Alex Recendez
Ms. Lehman
English 1-3
2 October 2019
Quindlen Vs. Lincoln: Equality, Unity, and Patriotism in America
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 “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 value that has held our nation together. Although both authors value equality, Quindlen points to cultural inequalities while Lincoln faced the much 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 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, unlike Lincoln who fought to unite the government, tries to persuade people to be united. Both authors believe that unity is difficult for people. While Quindlen and Lincoln both agree that unity is good, they also recognize the challenges in achieving it. After discussing the ways America has failed at unity, Quindlen writes, “Amid all the failures is something spectacularly successful” (Quindlen 4). Quindlen obviously values unity even though it’s hard to achieve, much like Lincoln. 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 priority was unifying America politically. Lincoln, however, concerned himself more with unifying the U.S. government. He begs that the “Government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth” (Lincoln 28). The Civil War threatened to destroy our unity, but Lincoln saved it. Unity, according to both authors, is difficult to achieve; the authors see unity differently because of the times in which they lived, but they both see its value, nonetheless. When showing unity, patriotism plays a key part.
Both Lincoln and Quindlen agree that patriotism is having pride in America, flaws and all. They also see the importance of national pride in keeping the country united. Quindlen says that patriotism means taking pride in the ability to be different from other countries. She writes, “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 countries, and still be able to call it by one name” (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 country. In both cases, patriotism was necessary for unity.
Quindlen’s essay “A Quilt of a Country” and Lincoln’s speech the “Gettysburg 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.?
Works Cited Page
Lincoln, Abraham. “Gettysburg Address.” Collections, Edited by Kylene Beers, Martha Hougen, Carol Jago, William L
McBridge, Erik Plamer, & Lydia Stack, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2017, pp. 3-6.
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.
I first started with my introduction. Second, I talked about how both authors agree on equality. Third, I wrote about how Quindlen differs from Lincoln on unity. Then, I wrote about how both authors agree on patriotism. Lastly, I wrote about how both author's work talks about equality, unity, and patriotism.
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 it analyzes two subjects by either comparing them, contrasting them, or both. I had to talk about two different subjects and compare and contrast them both.
3. Tell me about one challenge you faced writing this paper and how you overcame it.
One challenge I faced was finding some of the similarities. I overcame this by reading more closely.
Ms. Lehman
English 1-3
2 October 2019
Quindlen Vs. Lincoln: Equality, Unity, and Patriotism in America
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 “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 value that has held our nation together. Although both authors value equality, Quindlen points to cultural inequalities while Lincoln faced the much 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 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, unlike Lincoln who fought to unite the government, tries to persuade people to be united. Both authors believe that unity is difficult for people. While Quindlen and Lincoln both agree that unity is good, they also recognize the challenges in achieving it. After discussing the ways America has failed at unity, Quindlen writes, “Amid all the failures is something spectacularly successful” (Quindlen 4). Quindlen obviously values unity even though it’s hard to achieve, much like Lincoln. 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 priority was unifying America politically. Lincoln, however, concerned himself more with unifying the U.S. government. He begs that the “Government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth” (Lincoln 28). The Civil War threatened to destroy our unity, but Lincoln saved it. Unity, according to both authors, is difficult to achieve; the authors see unity differently because of the times in which they lived, but they both see its value, nonetheless. When showing unity, patriotism plays a key part.
Both Lincoln and Quindlen agree that patriotism is having pride in America, flaws and all. They also see the importance of national pride in keeping the country united. Quindlen says that patriotism means taking pride in the ability to be different from other countries. She writes, “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 countries, and still be able to call it by one name” (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 country. In both cases, patriotism was necessary for unity.
Quindlen’s essay “A Quilt of a Country” and Lincoln’s speech the “Gettysburg 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.?
Works Cited Page
Lincoln, Abraham. “Gettysburg Address.” Collections, Edited by Kylene Beers, Martha Hougen, Carol Jago, William L
McBridge, Erik Plamer, & Lydia Stack, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2017, pp. 3-6.
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.
I first started with my introduction. Second, I talked about how both authors agree on equality. Third, I wrote about how Quindlen differs from Lincoln on unity. Then, I wrote about how both authors agree on patriotism. Lastly, I wrote about how both author's work talks about equality, unity, and patriotism.
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 it analyzes two subjects by either comparing them, contrasting them, or both. I had to talk about two different subjects and compare and contrast them both.
3. Tell me about one challenge you faced writing this paper and how you overcame it.
One challenge I faced was finding some of the similarities. I overcame this by reading more closely.