Lauren+Reflection+2

Americans Love Community.

I believe that the American people love feeling a part of something bigger than just themselves. They search for ways to form bonds with others through experiences or common feelings. The first quote from Democracy in America illustrates that Americans look out for each other and lend helping hands. They want to support one another and want to feel like they are a part of a society. The following quotation is also from Democracy in America and it shows that people want to connected with one another and be helpful to each other because they are each fellow-creatures and have no reason for hatred and that people are eager to be kind. The image to the left depicts family and friends sitting down to thanksgiving dinner. The people are eager to participate in this holiday together because they share the common bond of celebration. The people are naturally inclined to share the same experiences and through this build ties and create bonds. Americans like to feel that they fit in and have a place and when everyone is there for the same reason it is easy to do this. The following two quotes talk about families. The American family is a large part of the American identity. We have strong feelings that family bonds are important. Everyone makes a very big deal about relationships with their parents and siblings. They bond through different acts of entertainment, mischief, and laughter. The family bonds are so strong that fights can occur often but everyone can still come to love one another again. The photograph of the Kennedy family shows a classic American family as it has been popularized by the media. The following two quotes are taken from the Grapes of Wrath. These show the power of bonding together. They illustrate that when more people come together for a common cause they can be stronger and more stable. This community of common interest is important in making changes. The photograph below is from the Great Depression and it shows a different kind but similar kind of community. When all people are in the same situation they share an unspoken bond of emotion. In this case they are all in desperation. They lack money for food and they can feel for one another because they know what it is like to not have the means to feed your family.