Avila_America+3

//From "I to We": The Beginning of OUR America//

Avila_America 3 REFLECTION

Defining American Characteristics
 * Dehumanized
 * Consumerism
 * Self-Destructive
 * Monstrous
 * No Revolution
 * Hypocrisy
 * Competition
 * Conservatism
 * Community “I to We”‍‍

"The land was ours before we were the lands" A quote from Robert Frost In the video below, the scene portray's the monstrous side of America. There's no one we can shoot, because the institutions that were supposed to protect our property, our rights, or ability to live in peace, has only resulted in a future of self-destruction. The video also touches on the relation between the past and the present. Does history repeat itself? If so, who are we to blame? media type="youtube" key="iGky0q2j_78" height="349" width="425" [] (Grapes of Wrath scene [Who's the Monster])

"Why do good people have to do bad things?" (Ken Dunn, philosopher at the University of Chicago)

I was fascinated by this question that Mr. Dunn presented to our Global Local Change class. Immediately, after he stated this phrase, I thought of the American Character. Although we may think our democracy is truly the best form of government in place, we are actually far from the perfect society we imagine ourselves in. This speaks to the united ignorance we share as Americans, and thus is one of our characteristics. Although for my museum I only focused on the negative aspects of our society, there are still aspects of greatness that I fail to note. Much of my museum takes a stance that does not introduce topics such as the society movements our nation has prided itself on.

This quote is a response to the oppressive behaviors Americans have towards others. We gain from these oppressive behaviors, which is probably why we are resistant to change.

= Consumerism and Gender Roles in America: A Word to the Wives (1955)  =

media type="youtube" key="ncCO8w0JUbc" height="349" width="425"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncCO8w0JUbc

**The Burden of Race in America** "I do not image that the black and white races will ever live in a country upon an equal footing...the freer the white population of the United States becomes, the more isolated it will remain." A quote from Alexis de Toqeuville in Democracy in America

I was perhaps most impacted by Alexis de Tocqueville. At first, his statement that revolution was the definition of inequality was confusing and I could not understand why John Steinbeck would write that change would only occur when/if we were angry. I'm very interested in my peers response to what Steinbeck and de Tocqueville wrote. If we are all not equal then it seems clear we're not even practicing the values our Founding Fathers set for us. Are we truly conforming in America? If so, how do we fundamentally oppose such a way of life? If we do want change then I think it's imperative to look at The Great Gatsby and his flaws. We're not some nobody, but how can we prove to be somebody? Obama Speech on RACE media type="youtube" key="E1qbAxqGdIU" height="349" width="425" align="center" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1qbAxqGdIU

Avila_America4