FREE ESSAY ON A NEW NATION

A NEW NATION

Nicholas Stauff
9:55 A.M. MWF
A New Nation Begins
"A City on a Hill"
Lipset
Starting things off, Lipset seems to be a very articulate man. His views on this
beautiful country are exactly down to earth. Lipset began talking about how this country
is the best in some areas but how we lack our supremacy in other areas. For instance I
will express crime rate and military power. In Lipset's passage he stated that the crime
rate in the United States is well above all other nations, but the American military is
the strongest in the world. That is not a contradiction but only a mere example. Now with
being the strongest military power in the world many smaller and third world countries
tend to look up to us. That statement is easily represented by the fact that we are a
"city on a hill." This nation might be on top is some aspects of the game but there is a
few things that weigh us down.
We won both world wars, set peace in the Middle East, and maintained our economic
prowess. But are our greatest years starting to fall behind us? According to Lipset we
are starting to distrust our leaders and have slim confidence in our institutions. That
does not mean that everything is going south but what it really means is that we need to
get in gear and do something about these situations. Not only are the Americans aware of
this but so are other nations in the world. Japan knows our educational average is below
standard. Germany knows that our some of our citizens hate our democracy. So once again
the eyes of many are upon this huge city on top of a steep hill.
Lipset then proceeded to talk about how a lot of our fine nation's essays were written
under the direction of "foreign pens." The only way that is possible is by comparing a
culture that one is well established with to a culture that he is not that aware of. Most
foreign travelers wrote about how exceptional this place is. Lipset's words say;
exceptional is not that great. He defines exceptional as different and extraordinary. In
all my years as a student most of my acquaintances like different or new things. Routine
gets boring and most think change is only for the better. Living under the same rules and
regulations that you been disagreeing with makes you jitty. You want to get up and do
something about it. Maybe you could discover a new nation and start your own government.
That is how our country was founded on or how the "new nation began."
I am not trying to say that our country is not great in any means! Lipset said that we
were one of the first "new nations." That is awesome! Everybody wants freedom and
independence. Our country has those great virtues but we also have great morals set by
the guy above. The United States does not make it mandatory for one to go to church but
it emphasizes that it is for the better. The church as we know sets morals and standards
into ones life. Mama America knows that church is a choice not a demand. Even if you
sleep in on Sundays the guy above still sets the way of life.
Creed is defined as ones passion for possession. Lipset said that America has creed that
can be described in five terms. They are liberty, egalitarianism, individualism,
populism, and laissez faire. He meant that this is the way America was formed not how
everybody lives. America stresses on the people more than they stress on superiors. This
is the best way. The more one can speak out against something they disagree with makes
one feel good about all situations. Americans want control and dominance. While being on
the top of the "hill" us Americans must feel strong about things.
Further into the essay Lipset stated that America is the most legalistic, anti-statist,
and rights oriented nation. In my words that is freedom, freedom, and freedom. I love
freedom and the opportunity for more of it. Most people in the world want freedom and
opportunity to gain more. That is why most of the world's immigration is towards this
great nation. Why is it that everybody knows about all these opportunities in America? It
is because of the travelers, writers, and the list just goes on and on. With one good
response to our country many people want to experience it themselves.
Throughout Lipsets's essay he stated how America is different and how it has two sides of
its' own story. America started under rule and broke away from that for liberty and so
on. It has been doing well but there is always a bad thing that comes from a good thing.
Lipset calls this a double-edged sword. Some facts might state that things are great but
other facts state that things are bad. Referring back to the first paragraph, America is
great in many aspects but things do actually weigh is down. I am pleased to say that
those great aspects is what keep us on top of the "hill" that everybody is looking up
to.