Assignment # 2

Based on the Trans-National America by Randolph Bourne article:

“To face the fact that our aliens are already strong enough to take a share in the direction of their own destiny, and that the strong cultural movements represented by the foreign press, schools, and colonies are a challenge to our facile attempts, is not, however, to admit the failure of Americanization. It is not to fear the failure of democracy. It is rather to urge us to an investigation of what Americanism may rightly mean. It is to ask ourselves whether our ideal has been broad or narrow--whether perhaps the time has not come to assert a higher ideal than the "melting-pot" Surely we cannot be certain of our spiritual democracy when, claiming to melt the nations within us to a comprehension of our free and democratic institutions, we fly into panic at the first sign of their own will and tendency. We act as if we wanted Americanization to take place only on our own terms, and not by the consent of the governed. All our elaborate machinery of settlement and school and union, of social and political naturalization, however, will move with friction just in so far as it neglects to take into account this strong and virile insistence that America shall be what the immigrant will have a hand in making it, and not what a ruling class, descendant of those British stocks which were the first permanent immigrants, decide that America shall be made. This is the condition which confronts us, and which demands a clear and general readjustment of our attitude and our ideal.”

I believe Bourne is trying to point out that what was consider the ideal Americanism by the first few immigrants may isn’t the correct view of the Americanization now. Where other immigrants have to assimilate to what was the ideal America way in which the idea was based on the British Empire.  Those immigrants who refused to assimilate into the Anglo-Saxon culture where looked at as “immigrants refusing to be melted.” On the other hand, as generations have changed so have the number of immigrants who migrate to the United States, allowing us to be more open and diverse to different traditions and beliefs. Just because one has different traditions and/or bellies from another doesn’t make them less American then the next. It actually allows America to stand for its freedom. Immigrants are allow to continue with their traditions along with being educated about others traditions and adapting to the diversity within the United States. I believe when there is diversity there is growth. And I don’t not believe that immigrates should be melted or forced to follow the same tradition as others because then there wouldn’t be any diversity or freedom.

Based on the Despite Negativity, Americans Mixed on Ideal Role of Gov't article:

“Americans have divided opinions when asked to think broadly about the purpose of government. About as many Americans (35%) prefer an activist government that tries in every way to improve the lives of its citizens as prefer a government that provides only the most basic government functions (37%), with the rest placing themselves between these two positions. These attitudes, basically unchanged from a year ago, underscore the complex nature of Americans' views of government. Americans have strongly negative views of the way the nation is being governed and of Congress. They also, as will be reviewed here, have significant concerns about the power of the federal government, believe that government is doing too much that individuals and businesses can do, and prefer fewer services and lower taxes. Yet, in a broad sense, Americans are as likely to prefer a more active government as a more limited one” (Newport 2011).

The meaning of this passage is generally focused on Americans perspective on how they view the government’s power. Some Americans feel that the government doesn’t use their power to improve individual’s lives. On the other hand, some have no problem with the functionally of the government as it is today. Many feel that the government should take less and do more. Meaning, less tax deduction and leaving Americans with more allowing more power on citizens and less in the government system.

I choose this passage for several reasons; first, I strongly feel that the government system abuses their power on the middle class citizen in comparison to the rich and/or poor class. Being a part of the middle class it places me in between the rich and the poor class where more taxes get deducted from the middle class to make up what cannot be deducted from the rich and/or poor leaving us with limited power. Second, as a citizen I question the power of the federal government in doing what is right. I feel that the government is sometimes more concerned with what doesn’t involve us. Leaving the question as to what is really being done to improve Americans middle class lives. Third, I feel this passage brings awareness to question why the middle class suffers more than the rich and/or poor class. Why does the middle class support not only their own family members but also the low income class? Who does the wealthy class support? Why does the wealthy and low income class have more power over the middle class, shouldn't it be equality?