Anna Quindlen The Quilt Of A Country Out Of Many Summary
title “Be Americans. … You are all dependent on one another and should be one in union. In one word, be a nation.” was said by George Washington, America’s first president and leader. America succeeds despite being an “improbable idea” (Quindlen 2) because of the patriotism of her people and good leadership. The patriotism of the American people allows the nation to succeed despite being an “improbable idea” (Quindlen 2). Journalist Anna Quindlen in her essay The Quilt of a Country: Out of Many, One?, called America an “improbable idea” (2). But she also called it a “mongrel nation [has] one spirit” (4). The antithesis created by using the negatively connotated word, “mongrel” (Quindlen 4), to describe America and then following that by
saying that it has a “spirit” (Quindlen 4), is a use of pathos. American patriotism allows the country to have “one spirit” (Quindlen 4), or for it to succeed. In the painting George Washington Crossing the Delaware, there are two men on the boat who steadfast hold the American flag through the dangerous turbulence of the Delaware river (Gottlieb 11). This piece of art was propaganda to ignite patriotism in the colonists and the men holding up the flag symbolize the bravery and loyalty to the notion of America. Those two men symbolize the patriotism that allows the country to succeed. America is able to work despite being an “improbable idea” (Quindlen 2) because of the patriotism of the American citizens. The great leaders who preside over the nation, help America to succeed despite being an “improbable idea” (Quindlen 2). In George Washington Crosses the Delaware, George Washington is illustrated as the only man that does not appear frightened of his surroundings, contrary to all the other men in the boat that seem scared that are looking up to Washington (Gottlieb 11). Ethos is used with Washington to show him as authoritative and important. The painting shows Washington’s good leadership by using ethos and by showing people looking up to him. In his Second Inaugural Address, Lincoln ended his speech by telling America that they needed to “bind up the nation’s wounds,” or reunite the country after being torn apart by the issues of the Civil War (14). Lincoln uses his power as president to influence the American people, which is a use of ethos. Abraham Lincoln’s use of ethos to reunite the country in this speech, shows his leadership skills. There will always be disagreements concerning political opinion, that is part of America’s unique diversity, but one cannot deny the good that leader like Washington and Lincoln have done for America. They make America work despite being an “improbable idea” (Quindlen 2).
America is not the most probable of countries, but it has remained successful because of the patriotism of it’s citizens and good leadership. And times like today, where people fight over their differences instead of celebrating them, Americans need to remember all this nation has been through, things that would tear any other country apart, and it still remained successful.
saying that it has a “spirit” (Quindlen 4), is a use of pathos. American patriotism allows the country to have “one spirit” (Quindlen 4), or for it to succeed. In the painting George Washington Crossing the Delaware, there are two men on the boat who steadfast hold the American flag through the dangerous turbulence of the Delaware river (Gottlieb 11). This piece of art was propaganda to ignite patriotism in the colonists and the men holding up the flag symbolize the bravery and loyalty to the notion of America. Those two men symbolize the patriotism that allows the country to succeed. America is able to work despite being an “improbable idea” (Quindlen 2) because of the patriotism of the American citizens. The great leaders who preside over the nation, help America to succeed despite being an “improbable idea” (Quindlen 2). In George Washington Crosses the Delaware, George Washington is illustrated as the only man that does not appear frightened of his surroundings, contrary to all the other men in the boat that seem scared that are looking up to Washington (Gottlieb 11). Ethos is used with Washington to show him as authoritative and important. The painting shows Washington’s good leadership by using ethos and by showing people looking up to him. In his Second Inaugural Address, Lincoln ended his speech by telling America that they needed to “bind up the nation’s wounds,” or reunite the country after being torn apart by the issues of the Civil War (14). Lincoln uses his power as president to influence the American people, which is a use of ethos. Abraham Lincoln’s use of ethos to reunite the country in this speech, shows his leadership skills. There will always be disagreements concerning political opinion, that is part of America’s unique diversity, but one cannot deny the good that leader like Washington and Lincoln have done for America. They make America work despite being an “improbable idea” (Quindlen 2).
America is not the most probable of countries, but it has remained successful because of the patriotism of it’s citizens and good leadership. And times like today, where people fight over their differences instead of celebrating them, Americans need to remember all this nation has been through, things that would tear any other country apart, and it still remained successful.