Two America's?

The essay, Two America's, by Joseph Contreras is about the Hispanic population in the United States and the blending of the cultures or the lack there of.

Justice For Women

In the Essay Justice for Women by Ellen Goodman the international women's bill of rights is discussed. Goodman begins the essay by shocking the audience with an incident that happened in Multan, Pakistan.  An 18 year old girl was sentenced to gang rape after her brother was caught walking unchaperoned girl from another tribe. Instead of the 11 year old boy being punished the young women was punished "for the sake of honor." Goodman makes it clear that this is not the only country  where things like this have happened this was just one good example. She points out later that even Pakistan, the site of this incident, has signed the treaty. It is being argued that the bill is not international because the U.S., along with many other countries have not signed the bill. It was suppose to be voted on and then got put behind 17 other treaties waiting for approval. The essay points out the fact that the United States will have no room to say anything about women's rights to other countries if we have not even signed this treaty. 

This surprised me that our country hasn't even signed the treaty. I would be interesting to see exactly the treaty says, and why it is taking so long to be ratified. These things seem like no brainers but maybe there is something that I do not have knowledge of that is influencing this delay. The essay is very correct about our country not being able to say much to other countries if we do not pass this. Our country seems like we do a lot of "Do as I say, Not as i do." 

Americans Are Tuning Out the World

In the Essay Americans Are Tuning out the World by Alkman Granitsas it is said that Americans pay little to no attention to the world around us, we have isolated ourselves from every other country. Before the Essay a question is posed "do you believe that America is "a shining city on the hill"?" Before reading this essay I was a little confused as to what this question meant. Now after reading the essay, I realize that Granitsas argues that people in America believe that we are more important than any other country. People tend to believe that because "everyone else" wants to come to America then no other country must be as good as America. We seem to believe that no other country is worth our time. Granitsas gives many examples as to how this is true by telling us that people, now, more than ever, are reading less and less about affairs in other countries. People used to rank Foreign Affairs as number one, but now the economy is continuously ranked number one. Students studying a foreign language has decreased to 8.6% from 16% in 1965. He also talks about the fact that Foreign Affairs used to take up much more of the newspapers front page. Granitsas says that the reason this is happening, is for the very reason I mentioned before. Americans tend to believe we are the "Shining city on the hill." Granitsas says that this is an issue, because people will tend not to participate in foreign affairs when it is most important out of any other country for us to pay attention these foreign Affairs. He says a great line at the end " The world may be turning into a "global village," but the average American has moved to the suburbs."
It seems as though this essay is suprisingly true. I think the same way, when I think of any other country, I think that either they are poverty stricken or their government must not be as good as ours, or they must not have as many freedoms as we do. As we grow up in America it is taught to us how great our Legislative system is and how wonderful a democracy is we forget to question. We forget that there are other countries that are doing just fine with the way they are doing it. We need to learn from other countries so that we do not fall like the Roman Empire.

Arabs in Forein Lands

In the essay Arabs in Foreign Lands by Moises Naim it is argued that Arabs are not only doing well in the United States, but doing better than Americans. Naim mentions that it is great that 24% of americans have college degrees but 41% of Arab Americans have college degrees. On top of this Arab Americans are earning 4.6% more than the Average American Family. Most of them are in professional or manager possitions. Naim makes it clear that is no surprise that they are doing better than they did in their own country, the unique thing is that they are doing better than the average person in America. Naim also brings up the fact that it has been argued that they are doing better because, the people that have th drive to come to America have the drive to succeed and do well. If this were true, Naim argues, then why would they not be able to succeed in other countries that they immigrate to. The essay discusses the fact that the Arab countries are doing poor because there is a lack of information for the work force and they do not accept new ideas and techniques. Naim states that it would take the Average Arab 140 yrs to double their income. Naim is very adimit that the reason Arabs are doing so well in the United States is the opportunity for growth.

I found it crazy that it would take so long for an Arab to double their salary when the Average American is predicted to double theirs in 10 years. Besides this, this essay seems very reasonable. My best friend's dad is from the middle east, and where he is from is not doing well and they are constently at war, but here he is doing extremely well. Much of her family holds very respectable jobs and I'm sure her father makes much more than the average American. Although I agree with Naim's argument, I somewhat disagree. I disagree in the sense that the Arabs must have some type of drive that we don't have since they are doing better than many of the Americans just don't seem to have!

Love and Race

In this essay about race and love by Nicholas D. Kristof the fact that young people are falling in love with different races is discussed. It is stated that it is still brought to many peoples attention when a black person walks down the street holding a white persons hand. After polls were taken it was noted that 40% of asian-americans and 6% of blacks have married whites. Even more surprising it was noted that 40% of americans have dated another race. Kristof states that scientists have noted that genes hardly differ between races. They say that the time in which the different races were developed was not enough time for their genes to be that different. This development of love between races seems so shocking, especially since in 1958 a mother reported a black boy because her daughter kissed him, Kristof mentions. He also brings up the poll from 1963 that was taken by Americans that 59% of Americans believed that Interracial Marriages should be illegal. He also notes that there is going to be less of a line drawn between races and they will start to mix much more. 

I think it is crazy that it was so recent that a young boy got sent to jail all because a white girl kissed him, especially since they said he was sent to jail for attempted rape. On top of this, it seems extreme that interracial marriages would be illegal. This shows how quickly the American Culture can change. It's weird to think that my grandparents were alive when most of this racism was occurring. I am glad that this has begun to change, but i do believe that our country has a lot of work. Like stated in the essay many people get looks when they walk down the street together. Someday this will change, interracial relationships will be accepted everywhere. I just hope to live to see the day.