What does it mean to be American? by Aliza McKenney

“He smiled understandingly, much more than understandingly. It was one of those rare smiles with a quality of eternal reassurance in it, that you may come across four or five times in life. It faced,or seemed to face, the whole eternal world for an instant, and then concentrated on you with an irresistible prejudice in your favor." (...)

alizamckenney — 2024-05-30 12:22:29 UTC

This quote is breaking down how Gatsbys smiles feels very secure and has a place of comfort. Nick is sensing that Gatsby is a secure man, and happens to have a set idea of who he is and what he wants. Gatsby later on wants to marry Daisy and have this established, perfect life with her, but with first impressions, Gatsby has now set a goal of wanting to marry Daisy, creating this unreal version of Daisy and marriage that never comes.

“There are people who trick you and deliver emptiness with a smile, while others rob you of your self-respect. You need to remember who you are.”

alizamckenney — 2024-06-03 12:26:15 UTC

This quote is saying how people can be deceiving when they choose to be, but it is important to remember to not loose yourself. With the American dream, it can be easy to feel like you don't know who you are, or what you wanna be, but its important to not loose who you are a person. It's also so important to be able to not loose the self respect that each person rightfully deserves.

“The historian Burns once wrote, “To believe that the Osages survived intact from their ordeal is a delusion of the mind. What has been possible to salvage has been saved and is dearer to our hearts because it survived. What is gone is treasured because it was what we once were. We gather our past and present into the depths of our being and face tomorrow. We are still Osage. We live and we reach old age for our forefathers.”

alizamckenney — 2024-06-05 08:52:37 UTC

This quote is saying how, whenever we have something that was once treasured and valued, we like to be able to remember it, as it was once a huge proportion of who we are, and it helped to defy who we were meant to be. As humans, we evolve over time to higher lengths, and we want the best for ourselves, seeking and loathing for change and better outcome of ourselves overall. Accepting change will help to develop and grow our mind and wisdom of the world.

“Our life is frittered Away by details. An honest man has hardly needed to count more than 10 fingers, or in extreme cases he may add his 10 toes, and lump the rest. simplicity, simplicity, simplicity! I say, let your affairs be as two or three, and not a hundred or a thousand”

alizamckenney — 2024-06-05 09:06:42 UTC

This quote is saying how someone in life, should be able to take risk with themself, and not be afraid of change. This quote is also very much about how as a human being, you should want to take a risk, and to live your life as deliberately as you want to live it.

''Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun?Or fester like a sore-and then run?Does it stink like rotten meat or crust and sugar over-like a syrupy sweet? maybe it's just sags like a heavy load. or does it explode?''

alizamckenney — 2024-06-05 09:18:26 UTC

This poem is talking about the theme of ideas and dreams, saying how dreams of wanting to be something or wanting can either be really good of a turnout, or what you want or want to be can be the downfall of you as a person, similar to a explosion. Not everything you see a human is always gonna be what you see, only what you expect it to be.

''Darwin thought that the origin Of the species was all in Where the strong survived And others have taken a dive. So I was thinking Whilst at home drinking What will we be like in a hundred years time So that we will be primed. We'll have a clamp hand to hold a phone And a flat ear shaped for mobiles alone Our voice tones will be tuned to phone use With no need to repeat or make an excuse.''

alizamckenney — 2024-06-05 09:25:46 UTC

This poem is solely talking about evolution of humans in the future, and how as people, we are gonna be able to accept change, and be able to accept the differences that will be presented to us as we evolve, big and small.

“Their path to advancement might look less like a straight line and more like some of the pressure distributions and orbits they plotted, but they were determined to take a seat at the table.”

alizamckenney — 2024-06-05 09:32:49 UTC

This movie quote is saying how this person had such a strong determination to be the best at what they wanted to happen, even if the road to get there was beyond a challenge. This takes great determination and focus, as they wanted change, not only for themselves, but for the community around them, evolving into something much greater.

''I'm starting with the man in the mirror (oh yeah) I'm asking him to change his ways (better change)No message could've been any clearer (If you wanna make the world a better place) (Take a look at yourself and then make the change)''

alizamckenney — 2024-06-05 09:41:17 UTC

The song lyrics are talking about how the only person who can change themselves, is themselves. If you want to be the best version of yourself and set goals for yourself and grow, the only person in the world who can possibly help to make the change of evolving, is you and only you. The only person who could make a change in the world is yourself, if you let yourself want to be apart of the change.

''I just hope you see me in a little better light.Do you think it's easy being of the jealous kind?'Cause I miss the shape of your lips. You'll win, it's just a trick. And this is it, so I'm sorry''

alizamckenney — 2024-06-05 09:57:12 UTC

This lyric is saying that yes, they were of the jealous type, but they are able to recognize that, apologies, and only focus on growing and evolving from here on out. Jealousy is something that can hold people back from growing and changing, and in the lyrics above, the person recognizes that jealousy is how they feel and are, and does come to a conclusion to apologize, wanting to change and become better than what they were before they started to feel like this.

“In my younger and more vulnerable years my father gave me some advice that I've been turning over in my mind ever since. Whenever you feel like criticizing any one," he told me, "just remember that all the people in this world haven't had the advantages that you've had.”

alizamckenney — 2024-06-05 10:08:09 UTC

This quote is saying how poeple outside of your immediate family may have not had the same priviedges or advantages as others. This can range far, as it could be about money, finances, family members, etc. Never take what you have for granted, and be grateful for what you do have, as one day, it could be all gone.