What does it mean to be an American: The land of the free and the home of the brave? Due to the diversity that America offers, the people regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, cultures, backgrounds and sexual orientation have an equal opportunity for a better life in America. In Anna Quindlen’s “A Quilt of a Country,” she explains how people view America. She writes that being an American is an idea that works despite that fact that it should not due to the diversity that exist in the country. Quindlen informs the reader that America was uniquely constructed on no precise culture or race. She associates America to a quilt which is comprise of various patterns, styles, designs, fabrics, and colors with each individual configuration having …show more content…
She points out how “children learn in social-studies class and in the news of lynching of blacks, denial of women rights, the murder of gay men.” How can unity and “crown thy good with brotherhood” be erudite and proficient when all that is being imparted in them is detestation and failures are being rewarded as success? In spite America’s differences, Quindlen reflects on the Arab and Jewish cabbies chauffeuring each other. Despite the fact that in their own country as well as in other countries, the two groups despise one another and are constantly at war, Quindlen exemplifies how they maintain their beliefs yet put aside their differences to obtain a better life in America. Furthermore, she explains that there are no variances between the older immigrants than the ones of today. They all have worked hard, some in Ma & Pa stores to obtain the American dream of having a better life in America, the land of the free and the home of the brave.
I agree with Quindlen that America is like a quilt. We are a diverse group that will come together after a tragedy. However, I believe that Americans should also live in harmony with each other on a daily basis and not only when a catastrophe occurs. Many Americans do not even know their neighbor’s name or anything about them. Many people judge the very