Summary: This piece by Alan W. Dowd explains how America is not actually in a "steep decline" as many may think but it's economy and the country itself is "in great shape." America's economy actually represents 20 percent of global output. When compared to Europe, Europe falls short of U.S. GPD. When Baker compares the U.S. to China's booming economy, he observes that the U.S. is adding "twice as much in absolute terms to global output" as china. He shows how although America has gone through many problems, unlike other countries, America was able to make it through strong.
Quote: "Some people don't want to admit it, but America is in great shape" (404).
Response: I picked this quote because it was the first sentence of the passage and it really stood out to me. After reading the whole piece, I still was not convinced that America is completely in "great shape."
Many people don't want to admit it because they themselves are going through the tough time of this recession. They are experiencing first hand the difficulty in living in a nation where it is impossible to find a job nowadays. On the other side, people who own shops and businesses are seeing their numbers go down and in result this whole process creates a ripple effect.
Dowd's piece only shows the positives of our nation. Stating a lot of numbers about how much money we have been able to use to help the nation go through situations such as 911 and Katrina. But this is besides the point, our nation needs to start investing in the right way. Most of our tax dollars are going to the jail system rather than going to the effort to help fund Education. America has not yet reached it's full potential for it to be in great shape.
In comparison to other countries, yes, we as Americans are a lot better off. For instance, with what is going on in Egypt right now proves this. After Sadat, the former president of Egypt, was assassinated, Mubarak became president and to this day, has remained in office ever since.
Recently, people have gathered from all backgrounds, Christian, Muslim, Educated, Non-educated, the well off and the poor, to come together and protest against Mubarak and to make sure he steps down. The Egyptian people are seeking to have a Democratic government. One where they, as a people, can choose who rules over them. During their protest, Mubarak shut down all internet and cellphone access. This becoming the first time in history where a whole nation has been cut off.
I have family living in Cairo right near downtown where the major protest has been taking place. Not being able to contact my family on the fastest and easiest way possible, the internet, has been unbearable knowing whats going on. The Egyptian people should have the freedom to be able to talk to the outside world during this process, and be able to form what ever groups needed to continue to fight for their rights, let alone choose their leader.
When watching many videos about this amazing time in history, a man spoke out saying,
"We will not be silenced. Whether you're a Christian, whether you're a Muslim, whether you're an Atheist, you will demand your goddamn rights, and we will have our rights, one way or the other! We will never be silenced!" - Egyptian Protester. Janauary 27th 2011.
This got me to thinking how grateful I am to live in a country who enforces the right to each citizen. Our voice as citizens speak loud and because of our freedom, we have the ability to choose how our nation is run. We definitely should be proud to be American regardless. Needless to say, we are not in greatest shape as Dowd puts in his piece. We are one of the top nations but we still have a lot more room to grow.
