In the article, "U.S.A., Land of Limitations?" by Nicholas Kristof, he acknowledges that society has created barriers and class gaps based off of peoples' beginnings and how they were raised in the United States. Society determines the success of someone based on these two factors. For this piece, I've chosen three quotes that I feel relate to the main idea of this article...
1) "Talent is universal, but opportunity is not."
-Even though there is so much talent to offer, there are not a lot of opportunities given. This relates to the text because there are many talented people who may not be given an opportunity because of their struggles. Kristof uses his friend Rick Goff as an example. Rick was talented and hard working but faced different struggles since birth which affected the outcome of his life.
2) '"The chance of a person who was born to a family in the bottom 10 percent of the income distribution rising to the top 10 percent as an adult is about the same as the chance that a dad who is 5 feet 6 inches tall having a son who grows up to be over 6 feet 1 inch tall," Krueger observed in a speech. "It happens, but not often."'
-This quote is comparing the success of a child born in the bottom 10 percent to a son growing 6 feet 1 inch tall with a 5 feet 6 inch tall dad. It's a possibility, but doesn't usually happen. This comparison opens up a new perspective of how to view the main idea. A child born into a family that is in the bottom 10 percent is more so not likely to be given opportunities that will enhance their success. The child can rise to the top 10 percent as an adult but it's not likely that they will because of their beginning as well as the way society has developed it's standards.
3) 'They grow up not in "land of opportunity," but in the kind of socially rigid hierarchies that our ancestors fled, the kind of society in which your outcome is largely determined by your beginning.'
-More children live in poverty now and because that is their lifestyle, they are not given as many opportunities. They are growing up in a systematic hierarchy where they are categorized and controlled by different classes based on their upbringing and beginning. Their success is ultimately based on where they are from and how they were brought up instead of who they are.
Our ancestors did not want to live in a society that was based off of a hierarchy. My question is, how did we as a society end up revolving back to this type of system? If our ancestors did not want this and as Kristof said, "fled" from it, then how did we come back to this?
*This hyperlink discusses the different social classes in America*
Social Hierarchy in America
Serena,
ReplyDeleteGreat job with this post! What you wrote shows that you have a great understanding of the article and of Kristof’s main points. The quotes you chose to discuss are strong and you explained how that relate to Kristof’s overall points well. Your blog is visually appealing and the way you chose to structure it is very clear and easy to read. I love the question you posed! I hope it comes up in class because I would love to hear everyone’s thoughts. My only suggestion for your next blog would be to include a connection between the reading and previous readings. Otherwise, excellent job!
Serena,
ReplyDeleteI think the quotes above were all thoughtfully chosen and they are all very important to the text. I used the third quote in my blog as well. You posed a very interesting question. In my own opinion, I don't think we necessarily chose to revert back to the old system, but I'm not sure as to how or why it happened. I think it's a very interesting question, and I hope it comes up in discussion during class. Great job!
Serena, I really like the quotes that you picked out of the article especially the third one. Your explanations of each quotes were very thought out and I feel as though you really took in and understood the article. Overall very good job!
ReplyDeleteI think you really have a good grasp of the article, Serena. Then again, I may be biased since I chose quotes that are very similar to yours.
ReplyDeleteAs for your question, this pattern of economic inequality has happened so many times before, even prior to the incident Kristof refers to. I wonder what other kinds of parallels we have to those times, and what kind of clues that historical context could give us.
Serena, I liked the way you wrote about the article. It very simple and clear but importantly you focused on the main points very well, giving a good thorough response.
ReplyDeleteI like how you pointed out some things and expanded it by explaining it into details. Great job!
ReplyDelete