Hunter Shobe
Ms. Lehmann
English 1-3
2 October 2019
Lincoln Vs. Quindlen: Their views on Equality, Unity, and Patriotism
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 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 the 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.
Quindlen and Lincoln both agree unity is difficult to achieve and that unity is crucial for a country to succeed. Quindlen, in her article, “Quilt of a country”, explains why unity is difficult to achieve. Quindlen says, “It is difficult to know how to convince them that this amounts to ‘crown thy good with brotherhood,’ that amid all the failures is something spectacularly successful” (Quindlen 4). We think that this quote is good because she highlights the fact that America has failed many times to achieve unity, but she then explains that America is successful despite those issues. 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 priorities was unifying America politically. Abraham Lincoln in his speech, the “Gettysburg Address”, highlights that ending the Civil War and uniting the country were his biggest priorities. Lincoln states, “It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the Earth.” (Lincoln 28). Unity, according to both authors, is difficult to achieve; the authors see unity differently because of the times in which they lived, but they see its value, nonetheless.
Both Quindlen and Lincoln agree that patriotism is having pride in one’s nation, in this case, America. They also see the importance of national pride in keeping the country united. Quindlen says that patriotism is pride’s position and it is making the U.S.A more diverse than several other countries and yet we still call it by the United States of America. Quindlen states, “ But 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 different countries and still be able to call it one country.” (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 dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live” (Lincoln 27). Lincoln sees patriotism as being willing to sacrifice for your own country. In both cases, patriotism was necessary for unity.
Quindlen’s essay “ A Quilt of a Country” and Lincoln’s speech the “aGettysburg 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. “ Gettysburg Address.” Collections. Edited by Kylene Beers, Martha Hougen, Carol Jago, William L. McBride, Erik Palmer, & Lydia Stack, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 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.
1. Explain the process you went through to write this paper. Please be specific.
First, we read the articles " Quilt of A Country" and the " Gettysburg Address". We then write down all of the main ideas of the articles and we chose equality, unity, and patriotism. We then re read the articles to find similarities and differences of each topic and find quotes from both articles that explain each main idea. Next,
2. What qualifies this paper as a compare and contrast essay? What are the requirements for this genre and how did you meet them?
This paper qualifies as a compare and contrast essay because the paper compares two articles and contrasts them to find similarities and differences between the two. Requirements for a compare and contrast essay are that you need two or more things you want to compare, then you have to present evidence that they have similarities and or differences.
3. Tell me about one challenge you faced writing this paper and how you overcame it.
A challenge I faced in writing this paper is trying to keep everything in order and not jumble it up. I overcame it by going slow and taking my time.
Ms. Lehmann
English 1-3
2 October 2019
Lincoln Vs. Quindlen: Their views on Equality, Unity, and Patriotism
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 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 the 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.
Quindlen and Lincoln both agree unity is difficult to achieve and that unity is crucial for a country to succeed. Quindlen, in her article, “Quilt of a country”, explains why unity is difficult to achieve. Quindlen says, “It is difficult to know how to convince them that this amounts to ‘crown thy good with brotherhood,’ that amid all the failures is something spectacularly successful” (Quindlen 4). We think that this quote is good because she highlights the fact that America has failed many times to achieve unity, but she then explains that America is successful despite those issues. 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 priorities was unifying America politically. Abraham Lincoln in his speech, the “Gettysburg Address”, highlights that ending the Civil War and uniting the country were his biggest priorities. Lincoln states, “It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the Earth.” (Lincoln 28). Unity, according to both authors, is difficult to achieve; the authors see unity differently because of the times in which they lived, but they see its value, nonetheless.
Both Quindlen and Lincoln agree that patriotism is having pride in one’s nation, in this case, America. They also see the importance of national pride in keeping the country united. Quindlen says that patriotism is pride’s position and it is making the U.S.A more diverse than several other countries and yet we still call it by the United States of America. Quindlen states, “ But 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 different countries and still be able to call it one country.” (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 dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live” (Lincoln 27). Lincoln sees patriotism as being willing to sacrifice for your own country. In both cases, patriotism was necessary for unity.
Quindlen’s essay “ A Quilt of a Country” and Lincoln’s speech the “aGettysburg 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. “ Gettysburg Address.” Collections. Edited by Kylene Beers, Martha Hougen, Carol Jago, William L. McBride, Erik Palmer, & Lydia Stack, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 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.
1. Explain the process you went through to write this paper. Please be specific.
First, we read the articles " Quilt of A Country" and the " Gettysburg Address". We then write down all of the main ideas of the articles and we chose equality, unity, and patriotism. We then re read the articles to find similarities and differences of each topic and find quotes from both articles that explain each main idea. Next,
2. What qualifies this paper as a compare and contrast essay? What are the requirements for this genre and how did you meet them?
This paper qualifies as a compare and contrast essay because the paper compares two articles and contrasts them to find similarities and differences between the two. Requirements for a compare and contrast essay are that you need two or more things you want to compare, then you have to present evidence that they have similarities and or differences.
3. Tell me about one challenge you faced writing this paper and how you overcame it.
A challenge I faced in writing this paper is trying to keep everything in order and not jumble it up. I overcame it by going slow and taking my time.