 5). Providing them with the greatest amount of profits and low cost work force to provide them labor. In Louisiana about ten percent of slave owners were once slaves themselves. Some Black slave owners become very wealthy and had as much influence as white slave owners in politics. The vast majority of slaves were held by this top percent of highly influential and wealthy people. While many would be considered middle class, and the vast majority being lower class and slaves, barely making it from day to day. Many black slave owners were not looked down on until after abolishment occurred and the Jim Crow Laws were enacted. Changing the social standing of Whites and Black culturally by communities. Creating what was a larger social barrier between Whites and Blacks. Since more black were poorer than Whites at that time and many had just been freed and others just lost everything they owned. Setting the stage for the oppression that occurred for the next century.
The civil rights movement was going on 60 years ago, much of what my grandparents say they saw, was about unity and Nationalism. Creating common bonds, National goals or National pride. People gave resources helping out those that had lost spouses or taking in those families that could not provide for themselves. Thinking about it, the Civil rights movement came at a time when people cared the most about helping one another. A time with national unity and pride, a time when more people would be accepting of the change then any other time. This was also a time when more people lived in the middle class and the economic gap between the wealthy and poor was at it’s lowest. This includes Blacks and other Ethnic groups, even though it was far less than many whites. Social status was not as important for most of Americans since the divide was not as great. You could say that under these circumstances the 1950’s and 60 were some of the least discriminate in American History. Leading to our current state when many of those companies that rose and gained influence, bought smaller less successful or competitive companies creating corporate Empires.
. Today a recent example of social discrimination is that in the last 30 years social groups and lobbyist have introduced laws, that only college graduates of accredited schools can become license professional. Professionals are required to take a state exam, regulated by the state, to get a license. An exam that I feel should be open to anyone with the intelligence, education knowledge, skill and understanding to fulfill the requirement. Education often means borrowing money, maintaining a fulltime job and paying room and board for those of lower social standing. Leaving the Student with less time, causing them to fall behind or make strategic sacrifices. Sacrifices that prevent them form being as successful as they could be compared to those of the upper middle class and wealthy. Eliminating many people who come from poverty or lower social background from achieving these same means. To gain a license before was open in two ways one; get a degree from a university and short apprentiship or through long apprentiship. Working in the profession to build up the knowledge to take the required tests. Laws created by people of elite background, and large fields of influence limited those of different backgrounds from even taking the test. Further limiting the ability of those of lower means of achieving the same social standing. Inadvertently assuring that anyone outside of their social group would not be able to obtain the same means, without significant time and effort. Eliminating most of the competition before they ever get started.
The issue of gay rights is a social issue that is closing in on a resolution with the Supreme Court ruling that any two people can become married. Eliminating the barrier that states and many conservative had placed on society. Removing the legal oppression that they have had for generations. This still doesn’t change the abilities of churches to deny providing them services or resources. This is however a step towards legal discrimination similar to those that occurred after the civil war and during the civil rights movement.
Social discrimination is the real reoccurring problem that has evolved in society. This includes racism, issues on sex, upbringing, gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender, economic and influential issues. People, in society, oppressed due to one feeling superior to others. The ability of the poor to change their social standing or become professionals through other means then school.
Reducing the financial gap is one of the keys to a good economy. John D Rockefeller made more money after the break up of his company “Standard Oil” then before. There are some major advantages to capitalism and I think that it in theory is a good economic model. We however need to be regulated it in ways that don’t hinder its growth, subjugate or prevent people from freely moving up, and allow the rich from influencing politics. Something that as we have seen from history, is when more people have more money, and the gap between the wealthy and poor is moderate. The more stable the economy and the less those of wealth, influence politics. I think that in a way we are dealing with many of the same issues in the government that started to occur before the Civil War and in the Nineteen Twenties and Thirties. Each time the economic gap of the wealthy was as high as it is now, and each time a recession occurred. Laws were in place that protected the wealthy and then recede then; other laws took their place. Often being influenced by the businesses. The question that I have, will the Country find a way to change by placing another Teddy Roosevelt in office and replacing members of Congress or will we find ourselves caught in another Civil War and only a few generation from the last Great War, which is not so far fetched with the turmoil that exist in the middle East and the loathing that many of the Radicals have for the United States.
Fredrick Douglas, What to a Slave is the Fourth of July pg 460-475
President Barack Obama, Amore perfect Union pg. 476-483
Gloria Anzaldua, How to tame a wild tongue, pg. 521-527
Tom Geoghegan,Why so many Americans live in mobile homeshttp://www.bbc.com/news/magazine
Robert M. Grooms,Dixie Censored subject Black Slave Owners, pg1 and 5
Michael Hoffman, They Were White and They Were Slaves pg. 25
Ulrich B. Phillips, Life and Labor in the Old South, pg. 26
Elva Todd Smith, The Diaries of Elva Todd Smith, Volumes 1 pg 126-480 and Volume 2 100-310, Volume 4 pg. 1-225