Andrea Vergara
Ms. Lehmann
English 1-3
2 October 2019
The Values Of America
Are equality, unity, and patriotism important to you? Anna Quindlen and Abraham Lincoln both thought they were crucial to the success of our nation. This essay will compare and contrast the way Quindlen and Lincoln discuss equality, unity, and patriotism in their works “A Quilt of a Country” and the “Gettysburg Address.” The first point to consider is equality.
Quindlen and Lincoln both talk about equality. Both authors agree that equality is worth striving for even though we don’t have it yet. Quindlen explains that our nation has held onto the value of equality since its creation. She writes, “America...is held together by the notion that all men are created equal” (Quindlen 3). Here, Quindlen highlights the value of equality, not only as something we should fight for, but also as a value that has held our nation together. Although both authors value equality, Quindlen points to cultural inequalities while Lincoln faced the much more severe slavery issues of his time. Lincoln, like Quindlen, saw the inequalities in the way people in our country are treated, but he fought a civil war to free slaves. In his speech, he says “We here highly resolve that...this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom” (Lincoln 28). Lincoln wanted equality to keep our nation together, but he didn’t see the fruits of his labor. Quindlen and Lincoln both recognize the value of equality, but they saw it in different ways. Both recognized its potential and pitfalls as a national value, and both argue that it is something the United States needs to continue to work for, just like unity.
Lincoln and Quindlen both think unity is good and difficult. Quindlen says that everyone should come together, but it isn’t easy. She says, “This nation founded on a conundrum, what Mario Cuomo has characterized as community added to individualism.” (Quindlen 4). Quindlen basically says that “These two are our defining ideals; they are also in constant conflict.” (Quindlen 4). Our values are sometimes at odds. While the authors agree that unity is a critical, difficult ideal of our nation, they saw unity in different ways. Quindlen’s focus is on unifying the diverse cultures in our country on a social level, while Lincoln’s priority was unifying America politically. Lincoln talks about the values of the sacrifice made by soldiers in the name of unity. He says, “The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here” (Lincoln 27). Lincoln is saying that we should stick together and work together. Unity, according to both authors, is difficult to achieve; the authors see unity differently because of the times in which they lived, but they both see its value, nonetheless. Both authors think that unity is good, so is patriotism.
Both Lincoln and Quindlen agree that patriotism is having pride in America, flaws and all. They also see the importance of nation pride in keeping the country united. What Quindlen says is that patriotism is pride that we are all in one place; in other countries it’s different, but we choose to be different. Quindlen says “Patriotism is partly taking pride in this unlikely ability to throw all of us together in a country that across its length and breadth is as different as a dozen countries, and still be able to call it by one name” (Quindlen 6). Quindlen recognizes that patriotism requires U.S. citizens to be proud that we are diverse but united. Lincoln was proud of America, too, but what he needed from citizens was devotion. Following the battle of Gettysburg, Lincoln said “We have come to dedication a portion of the field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that nation might live” (Lincoln 27). Lincoln sees patriotism as being willing to sacrifice for your country. In both cases, patriotism was necessary for unity.
Quindlen’s essay “A Quilt of a Country” and Lincoln’s speech the “Gettysburg Address” address the topics of equality, unity, and patriotism in ways that are similar and different. Both authors saw equality as an important ideal, but their struggles to attain it were different. Each of the authors wanted unity for different reasons. Quindlen and Lincoln are both patriots, but they show their loyalty to America in their own ways. So, considering all of this, what do you think the role of equality, unity, and patriotism is in the U.S.?
Page Break
Works Cited Page
Lincoln, Abraham. “The Gettysburg Address.” Collections, Edited by Kylene Beers, Martha Hougen, Carol Jago, William L. McBride, Erik Palmer, & Lydia Stack, Houghton Mifflin Hartcourt, 2017, pp. 27-28.
Quindlen, Anna. “A Quilt of a Country.” Collections, Edited by Kylene Beers, Martha Hougen, Carol Jago, William L. McBride, Erik Palmer, & Lydia Stack, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2017, pp. 3-6.
Compare and Contrast Reflection
Please answer all questions in complete, grammatically correct sentences.
I had to really think to see what were some stuff that were alike and the differences but still kind of talked about the same thing.
You just really have to put your head in both of them, like you need to understand what they are trying to say.
They both were talking about the same topic just different wordings and it was hard trying to understand what they meant because I knew what one person was talking about but the other person I didn't really understand what they were trying to say.
Ms. Lehmann
English 1-3
2 October 2019
The Values Of America
Are equality, unity, and patriotism important to you? Anna Quindlen and Abraham Lincoln both thought they were crucial to the success of our nation. This essay will compare and contrast the way Quindlen and Lincoln discuss equality, unity, and patriotism in their works “A Quilt of a Country” and the “Gettysburg Address.” The first point to consider is equality.
Quindlen and Lincoln both talk about equality. Both authors agree that equality is worth striving for even though we don’t have it yet. Quindlen explains that our nation has held onto the value of equality since its creation. She writes, “America...is held together by the notion that all men are created equal” (Quindlen 3). Here, Quindlen highlights the value of equality, not only as something we should fight for, but also as a value that has held our nation together. Although both authors value equality, Quindlen points to cultural inequalities while Lincoln faced the much more severe slavery issues of his time. Lincoln, like Quindlen, saw the inequalities in the way people in our country are treated, but he fought a civil war to free slaves. In his speech, he says “We here highly resolve that...this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom” (Lincoln 28). Lincoln wanted equality to keep our nation together, but he didn’t see the fruits of his labor. Quindlen and Lincoln both recognize the value of equality, but they saw it in different ways. Both recognized its potential and pitfalls as a national value, and both argue that it is something the United States needs to continue to work for, just like unity.
Lincoln and Quindlen both think unity is good and difficult. Quindlen says that everyone should come together, but it isn’t easy. She says, “This nation founded on a conundrum, what Mario Cuomo has characterized as community added to individualism.” (Quindlen 4). Quindlen basically says that “These two are our defining ideals; they are also in constant conflict.” (Quindlen 4). Our values are sometimes at odds. While the authors agree that unity is a critical, difficult ideal of our nation, they saw unity in different ways. Quindlen’s focus is on unifying the diverse cultures in our country on a social level, while Lincoln’s priority was unifying America politically. Lincoln talks about the values of the sacrifice made by soldiers in the name of unity. He says, “The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here” (Lincoln 27). Lincoln is saying that we should stick together and work together. Unity, according to both authors, is difficult to achieve; the authors see unity differently because of the times in which they lived, but they both see its value, nonetheless. Both authors think that unity is good, so is patriotism.
Both Lincoln and Quindlen agree that patriotism is having pride in America, flaws and all. They also see the importance of nation pride in keeping the country united. What Quindlen says is that patriotism is pride that we are all in one place; in other countries it’s different, but we choose to be different. Quindlen says “Patriotism is partly taking pride in this unlikely ability to throw all of us together in a country that across its length and breadth is as different as a dozen countries, and still be able to call it by one name” (Quindlen 6). Quindlen recognizes that patriotism requires U.S. citizens to be proud that we are diverse but united. Lincoln was proud of America, too, but what he needed from citizens was devotion. Following the battle of Gettysburg, Lincoln said “We have come to dedication a portion of the field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that nation might live” (Lincoln 27). Lincoln sees patriotism as being willing to sacrifice for your country. In both cases, patriotism was necessary for unity.
Quindlen’s essay “A Quilt of a Country” and Lincoln’s speech the “Gettysburg Address” address the topics of equality, unity, and patriotism in ways that are similar and different. Both authors saw equality as an important ideal, but their struggles to attain it were different. Each of the authors wanted unity for different reasons. Quindlen and Lincoln are both patriots, but they show their loyalty to America in their own ways. So, considering all of this, what do you think the role of equality, unity, and patriotism is in the U.S.?
Page Break
Works Cited Page
Lincoln, Abraham. “The Gettysburg Address.” Collections, Edited by Kylene Beers, Martha Hougen, Carol Jago, William L. McBride, Erik Palmer, & Lydia Stack, Houghton Mifflin Hartcourt, 2017, pp. 27-28.
Quindlen, Anna. “A Quilt of a Country.” Collections, Edited by Kylene Beers, Martha Hougen, Carol Jago, William L. McBride, Erik Palmer, & Lydia Stack, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2017, pp. 3-6.
Compare and Contrast Reflection
Please answer all questions in complete, grammatically correct sentences.
- Explain the process you went through to write this paper. Please be specific.
I had to really think to see what were some stuff that were alike and the differences but still kind of talked about the same thing.
- What qualifies this paper as a compare and contrast essay? What are the requirements for this genre and how did you meet them?
You just really have to put your head in both of them, like you need to understand what they are trying to say.
- Tell me about one challenge you faced writing this paper and how you overcame it.
They both were talking about the same topic just different wordings and it was hard trying to understand what they meant because I knew what one person was talking about but the other person I didn't really understand what they were trying to say.