?A City on a Hill?
Starting things off, Lipset seems to be a very articulate man. His views on this beautiful country are exactly down to earth. Lipset began talking about how this country is the best in some areas but how we lack our supremacy in other areas. For instance I will express crime rate and military power. In Lipset?s passage he stated that the crime rate in the United States is well above all other nations, but the American military is the strongest in the world. That is not a contradiction but only a mere example. Now with being the strongest military power in the world many smaller and third world countries tend to look up to us. That statement is easily represented by the fact that we are a ?city on a hill.? This nation might be on top is some aspects of the game but there is a few things that weigh us down.
and have slim confidence in our institutions. That does not mean that everything is going south but what it really means is that we need to get in gear and do something about these situations. Not only are the Americans aware of this but so are other nations in the world. Japan knows our educational average is below standard. Germany knows that our some of our citizens hate our democracy. So once again the eyes of many are upon this huge city on top of a steep hill.
with to a culture that he is not that aware of. Most foreign travelers wrote about how exceptional this place is. Lipset?s words say; “exceptional is not that great.” He defines exceptional as different and extraordinary. In all my years as a student most of my acquaintances like different or new things. Routine gets boring and most think change is only for the better. Living under the same rules and regulations that you been disagreeing with makes you jitty. You want to get up and do something about it. Maybe you could discover a new nation and start your own government. That is how our country was founded on or how the ?new nation began.?
I am not trying to say that our country is not great in any means! Lipset said that we were one of the first ?new nations.? That is awesome! Everybody wants freedom and independence. Our country has those great virtues but we also have great morals set by the guy above. The United States does not make it mandatory for one to go to church but it emphasizes that it is for the better. The church as we know sets morals and standards into ones life. Mama America knows that church is a choice not a demand. Even if you sleep in on Sundays the guy above still sets the way of life.
Creed is defined as ones passion for possession. Lipset said that America has creed that can be described in five terms. They are liberty, egalitarianism, individualism, populism, and laissez faire. He meant that this is the way America was formed not how everybody lives. America stresses on the people more than they stress on superiors. This is the best way. The more one can speak out against something they disagree with makes one feel good about all situations. Americans want control and dominance. While being on the top of the ?hill? us Americans must feel strong about things.
for more of it. Most people in the world want freedom and opportunity to gain more. That is why most of the world?s immigration is towards this great nation. Why is it that everybody knows about all these opportunities in America? It is because of the travelers, writers, and the list just goes on and on. With one good response to our country many people want to experience it themselves.
Throughout Lipsets?s essay he stated how America is different and how it has two sides of its? own story. America started under rule and broke away from that for liberty and so on. It has been doing well but there is always a bad thing that comes from a good thing. Lipset calls this a double-edged sword. Some facts might state that things are great but other facts state that things are bad. Referring back to the first paragraph, America is great in many aspects but things do actually weigh is down. I am pleased to say that those great aspects is what keep us on top of the ?hill? that everybody is looking up to.
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