This is my second quarter reflection from my AP Lang class. It's definitely not my best piece of writing, and even in the short time since I wrote this, I think I've grown as a writer. It's only a couple of paragraphs long, and I hope it's not horribly boring!
The prompt: "What is the American Experience? Explain."
My response:
The American Experience should be the main trait of most folks' ideal: freedom. Unfortunately, it would be described as something different by each person asked of their opinion. A rich man may say that hard work, the free market system, capitalism, and freedom are the American Experience. A poor man may believe something almost the exact opposite. But the American Experience cannot be defined by one singular American citizen, and only his or her personal experiences! In theory, this "experience" is freedom, as previously stated, but it cannot possible be so. This ideal of having freedom, specifically the freedom to live one's life as one chooses is exactly that; an ideal--a dream. Humans are drawn to strife, though.
In the past, it would have been an agreeable thought for freedom to be the basis of the American lifestyle, but how could that possibly have been true? The country held slaves for decades! And now, two hundred years later, there may no longer be slavery, but evils nearly as bad still exist. Racism, sexism, and general discrimination are far too common. How a country can claim freedom even with such things existing is appalling. Hate crimes are committed against gays and those who stand out--especially in educational environments--on a daily basis. People are hated for their skin colour, gender, and sexuality -- all things that they cannot choose! If the American Experience really is freedom, there can be absolutely no hope for the future of the world.
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