In Class Writing.

What is an American?
An American is someone who takes pride in not only the American culture, lifestyle, and views, but take a pride in their own heritage as well. Americans stand up for what they believe in and they are always given a voice, whither it is heard or not is another topic, but a true American is given options and choices to make from childhood into adulthood. An American is a person who can stand up and say "I want to be," "I need to be," and "I am an American." America is known for being a melting pot of all different sorts of people from all over the world, but because they come from a different country does not make them any less an American, that is their own decision. A true American is someone who has a lot of respect for not only themselves but for the people surrounding them. The stereotype is that an American should be born and raised in America, which is a fact, but not every American is going to be a product of two American people, or even one, but they can come from anywhere by anyone. An American does not even have to live in America, but to have a sense of pride in what America stands for, what we have fallen for, and what we will do in the future is what makes an American, an American.

This is a strong symbol in my life. My life has revolved around the sport of softball since I was 14 years old. Softball has opened many doors for college opportunities and career based options that I have chosen to live my dream. Jessica Mendoza is one of my all time favorite softball players.

For Monday September 08, 2008

With having read through the webpages given to us it was to my interest to want to discuss feminists and popular culture. The feminist era in literature was all about women's rights and how to gain more respect in the workplace. Literature during the 1970's was very inspiring due to the fact that I am a female and I have high expectations of women today and the women of the future. Also, in the literature that the feminist's had written it was not just about what was happening right in that moment but did happen to them in the past, the discrimination and exclusion they faced everyday until that moment. These feminists mainly expressed how they want their future life to be and how important that is to them and every woman coming into the world.
Popular culture was not just introduced in the 1960's but in all of history all over the world, popular culture has always remained such an important factor in societies. Specifically in the 1960's, popular culture was a huge epidemic because during this time was also known as the drug years where people would get high to express themselves in ways they were not capable of doing while sober. Literature during this time showed a different perspective and showed the public new ways to interpret what they are reading in the morning paper or what they are hearing in a song.
The Walt Whitman poem "I Hear America Sing" applies to both of the eras I wrote about, because he references women's struggle and he also referred to living in the moment and living for the day given to you.
The Langston Hughes poem "I, Too, Sing America" shows how everyone is in fact America regardless of skin color or gender.