Monday, May 18, 2020
The Battle Of The Confederate Forces - 1233 Words
The battle began on July 1st, 1863 when Brigadier General John Buford met the Confederate forces just northwest of the town to slow their advances. General Buford and his troops successfully stalled the enemy until their reinforcements arrived. The Confederate reinforcements, led by Generals Hill and Ewell. The Confederacy forced the Union Army to retreat back through Gettysburg to the south of the town. There they joined the main Union forces led by Major General George Gordon Meade, who had been at the same time preparing to meet the Confederacyââ¬â¢s main forces led by General Robert E. Lee (www.history.com, 2015). Major General George Gordon Meade was born in Spain, while his father was stationed there as an officer in the United States Navy. After the death of his father, General moved his family back to the states for financial reasons. In 1835 General Meade graduated from the Military Academy at West Point. After graduation he pursued a civilian career as an engineer for the railroads. In1940 he married Margaretta Sergeant and they had seven children. Meade was a Brigadier General when the Civil War began (www.history.com, 2015). General Robert Edward Lee, born in Virginia in 1807. Born into a military family, he graduated 2nd in his class at West Point in 1829. He was originally assigned to an engineer unit, and then became the superintendent of the academy in 1852. After that assignment he took over the 2nd Cavalry unit. Once Virginia seceded from theShow MoreRelatedThe Battle Of Pea Ridge1469 Words à |à 6 PagesThe Battle of Pea Ridge and the Significance of Field Artillery The deployment of Field Artillery has been the deciding factor in almost every major conflict since the inception of Field Artillery. The Battle of Pea Ridge is no different. This conflict serves as a perfect example of how the proper use of terrain and well-placed artillery can alter the course of battle. Despite overwhelming opposition, the Union Army was not only able to stop the advancement of enemy troops but forced their retreatRead MoreThe Battle Of The Civil War1627 Words à |à 7 PagesAs the first major battle of the Civil War the First Battle of Bull Run was an end to the illusions of a quick war and instead was a first glimpse of into the long and bloody four-year struggle the Civil War would become. In this paper the battle and its many repercussions across the political, social and military spectrum of the Union and Confederacy will be explored. Background: With the formation of the Confederate States and the outbreak of hostilities at Ft. Sumter only a few months earlierRead MoreThe Battle Of The Civil War1736 Words à |à 7 PagesAbstract: As the first major battle of the Civil War the First Battle of Bull Run was an end to the illusions of a quick war and instead offered a first glimpse into the long and bloody four-year struggle the Civil War would become. In this paper the battle and its many repercussions across the political, social and military spectrum of the Union and Confederacy will be explored. Background: With the formation of the Confederate States and the outbreak of hostilities at Ft. Sumter only a few monthsRead MoreThe Battle Of Harpers Ferry Essay906 Words à |à 4 PagesThe historical battle of Harpers Ferry was a pivotal point during the Civil War. While the battle was a clear victory on the Confederate front, Union forces could have changed the outcome with little efforts. This paper analyzes the battle with the intent of identifying how the application, utilization, or availability of intelligence assets could have resulted in an alternate outcome. With the proper use of All Source Intelligence analysis on the Union front, the Battle of Harpers Ferry would haveRead MoreThe Battle Of Gettysburg And Civil War1375 Words à |à 6 PagesThe Battle of Gettysburg occurred July 1-3, 1863 in and around Gettysburg, Pennsylvania and was one of the most significant battles of the American Civil War. Union forces of the North, commanded by Major General George G. Meade met and fought the Confederate forces of the South, commanded by General Robert E. Lee. Many historians believe the battle was a large turning point in the Civil War in favor of the Union (Woodworth, 2008). However, this is disputable. The battle was also significantRead MoreThe Battle Of Bull Run1514 Words à |à 7 PagesThe Battle of Bull Run The American Civil War was fought from 1861 to 1865 to determine whether the Union or Confederacy would survive. The fight would take place between the North, called Union states and the South, called Confederate states. The Confederate states wanted to leave the North and South union and stand on their own. The war started on April 12, 1861 when Confederate forces attacked a Union military base at Fort Sumter in South Carolina. The reason the war started at this timeRead MoreCritical Reasoning And Battle Analysis Of Fort Wagner1426 Words à |à 6 PagesCritical Reasoning and Battle Analysis of Fort Wagner The purpose of this narrative is to detail the battle of Fort Wagner during the Civil War. This focus explains the defeat of Union forces and how the implementation of intelligence assets may have resulted in Union victory. The use of reconnaissance and scout assets by Union forces would have resulted in the success of the Union Army at Fort Wagner. Fort Wagner was a key stronghold for Confederate forces, securing the Charleston Harbor and protectingRead MoreThe Battle Of The Civil War Essay924 Words à |à 4 Pagesnumber of different battles of the Civil War, there are only three that will be mentioned in this essay. The purpose is to expand the knowledge of the three battles and provide a better understanding behind the reasoning of the Civil War. In addition, the wars, which consisted of bloody combats and unique strategies, provided a settlement for who controls the United States of American and its future. The three main battles that changed the course of history are the follow ing: the Battle of Bull Run, theRead MoreEssay about Civil War Battles of Chancelorsville and Gettysburg871 Words à |à 4 Pagesonly two battles in the whole Civil War yet countless lives were lost in each one. These battles were only two months apart. The goal of this paper is to give information on these two Civil War battles Chancelorsville and Gettysburg. The Battle of Chancelorsville In the Battle of Chancelorsville, Hooker was the Union general and Lee was the Confederate general. Hooker had 130,000 men and Lee had 60,000 men. Hooker had more men and supplies and Lee was outnumbered. Before the battle Hooker saidRead MoreThe Battle Of Antietam Was The Turning Point Of American History1511 Words à |à 7 PagesThe battle of Antietam was the turning point in American history pertaining to the possible division of the nation, the abolishment of slavery, and the success of a democratic government. The battle analysis examines the strengths and weaknesses of the Confederate and Union army leading up to the battle on September 17, 1862. Union and Confederate forces suffered severe losses totaling 22,719 casualties, ending with Confederate forces withdrawing to the south. Broken and unmotivated, Union and
Friday, May 15, 2020
Wednesday, May 6, 2020
Analysis Of Kurt Vonnegut s Harrison Bergeron
Equality they say is a state of being equal, especially in status, rights and opprtunites, But in Kurt Vonnegut story ââ¬Å"Harrison Bergeronâ⬠equality is far from being equal. In this story, though it tries to paint an imaginary picture of a future in American society where everybody is finally equal before God and the Law, and where nobody is smatter, better, looking, stronger or quicker than anybody else, but that is actually not the case. Vonnegut, indirectly in this story re-echoââ¬â¢s the popular Animal Farm saying that ââ¬Å"All animals are not equal, but some are more equal than others.â⬠Therefore converying that in a world and society where everyoneââ¬â¢s quest for equality is growing by the day, the possibility of achieving such is far fetched. The goals of countless societies (including America) throughout human history has been to establish both a complet freedom and absolute equality. You can see this in the constatnt struggle for social and economic equality of the black people in America from activist such as Frederick Douglass, and Booker T. Washington, to 1960ââ¬Ës civil rights leaders such as Martin Luther King, Malcolm X. You can also see this in the struggle of the Gays and lesbians communities for marriage equality, and in Women the pursuit for equal rights in pay etc. Living in societies of total freedom and complete equality would be a dream come true for billions around the world. It would be a world where every culture will respect fairness and tolerance, andShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Kurt Vonnegut s Harrison Bergeron 935 Words à |à 4 PagesIn ââ¬Å"Harrison Bergeronâ⬠Kurt Vonnegut reveals the truth about world. Vonnegut farther explains how humankind is controlled by Americaââ¬â¢s first amendment of everyone being created equal. The main character of the story, also a protagonist Harrison Bergeron aims to let the world know what is truly happening to them. He is killed by an antagonist Dianna Moon Clampers who is a handicapper general. The futuristic short story is written in a third person omniscient. Itââ¬â¢s told y a narrator who seems to knowRead MoreAnalysis Of Kurt Vonnegut s Harrison Bergeron 953 Words à |à 4 Pagessought after desire in society. Each person has the felt the disease of envy for anotherââ¬â¢s talent, wisdom, or beauty. The heart, mind and soul are never replicated between two humans. This places oneââ¬â¢s envy as a never ending cycle. Kurt Vonnegutââ¬â¢s story, Harrison Bergeron, focuses on the theme that society and government aspire to make all citizens equal by restricting them and making all handicapped for the purpose of obedience only to inadvertently achieve inequality. The short story is set inRead MoreAnalysis Of Kurt Vonnegut s Harrison Bergeron 1233 Words à |à 5 Pageshundred and twenty years in the future Kurt Vonnegutââ¬â¢s dystopian world short story ââ¬Å"Harrison Bergeronâ⬠is about the outcome of what happens when the government takes over due to people in society pleading for equality. From physical looks to oneââ¬â¢s intelligence, it seems that people are continuously unsatisfied with themselves when compared to others. However, there is one boy who refuses to conform to the laws set in place by the Handicapper General. Harrison Bergeron is that boy. The story tells of hisRead MoreAnalysis Of Kurt Vonnegut s Harrison Bergeron 2407 Words à |à 10 Pages We have all been warned that we are in for a little more than we expect when it comes to our future. In a short story by Kurt Vonnegut we will encounter these problems in an exaggerated futuristic world. Vonnegutââ¬â¢s satire invites us to think, first and foremost, about the implications of the pursuit of equality in relation to the American creed. But the way of life he depicts also invites us to think anew about the meaning and importance of the ââ¬Å"American Dream,â⬠and about whether technology helpsRead MoreAnalysis Of Kurt Vonnegut s Harrison Bergeron 1322 Words à |à 6 PagesThis is life in Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.ââ¬â¢s short story ââ¬Å"Harrison Bergeron.â⬠Harrison, a brilliant and strong 14 year old boy, decides he doesnââ¬â¢t want to follow the government s rules anymore. He sets out to overthrow the government, knowing he may not succeed. Throughout the story Vonnegut expresses the theme that standing up for what you believe in despite the dangers is the morally righteous and necessary thing to do. A major theme in Kurt Vonnegut, Jrââ¬â¢s short story, ââ¬Å"Harrison Bergeron,â⬠is that standingRead MoreAnalysis Of Kurt Vonnegut s Harrison Bergeron 992 Words à |à 4 Pageslive in Kurt Vonnegutââ¬â¢s story of ââ¬Å"Harrison Bergeronâ⬠which is a Utopian society where everyone is equal mentally, socially, and physically? Would we need to interact or come together with others in society? #2 ââ¬Å"Harrison Bergeronâ⬠, a short story written by Kurt Vonnegut Jr., Vonnegut makes it well-known to his readers how dangerous it can be to have total equality. Throughout the story, the author uses comedy, sarcasm, and tone. #3 In Kurt Vonnegut Jr.ââ¬â¢s short story, ââ¬Å"Harrison Bergeronâ⬠, the authorRead MoreAnalysis Of Kurt Vonnegut Jr. s Harrison Bergeron1500 Words à |à 6 Pagesthe actions of others, as we make choices in an effort to satisfy others and ourselves. Kurt Vonnegut Jr.ââ¬â¢s ââ¬Å"Harrison Bergeronâ⬠offers a dark insight into an idealistic utopia, and the consequences of a ruthlessly equitable society. Although equality provides a beneficial component to a desirable society, forcing it upon society would ultimately be at the expense of individuality. Initially, Harrison Bergeron is physically constrained by society, however through his willful arrogance and determinationRead MoreAnalysis Of Shirley Jackson s The Lottery, And Kurt Vonnegut Jr. s Harrison Bergeron1604 Words à |à 7 PagesA common theme of placing societal influences over personal values and beliefs can be found in Shirley Jacksonââ¬â¢s, ââ¬Å"The Lotteryâ⬠, and Kurt Vonnegut Jr.ââ¬â¢ s ââ¬Å"Harrison Bergeronâ⬠. These short stories describe situations in which the citizens allow the superiors to have full control, without thinking twice about the laws and traditions that require their submission. Both of these short stories are similar in theme, because each tells about a community that chooses to participate in cruel and inhumane traditionsRead MoreAnalysis Of Kurt Vonnegut s Harrison Bergeron And The Tick Tock Man By Harlan Ellison1613 Words à |à 7 PagesIt is what makes people do activities a specific way or perform a certain command from those who are deemed superior to them. There were two authors who provided great examples of that lifestyle. Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. displayed this precisely with the limitations given to the characters in ââ¬Å"Harrison Bergeronâ⬠. The Master Timekeeper from Repent, Harlequin! Cried the Tick-Tock Man by Harlan Ellison created the basis of having an order and leading people by the control he has over their ti me. ThroughRead MoreAnalysis Of The Article Harrison Bergeron 983 Words à |à 4 PagesKolawole J. Ojo Professor Carney English 1301 June 14, 2015 Analysis of ââ¬Å"Harrison Bergeronâ⬠In his short story ââ¬Å"Harrison Bergeronâ⬠Kurt Vonnegut uses hyperbole to show us what happens when people take things too literally. In this case the people were made equal by a government that interpreted ââ¬Å"equalityâ⬠in a very literal way. As a result, they lost their rights and freedoms. ââ¬Å"Harrison Bergeronâ⬠takes place in 2081, when equality has finally been achieved by elimination of the highly
The Discovery Of The Atom - 1384 Words
An Atom is the the basic building block of all matter. Atoms are made up of Particles, called: Protons, neutrons and Electrons. Protons carry a positive charge, the neutron carry s a neutral charge and the electron carryââ¬â¢s a negative charge. The Atom has two main parts the Nucleus and the Electron Shell. The Nucleus contains the Protons and Neutrons. The electron Shell Contains the The electrons. There are many Scientist that contributed in the investigation of the atom which are: 1- John Dalton 2- Sir William Crookes 3- Wilhelm Rontgen 4- J.J Thomson 5- Max Planck 6- Albert Einstein 7- Ernest Rutherford 8- Neils Bohr 9- James Chadwick 10-Otto Hahn The Discovery of the Atom first came from the Greeks which made a theory ââ¬Å"The idea that all matter is made up of tiny, indivisible particles, or atoms, is believed to have originated with the Greek philosopher Leucippus of Miletus and his student Democritus of Abdera in the 5th century B.C. (The word atom comes from the Greek word atomos, which means ââ¬Å"indivisible.â⬠)â⬠(InfoPlease Atomic theory) After that theory scientists started Wondering about this theory and a lot of Scientists made up Models and conducted Experiments to Explain this Theory. In this report we will put our selfââ¬â¢s inside Each scientistââ¬â¢s Shoe and see What has he discovered. John Dalton John Dalton, a British chemist and physicist, that was born on the 6th of September 1766. His study of gases led Dalton to wonder about what these invisible substancesShow MoreRelatedThe Discovery Of The Atom1788 Words à |à 8 Pagestechnically smallest) discoveries of all time: the atom. The long process of solving the mysteries of matter has involved numerous scientists and their experiments, which have ushered in modern knowledge of the subject and countless innovations in science using the knowledge of matter s properties. The atom makes up nearly everything humankind knows of; therefore, it has significant effect on everything people make. The discovery of the atom by John Dalton and the discovery of the electron by JRead MoreDemocritus of Abdera and the Discovery of the Atom700 Words à |à 3 Pages Since the ancient Greek philosopher Democritus of Abdera first discovered the atom, manââ¬â¢s interest in the atom has only increased as studies of it continued. Reaching its pivotal point of advancement during WW2, as Einsteins work was finally put into practice as scientists from the U.S detonate the first nuclear weapon, which unintentionally, later ushers in a cold war. After the cold war, the development of nuclear power leads to serious complications as several units fail, making people questionRead MoreHistory And Science Of The Atom1507 Words à |à 7 PagesHistory of the Atom By Karina Vazquez Period: 4 May 11, 2016 Mr.Sanchez Chemistry B The atom is an important thing in the world of science and chemistry. The atom might have started on a different point of view on how the atom works. There were many different people who had many good and different ideas on how to use the atom and what it was used for. Democritus was one of many other philosopher and scientists that wanted to start the discovery of the atom. He got the nameRead MoreThe Physics Of Atomic Theory1142 Words à |à 5 Pagestheir life to making new discoveries and figuring different aspects of the universe. Over 30 different scientists have added on the development of atomic theory, and made science changing discoveries that are still today quite impressive, even in comparison to modern day scientists. There are countless scientists involved in the evolution of atomic theory, but less than 50 have majorly impacted the way we view atomic theory today. Discovery and experimentation on the atom first began in the GreekRead MoreThe Nuclear Theory Of The Atomic Theory1363 Words à |à 6 PagesThe Atomic Theory The atomic theory is a fundamental scientific theory of the nature of matter, which states that matter is composed of discrete units called atoms, which came from the Greek word atomon, meaning ââ¬Ëuncuttableââ¬â¢. This theory was based on the concept that any given item in the universe could be broken down using pico- and femtometer atomic/subatomic/alpha particles. If this idea had never been composed, science would have suffered as a result and many scientists would not have beenRead MoreDmitri Mendeleev: The Development of the Periodic Table Essay1529 Words à |à 7 Pagesother progress. Discoveries that led to the creation of Mendeleevââ¬â¢s table of elements: It was only possible, however, for Mendeleevââ¬â¢s table to be created and thus progress to the form in which we know it now due to the efforts of various other scientists in discovering information that changed the theory around the atom. The discoveries of the atom and the means to derive atomic weight led to Mendeleevââ¬â¢s ability to create the periodic table, and it is further research into the atom that has led toRead MoreEssay on Ernest Rutherford and The Gold Foil Experiment 755 Words à |à 4 Pagesfamously known for ââ¬Å"splitting the atom.â⬠His work on the gold foil experiment contributed greatly to the model of the atom and helped develop the standard model of the atom to what we now use today. Without his contributions we would still be using the Plum Pudding model, an out dated and incorrect model, and we would have less of an understanding of how atoms form the world around us. Before Rutherfordââ¬â¢s Geiger-Marsden experiment the most popular model of the atom was the ââ¬Å"plum pudding modelâ⬠developedRead MoreJ.J. Thomson1052 Words à |à 5 Pagestime of his discovery many other scientists were working on the same thing (Joseph John Thomson). He was doing a lot of research on the nature of electric discharge in a high-vacuum cathode-ray tube. The rayââ¬â¢s deflection by electrically charged particles brought Thomson to the realization that there are much smaller particles of matter than just atoms (Morgan). At the tome of his discovery he called the ââ¬Å"particlesâ⬠corpuscles, and theorized that they may make up, or reside inside of atoms. People wereRead MoreAtom History Essay960 Words à |à 4 PagesAtom History Essay An Atom is a basic unit of matter that consists of a dense, central nucleus surrounded by a cloud of negatively charged electrons. The Atom was theorized by a man named Democritus of Abdera, Thrace in between c.a 460 BC - ca. 370 B.C. Atom is derived from the Greek word ââ¬Å"atomosâ⬠, which means to be uncuttable. He had a theory that everything is composed of ââ¬Å"atomsâ⬠, which he believed that these minuscule objects are indivisible, indestructible and have and always been in motionRead MoreHistory Of An Atom. In This Day And Age, Almost Every Educated987 Words à |à 4 PagesHistory of an Atom In this day and age, almost every educated middle school student would be able to sketch and label a given diagram of an atom. However, still to this day, not one human has seen what an atom looks like. Our current atomic model, the same one in which you most likely learnt in 5th grade, is really just an educated theory, comprised of years of experimental trials and errors. In fact, the ââ¬Ëoriginalââ¬â¢ four elements, introduced by ancient philosopher Aristotle: Fire Air, Water, and
Music as culture Essay Example For Students
Music as culture Essay For this assignment, I have chosen a type of music called NCAA teen chine which is known as the Vietnamese pre-war music. Pre-war music is popular for stage music in Vietnam. This type of music is known as the origin of Vietnamese popular music due to the melancholy, harmonious, and sentimental, and to this day many romantic songs from the Vietnamese pre-war music are valuable in the culture. This type of music is also a respected song in the country, and it is very popular with the older enervation that grew up during that time period, like my parents for example. One of the most popular NCAA teen chine is called Got Mum HTH (Autumn Rain Drops) by Dang The Phone, an iconic musician of the time period. My father who was a Lieutenant in the South Vietnamese Army, would tell me war stories all the time when I was younger. It was his way of preserving the hardships his generation endured in the Vietnam War and this song is also one of his favorites. Vietnam has a long history f wars before and after the Vietnam War. Peace did not seem to last very long until the ass. This song was a reflection for those times of unrest in the country. When dissecting the music, Got Mum HTH, (Autumn Rain Drops), I believe that Autumn is referring to wars that come and go. Wars seemed like they were seasonal to the people back then. Rain drops are the tears shed for sadness that comes with the bloodshed. The people long for peace, hoping one day it will come. As the wars drag on, they are still hanging on to that hope. The instrumental intro gives us a somber feeling yet gives us a sense of anticipation of things to come. There are many variations throughout the years, but the best instruments used for this song is the Dang ABA (a monochrome) and Dan Unguent (the moon lute). The sounds from these instruments are unique from one another and adds more feelings to the song. The combination of these sounds and the singers powerful, somber tone makes the song very emotional. Songs like this also gives people hope in tough times. After the Vietnam War, my relatives and other citizens of South Vietnam continued to struggle with the ideals of communism. They were hit with another setback, the communist North confiscated money, land, and homes of the citizens of the South Vietnamese. All the wealthy people in the South became poor overnight. My parents, like many people, had to leave their country to search for a better life. That is some of the reasons why this song is so popular with the older generations. It reminds them of their heritage, their struggles, and hardships they have endured. It is that sense of never giving up hope that helped them to strive for a better life. Songs of this genre have persisted for decades, they instill pride and hope in the people of Vietnam. As times are changing and styles of music evolve, it is important to keep up with the music in our cultures history. They are not Just words written to the sound of musical instruments, they are a gateway to our cultures past. They display the sounds, experience, and emotions from the people of that time period. Music as culture By shoeshine
Tuesday, May 5, 2020
The Boston Beer Company free essay sample
Unfortunately, the company experienced the failure of conquering light beer segment in 1998 as the beer market is a highly competitive industry, which requires not only the great product but also high brand awareness. Right now there is an attractive opportunity for BBC to enter the field of light beer once again. Should Boston Beer Company capture this chance or let it slip? Before presenting new light beer and cut the risk of second epic fail, Boston Beer Company have to examine in detail the feeling and thoughts of light beer drinkers. Moreover,BBC should understand why such an extraordinary flavors and heartiness Lightship did not succeed. To find out what is light beer experience 1 700 males and females (ages 25-39) were surveyed to find out what is light beer experience. The field study (Exhibit AAA) proved that light beer is more about simplicity, energy and group identity rather than full-bodied, happy and flavors drink. We will write a custom essay sample on The Boston Beer Company or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Because of this misleading concept, which BBC heavily invested in, creating strong brand image, Lightship sales have eroded to 3,000 sales per month in 1998.In the first place, Light beer consumers are aware of implicitly of a drink. Let has to be simple in taste, appearance and scent. * The taste should not be complex and bitter * The scent has to be barely perceptible * The label should deliver lively colors as a symbol of energy, sports activity and celebrations Secondly, interviewees consider light beer with refreshing endless-control. The gulp of light beer should be positioned as jumping into refreshing pool and energy giving, which links to healthy environment.Lots of people would like to drink light beer after any sports or physical activity like basketball game because it is low-alcohol beverage, which gives self- unconsciousness and control over alcohol effects. Furthermore, light beer can be a fuel that will drive you to continue swimming match, for example. Thirdly, surveyed males and females drew the link between the light beer and group identity. Certain drinks delivers a certain message about who you are, your social position and activities that you do. Light beer can be a social sign and the effect of group awareness.Light beer drinkers may have a perception about their choice of low-alcohol beverage as maintaining the control over the weight and belatedness. All things considered, the identified constructs bout light beer experience are interrelated and can be easily combined in a map with its core and links to other concepts. Group identity Weight control Sports activity Healthy Energy Self-Control Refreshing Simplicity Social status This is a summary of characteristics that light beer should have according to Field Study Teams Narrative Summary of the Light Beer Experience.It might be useful to compare this map to the vision of successful giants as Corona and Bud Light to observe common and distinctive constructs. Corona positions its product with happy moods, joy to life and dont try so hard incept. Here is the obvious matching with simplicity and maybe sports activity as it brings us joy and happiness to life. Most of the pictures associated to Coronas constructs show the social belongingness of people spending their time together. It can be considered as group identity that is reflected by social drink. Bud Light is focusing on refreshment and flavor.
Wednesday, April 15, 2020
The Working Poor Invisibe in America Essay Example
The Working Poor: Invisibe in America Essay Regardless if we are aware of it or not, not many Americans live the supposed American Dream of having a nice car, big house, well paying job, and have a secure family. In the renowned novel The Working Poor: Invisible in America by David K. Shipler he captures those Americans who live invisible in America that work so hard to suffer from the psychological effects of poverty. Not only does Shipler do that but he also indirectly talks about the ââ¬Å"American Mythâ⬠and the ââ¬Å"American Anti Myth through the lives on these individuals. â⬠In The Working Poor Shipler goes on to explain both of the myths. Shipler states that the American Myth ââ¬Å"still supposes that any individual from the humblest origins can climb to well-beingâ⬠(Shipler, pg. 5), but the thing is that is not true because, there are many people who are humble that work hard and donââ¬â¢t go from rag to riches. The American myth has a demanding standard for both the nation and every resident that the nationâ⬠has to strive to make itself the fabled land of opportunity; the resident must strive to use that opportunityâ⬠(Shipler, pg. ). Not only that but the American myth also provides a means for laying blame; ââ¬Å"if a personââ¬â¢s diligent work leads to prosperity(â⬠¦) and anyone in society can attain prosperity through work, then the failure to do so is a fall from righteousnessâ⬠(Shipler, pg. 6). George W. Bush also gave a voice to the myth weather he meant it or not that ââ¬Å"people who work hard and make the right decision in life can achieve anything they want in Americaâ⬠(Shipler, pg. ), but when we examine examples in this book there are many of those who work hard in America but are hit with the circumstances of life and they fail or they are unable to achieve what they want in America; the land of prosperity for all. To the American Myth there is an opposite extreme the American Anti Myth ââ¬Å"which holds the society largely responsible for the individualââ¬â¢s povertyâ⬠(Shipler, pg. 6). The ladder that is created in our society by racial discrimination and economic supremacy creates a condition of impoverished communities. As stated by Shipler ââ¬Å"in reality, people do not fit easily into myths or anti myths. We will write a custom essay sample on The Working Poor: Invisibe in America specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The Working Poor: Invisibe in America specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The Working Poor: Invisibe in America specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer It is just that the individuals in this novel are scattered along this spectrum of polar opposites, that each personââ¬â¢s life ââ¬Å"is the mixed product of bad choices and bad fortune, of roads taken and roads cut offâ⬠(Shipler, pg. 6). The debate on welfare and other social policies has been shaped by the question on ââ¬Å"how to define the individualââ¬â¢s role in his/her own povertyâ⬠(Shipler, pg. 7). The poor have less control over their private decisions; their personal mistakes have larger penalties, and their personal achievement only bring back a small reward. What many people do not realize such as employers is that the poor lack ââ¬Å"hard skillsâ⬠like the use of a computer and ââ¬Å"soft skillsâ⬠like interacting with people and peers. In the novel there are many Americans that depict the ââ¬Å"American Myth,â⬠for example Ann she was typical of the low wage working people ( Shipler, pg. 24-25), but the thing is Ann did not point fingers of blame at anyone, she excepted that she got herself into the situation that she is now. Even though she knew that the credit card companies rates were high she made the option of using them, but that is not because she had a choice or not but only because she had to. The lease on Ann truck was about to expire and her ex husbands child support of $100 was about to stop because her daughter was about to turn 18. Ann only had one option left which was bankruptcy but then she found out that she was too poor to file, so Ann had last option was to stop paying her credit cards, and loans so she could save up to go bankruptcy. When we look at Annââ¬â¢s story and her struggle in life we see that Ann is an example of the Americans who are invisible in America. Ann tried to make her credit better by paying them off, but she eventually had to stop just so she could save up to file bankruptcy. Another individual in the novel that portrays the ââ¬Å"American Mythâ⬠is Christie. She ââ¬Å"did the job that this labor-hungry economy could not do withoutâ⬠(Shipler, pg. 39). Every morning she would drive her battered Volkswagen from public housing the child care center where she watched little children so their parents could go to work, but the ironic part about that was Christie ââ¬Å"could not afford to put her own two children in the daycare center where she workedâ⬠(Shipler, pg. 9). Christie low income entitled here to food stamps and rental subsidy, ââ¬Å"but whenever she get a little pay raise, government agencies reduced the benefits,â⬠(Shipler, pg. 40) and Christie felt punished for working because she already did not earn that much and the food stamps she received was not enough to feed her and her children. So w hen the food stamps is reduced that is more money she has to take out of her little to nothing $330 check. Unless employers can and will pay a good deal to societyââ¬â¢s essential labor, ââ¬Å"those working hard at the edge of poverty [like Christie] will stay thereâ⬠(Shipler, pg 46). Work didnââ¬â¢t work for Debra Hall either. Debra was one of the single mothers on welfare and everything seemed to change in her life except her material standard of living. Debra was hit by life circumstances after the birth of her daughter she was ââ¬Å"launched [into] a twenty one year career of welfare checks and ââ¬Å"under the table type jobsâ⬠as she put it,â⬠(Shipler, pg. 46) and she was unable to finish school. Being black Debra also felt herself on the wrong end of subtle racial strains, because she felt like the employers were more lenient on the Hispanics, when she packed 3 boxes of bread the Hispanic lady next to her only did one and instead of the manger talking to the Hispanic lady about it the manger raises hell with her because of that ladys lack of speaking English. Debra did not want to continue her family line of low wage jobs, but every time she would ask ââ¬Å"supervisors about the salary at their level, theyââ¬â¢d answer vaguely, ââ¬Å"It variesâ⬠she couldnââ¬â¢t get specific numbersâ⬠(Shipler, pg. 9). This lowered Debraââ¬â¢s confidence that she could ever move up in position and pay. Caroline Payne was a different version of the ââ¬Å"American Myth. â⬠Caroline had earned a college diploma, and she had gone from homeless shelters to owning her own home, even though it was owned mostly by the bank, but the only goal that she could not achieve was a well paying job. ââ¬Å"Caroline was the forgotten story of prosperity in Americaâ⬠(Shipler, pg. 51). She was not the victim of racial discrimination, and she was not lazy. She was very punctual and considered a nice lady by her coworker and mangers at Wal-Mart. ââ¬Å"But she did not move up. She never moved up. And that ceased to amaze her because it had been going on for so longâ⬠(Shipler, pg. 51). Caroline worked so hard trying to get ahead working different shifts whenever she could; she was always available. ââ¬Å"The people who got promotions tended to have something Caroline did not. They had teeth. Caroline did not have teeth (â⬠¦) her teeth had succumbed to poverty, to the years she could not afford a dentistâ⬠(Shipler, pg 52). Caroline was the face of the working poor, ââ¬Å"marked by poverty generated handicap more obvious than most deficiencies but not differentâ⬠(Shipler, pg. 53). Caroline life resembled a fallen ladder if she had not been poor, maybe she would have her teeth, if she did not lose her teeth, and maybe she would have not remained poor. What David Shipler meant by invisible in America is for those Americans who do the jobs that no one usually pays attention to, for those Americans who get left behind in Americas economic prosperity, or unnoticed and unaccounted for in our society. They are the ones who work at the edge of poverty, and they are essential to Americaââ¬â¢s prosperity, ââ¬Å"but their well-being is not treated as an integral part of the wholeâ⬠(Shipler, pg. 300). Instead these individuals are forgotten and left behind to struggle. In conclusion, poverty is a peculiar menacing thing: ââ¬Å"a cause whose effects then cause the original cause or an effect whose causes are caused by the effect,â⬠(Shipler, pg. 53) all depending on where the cycle begins. Through this novel David Shipler makes it easier for us to see how the invisible in America are a bundle of these causes and effects.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)