Dror Wahrman's Imputation Of The Boston Tea Party

What drives millions of people every year to abandon their homes, immigrate to the United States, and essentially restart their lives? The simple answer is the chance for reinvention. No other country in the world allows for the alteration of one’s identity to the extent that America does. This enticing possibility not only defines a prominent aspect of American culture; it lays the groundwork for what the country primarily embodies: opportunity. The United States’s illustrious reputation offers a sense of comfort and security to its inhabitants. While this solace certainly exists, Americans rarely tend to revel in it and appreciate the present. As Americans, we look towards what comes next, constantly considering what more we can do

Since the literal birth of our country, we have been striving to redefine our national identity. Transforming from a mere colony to a prominent world power in the matter of decades, America seeks greatness by planning for the future. Even before the official start of the Revolutionary War, colonists refused to tolerate any unjust treatment from the British. As Dror Wahrman recounts the words of Philip Deloria in one of his essays, the “powerful imputation of Indian identity [at the Boston Tea Party] is a catalytic moment…through which Americans redefined themselves as something other than British colonists” (Wahrman 1236). Dressed like Indians, our ancestors and founding fathers made the first attempt at identity reinvention during this Boston Tea Party. With their self-interest at heart, the colonists rose up against a higher power to increase their social status and gain fundamental, human rights. Without this bold stand against the British, the foundation of which was largely rooted in reinvention, America would certainly not be the country it is

America’s economic system and practice of meritocracy drive these societal advancements. Capitalism rewards hard work and punishes laziness or the inability to work. Whether or not this system is fair, it has inspired individuals to innovate and instill a sense of competition throughout America for centuries. In his Why the Americans are so Restless in the Midst of their Prosperity, Alexis de Tocqueville claims, “However democratic, then, the social state and the political constitution of a people may be, it is certain that every member of the community will always find out several points about him which overlook his own position; and we may foresee that his looks will be doggedly fixed in that direction” (Tocqueville). Tocqueville criticizes the uneasiness that Americans consistently possess with their place in society. As Americans, we are rarely content; we always seek greater achievement. While this obsession can plague society, as Tocqueville points out, it also inspires individuals to work harder by establishing this competitive atmosphere. Take, for example, the dynamic of a sports team. On any successful team, players push each other to compete at higher levels as they fight for status. In the same way that teammates promote rivalry and competition, Americans challenge one another to reinvent their identities by looking to the future in a